Girls hoops has strong start
HUNTLEY — An 8-0 start to the season for the Huntley girls basketball squad has featured a trio that’s tough to beat.
There is the close-in attack, led by Paula Strzelecki’s nine points per game average with a stellar effort in a non-conference clash against Mother McAuley.
Also, teams have to contend with the outside shooting of Anna Campanelli and her 20 points per game average with a 32-point career best contest. Fellow senior Ava McFadden is also a steady sharp-shooter.
Then there is the smothering defense, which holds teams to the single digits to start games.
Strzelecki’s signature contest was a 16-points, 14-rebounds contribution in a 61-56 win over Mother McAuley (6-3 record) Dec. 7 at the Chicagoland Classic at Palatine Fremd.
“Mother McAuley is a real good basketball team and we played a complete game,” HHS coach Steve Raethz said. “We want to have tough non-conference opponents.”
Raethz praised Strzelecki’s effort that night as well as her career.
“She has a great touch to the basket and has always been a good defender and rebounder,” Raethz said.
“I didn’t know I had that many points,” Strzelecki said, after the next game, with a smile. “A lot of it was the high-low game with Campanelli. We have good chemistry.”
“I have gotten better at rebounding,” she commented. “I’ve worked hard in the weight room and at Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.”
April Strzelecki and sister Alex, who plays for McHenry County College’s squad but is recovering from injury, are long-time basketball players.
In addition to Campanelli and Strzelecki’s scoring, Alyssa Borzych added seven points and Aubrina Adamik six against Mother McAuley.
Huntley had its normal cruise control game against visiting Jacobs Dec. 10 in a 61-16 romp. Campanelli netted 16 points, McFadden and Strzelecki had eight points each and all Huntley varsity players dotted the scorebook. Huntley had 18 two-pointers and eight three-pointers.
The previous league clash was a 66-23 triumph over Hampshire Dec. 6, featuring a 20-point first quarter by Campanelli, who ended with 22.
Campanelli swished five three-pointers in the memorable eight minutes. She also was 3-for-4 from the free-throw line. The Kent State University commit has already set a new personal scoring best with a 32-point game and now her early game barrage.
Huntley made nine three-pointers, as senior McFadden also had two. Strzelecki added eight points and Gwen Campbell had seven points, all in the fourth quarter.
“We played great and had a lot of people who stepped up at various times,” Raethz said. “It was our best shooting game of the season so far.”
Huntley is at Crystal Lake Central in FVC action Dec. 13 before hosting Hersey at 2:30 p.m. Dec. 14 for a non-conference test.
College update
A pair of former Red Raiders standouts are playing college basketball.
Jessie Ozzauto is a sophomore on the Leigh University of Bethlehem, PA, of the Patriot League. She scored five points in the Mountain Hawks (6-3) 85-68 win at Northwestern University Nov. 10. Last season she played in 28 games, with a best of 11 points against East Stroudsberg. Ozzauto was also a standout in track and field for the Red Raiders.
Cassidy Serpe is a freshman at McHenry County College in Crystal Lake. The Scots stand at 6-3 overall, with a close 78-74 win over Milwaukee Area Technical College as its latest win. Serpe tallied eight points. MCC fell to Bay College (Michigan) 79-53 Dec. 7.
