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November 17, 2023

Huntley seniors leading the way into the 2023-24 boys basketball season are, from left, Omare Segarra, Ethan Blackmore, Bryce Walker and Lucas Crosby.
Steve Peterson
Huntley seniors leading the way into the 2023-24 boys basketball season are, from left, Omare Segarra, Ethan Blackmore, Bryce Walker and Lucas Crosby.

Sports • November 17, 2023

Kalamatas guides Huntley boys as head coach

By

HUNTLEY — Collin Kalamatas, Huntley’s new head boys basketball coach, has entered the new chapter in his coaching career working in familiar gyms where he played hoops almost 20 years ago.

“It’s been a lot of fun,” Kalamatas said. “This job has a lot of non-basketball responsibilities to it, but I have a ton of support from our administration. That has really helped lighten the load on stuff that I have to get done on a daily basis. As far as the basketball side of things, I feel like I’m in a good rhythm now that the season has started. I’m looking forward to the process and working toward having a successful season.”

Kalamatas was appointed to lead HHS boys hoops in June following former coach Will Benson accepted the head boys basketball coach job  at Stevenson. Kalamatas, a D158 teacher, also serves as head boys golf coach. A 2005 alumnus, he comes to the HHS role after a successful four years as Burlington Central’s girls basketball head coach. The Rockets won a girls Class 3A regional last season.

Four experienced senior players – All-Fox Valley Conference member Evan Blackmore, Bryce Walker, Omare Segarra, and Lucas Crosby lead the Red Raiders into their first games this week at Johnsburg’s Thanksgiving tournament. The opener is at 5:30 p.m., Nov. 20 against Crystal Lake Central.

“Leaders on the court early have been Blackmore, Crosby, Segarra and Walker,” the coach said. “Blackmore is someone who we will lean on to keep control of the game and get others involved. Crosby, Segarra and Walker all saw significant minutes as juniors last year and will provide a lot of senior leadership as well. All season long, those four guys are going to be the heartbeat of our team. When they’re up, we’re capable of beating anyone on the schedule.”

Practices have been working out well for the new head coach, who is working with all the same assistant coaches who were at Huntley last season.

“Practices have been competitive so far,” Kalamatas said. “We have five guys who are coming straight from football season, so they’re bringing some competitiveness and physicality that our guys are really feeling off of. Obviously it’s early and there is a lot of work to be done, but our guys are progressing really well for being so early in the season with a new coach and all. Our rotation is still very much up for grabs, but we have 10-12 players that can play on any given night and help us in unique ways. It’s definitely going to be a challenge working on our rotation early on, but it’s a good problem to have.”

HHS is coming off a 22-11 season last year and a regional championship. The team knows the Fox Valley Conference will be a challenge each night.

The Johnsburg tournament also includes games with host Johnsburg at 7 p.m. Nov. 21; against Rockford Harlem at 5:30 p.m. Nov. 22 and the place game Nov. 24.