Red Raiders give salute to seniors
HUNTLEY — Ethan Blackmore smiles when the question, “when did you make your first three-pointer?”
“It was in third grade,” the Huntley senior said. “I was playing in a game at a Barrington school and I made a shot from the top of the key. My feeder system was great – I remember looking up to players like they look up to us today.”
Flash forward some nine grades later. It was a Tuesday night in early February against first place and soon to be Fox Valley Conference champion Crystal Lake South. Senior night festivities took place before a game against the league leading Gators, which the visitors won, 60-51.
The Red Raiders bounced back with a 50-35 win at Dundee-Crown for an 18-10, 10-5 Fox Valley Conference record heading into the final week of the regular season.
After the South game, memories flowed as smoothly as a senior Bryce Walker steal or a senior Omare Segarra drive to the basket. Players posed for family photos, then took their posters home. It was a tough night on the court as CLC celebrated winning the FVC outright but the nine senior Red Raiders left feeling good overall.
Blackmore tallied 17 points, with all but one basket from three-point range, and added four rebounds and three assists. He admitted he surprised himself with five three-point baskets against the Gators in the first half, but treys are part of his routine. “I shoot between 60 and 100 threes a day,” he said.
Red Raider fans are used to seeing the nifty nine, seven of whom have played hoops together throughout. Walker, Blackmore, Segarra, Ryan Sweeney, Lucas Crosby, Jeff Cruishank, Matt Krueger, Jacob Pociecha, Carter Schaap have been team leaders on a 17-win season. Schapp, Krueger and Pociecha joined the starting five for the CLS game. Two players, Segarra and Cruishank, transferred in to Huntley since freshman year.
“They’re a special group, it’s awesome to have a nine-player senior class, and the legacies they will leave behind,” Huntley coach Collin Kalamatas said.
“We are such a close group,” Sweeney said.
Sweeney, also a linebacker for Huntley’s football squad, battles on the inside but has worked more on another area. “I worked a lot on my ball-handling and shooting,” he said.
Sweeney credits dad James, an HHS alumunus, for his hoops skills and older brother Evan. “I like shooting like Kevin Durant,” he said of his NBA favorite.
Walker, who was credited for slowing South star AJ Demirov to 14 points, also reflected on his days at the HHS gym.
“I’ve been playing here since the feeder program days,” Walker said. “Just feeling the love for Huntley and their support of the team. We just believed in each other then jelled.”
Huntley handed South one of its two defeats, at the Johnsburg Thanksgiving tournament championship game opening week. CLS, though, has now won 11 straight contests and seeks to end perfect in the FVC.
Things started well for the home team – led by Blackmore’s five for five start from three-point range in a 17-points effort. “I take about 60 to 100 threes a day,” he said.
Huntley battled South and held a 10-point lead, 30-20 in the second quarter. The final two minutes belonged to the Gators, who took charge with an 8-2 finish. Christian Wilson, who aided the early lead with two three-pointers, had 11 points. Walker added 10 points and Sheldon Bonsu contributed nine.
The final regular season week includes games at Prairie Ridge Feb. 13 and at McHenry Feb. 16.
IHSA Regional
The Red Raiders were seeded fourth in the Rockford East Regional. They play seventh-seed Rockton Hononegah at 6 p.m. Feb. 21 at Rockford East. The regional final is at 7 p.m. Feb. 23 with the winner moving on to the Rockford Guilford Sectional.
