Gators take over series; Benson returns to face HHS

HUNTLEY – It is an interesting time in the area boys basketball coaching circles.

First, Huntley boys basketball Colin Kalamatas returned to Burlington Central Dec. 15, where he coached the girls hoops squad for four years. Then Will Benson, who led the Huntley boys basketball team to two regional championships in nine seasons, is back at the HHS gym Dec. 21, as head coach of Stevenson.

Benson, whose Patriots are 4-3 in the early going, commented on the first clash with the Red Raiders. Both schools had an open date from Dec. 15-27, so the game was added.

“I keep in touch with a lot of friends from Huntley but don’t get to see them very often, so it will be good to see them next week,” Benson said. “The people here (Stevenson) have been awesome from the teachers to the coaches to the administration. Five of the seven members from last year’s staff stayed so they have been very helpful in the transition.”

Benson had a 136-128 record guiding the Red Raiders. He succeeded Pat Ambrose at the Lincolnshire high school.

Gators gobble Red Raiders

Round one between Huntley and Crystal Lake South boys basketball teams went to the Red Raiders but the two teams are now deadlocked at a win apiece.

Huntley had won 55-48 for the Johnsburg Thanksgiving Tournament crown back on Nov. 24. When the month turned and a Dec. 13 Fox Valley Conference clash was in the books, the Gators prevailed, 49-25.

The host Gators held the Red Raiders to under just seven points in the first half, a 20-7 halftime lead as a zone defense proved more like a wall around the basket.

“We competed at a high level against them three weeks ago and we came in confident. But they had the incentive of the loss and outplayed us physically. Their zone, with 6-foot 6-inches, 6-6 and 6-8 guys, made it tough with their length,” Kalamatas said.

The Red Raiders had a brief run to start the second half, cutting the deficit to four points but it was an 18-point gap by the middle of the fourth quarter. In addition to field goals, the visitors struggled from the free-throw line, and ended going 9-for-16.

Senior Bryce Walker tallied nine points and Christian Wilson had eight for Huntley, which slipped to 7-3, 3-2 FVC.

“We’ll be all right, our guys are very resilient and we’ll bounce back, starting (Dec. 15) at Burlington Central,” Kalamatas said.