League tasks at hand for 15-0 girls hoops
HUNTLEY — On many levels, it has been a sweet story of success for Huntley’s girls basketball team.
Leading the way is a 16-0 record to start the season.
Also among the achievements: HHS has won their first Dundee-Crown Koromary Classic tournament with a thrilling 49-48 win over Maine South Dec. 30; edged state-ranked Prospect, 55-51 Jan. 4 and routed Crystal Lake South, 69-25 Jan. 7 to gain sole possession of first place in the Fox Valley Conference.
The squad gained a Class 4A 10th ranking recently. The Red Raiders host Burlington Central Jan. 10 and are at McHenry Jan. 14. HHS will top the 900 points total against the Rockets, compared to surrendering only 510.
Huntley senior standout Anna Campanelli continued to set the pace, with her 1,000th career point, coming against Maine West at D-C. She is a rercuit for Kent State University and is now the eighth Red Raider girls basketball player to gain 1,000 career points.
“Campanelli is just so consistent,” HHS head coach Steve Raethz said.
The game at Prospect was a battle of two state-ranked teams in the host Knights and the Red Raiders. Huntley prevailed on the strength of 11 3-pointers. Three were from Luca Garlin with two in the fourth quarter; seniors Ava McFadden and Campanelli each added a trio (in 18 and 12 points games, respectively) and Lana Hobday had the other trey. The inside game also had a steady hand, led by Paula Strzelecki’s nine points.
Huntley led 22-20 at halftime and 37-33 entering the fourth, when both teams scored 18 points but the Red Raiders hung on for the win.
“It was a great game played at a high level by both teams,” Raethz said. “We were able to hold them scoreless in the final four minutes and get a couple of key turnovers. It was a game of runs.”
In the next game Jan. 7, Huntley hit Crystal Lake South with a barrage of 3-pointers, making 14 of them, one more than two-pointers. A total of seven players made 3-pointers. Campanelli led with five treys, while Garlin added three, Isabella Boskey had two on a 11-points game. Strzelecki had one on a bank shot of her 12 points while Evelyn Freundt added one.
“I didn’t make any 3-pointers last season, but have been working hard on it this season, with about 50 shots a day,” Strelecki said.
“Our focus now is on the FVC, with 13 games remaining, and our next challenge, Burlington Central,” Raethz said.
D-C tournament highlights
Campanelli, McFadden and Strzelecki were named to the Komaromy Classic all-tournament team.
In the title game against Maine South, Huntley trailed 42-33 before a 16-6 third and fourth quarter spurt, capped off by two key Campanelli free throws of her 19 points. She also came through with a long rebound with 1.3 seconds left.
“We have a drill where we have to stop the opposition from scoring with 30 seconds left,” Campanelli said.
Strzelecki had an 18 points, 13 rebounds game against the Hawks.
A first half highlight was a buzzer-beating 3 by Garlin at the end of the first quarter for a 13-11 lead. She finished with five points.
“I am so proud of our entire team,” Raethz said. “It was a great game to watch and coach. They’re a great team, and I have the utmost respect for Maine South head coach Jeff Hamann and his program.”
Campanelli nets 1,000th point
Campanelli became the eighth girls basketball player to reach 1,000th career point in the first quarter of the tournament opener, a 66-14 win over Maine West. She finished with 20 points and eight rebounds. Strzelecki added 10 points. The other victory was a 48-32 win over New Trier, led by Campanelli’s 23 points and Hobday added 11.
