Red Raiders double fans’ fun on Fridays

HUNTLEY – Woodstock Willy may have had to rise early but basketball fans had a late night on Groundhog Day.

The Red Raiders, outlasted Burlington Central in a seven, yes seven period marathon, 73-68 on Feb. 2. The win followed a last-second shot win over Jacobs, 52-50, Jan. 26.

The game winning 8-3 Huntley run in the final OT was made possible by rebounds and winning loose ball battles to lead to scoring opportunities. Bryce Walker made six free throws and Ethan Blackmore two and Omare Segarra made a lay-up with six seconds remaining to ice it as Huntley moved to 17-9, 10-4 in the FVC.

Walker, who led with 19 points, added six rebounds and assists. Christian Wilson, who tallied 15 points, made key three-pointers, the most important one for a tie at 53-53 at the end of regulation. Segarra finished with 11 points.

“It’s been a while,” Huntley coach Colin Kalamatas said of three overtimes. “The guys did a great job and found a way to win. We were going to run the clock down on but Segarra was open for a lay-up.”

The overtimes featured a three-quarter court shot by Ethan Blackmore (seven points) that came within inches of a “top 10” moment.

Huntley outscored BC 16-9 on free-throws, as Walker was 9-of-12, 4-for-4 in the third overtime. A tough practice drill helped Walker refine his free-throw shooting touch.

“We have a drill in practice where if you miss a free-throw, you have to run a full-court. If you miss two, you have to run a full court and one half to make it when there is pressure on you. And here will be, especially being a point guard. We stuck together and started to jell,” Walker said.

But the final was not in the books until Walker’s pass to Segarra for a lay-up diffused the Rockets for good.

“I never experienced anything like this, we just gritted it out. It was a tough battle, they’re a physical team,” Wilson said.

The celebration seemed more subdued than the previous week’s win over Jacobs, but a two-hour game will do that to you. It was time to turn the gym over to the wrestlers to set up for regional at the late hour of 9:30 p.m.