Solid hoops, good will on display in FVC opener

HUNTLEY — The young girls basketball players, who play in the Huntley Park District program, lined up, with posters in hand, to obtain autographs of Huntley girls basketball team members Dec. 3.

The varsity team members took their Sharpies, signed their name and posed for photos. It was a good ending to a successful night after the Red Raiders dominated Cary-Grove, 50-38 to begin Fox Valley Conference play. HHS is off to a 5-0 start, 1-0 FVC.

The younger Huntley girls would do well to take a pointer on pressure defense and long range shooting from their elders. Senior Ava McFadden made three treys in her 12-point game. The squad made eight threes, one more than two-point field goals. The Red Raiders started with a 14-3 early lead and did not look back.

“We have great depth of talent this year, both offensively and defensively,” Huntley coach Steve Raethz said.

The Red Raiders’ marksmanship came from six players. Senior Anna Campanelli led with 17 points with one long-range basket.  Adding hoops for threes were Aubrina Adamik (seven points), Lana Hobday, Alyssa Borzych and Madison Diaz.

“McFadden had a great second half last season and she picked up where she left off,” Raethz said. “She also played tough defense against Cary-Grove’s post player in the second half.”

“We work a lot on three-pointers with our shooting drills in practice,” McFadden said. “We do a good job of looking for the open person.”

McFadden and Campanelli are two of the five HHS girls hoops seniors. Classmates are Diaz, Isabella Boskey and Paula Strzelecki.

“We’ve been playing basketball together forever and hope to go far this season,” McFadden said.

Huntley, which reached 22 three-point baskets over a three-game stretch, had won its Thanksgiving tournament with a four-game sweep. It held off runs by the Trojans on Tuesday, with double digit leads in the fourth quarter. Huntley hosts Hampshire at 6 p.m., Dec. 6.