Many talented hoops players pitch in
HUNTLEY — Depth of talented basketball players is one of the top reasons why Huntley’s girls basketball team is state ranked and knocking at the door of 20 victories.
The latest examples came with two 50-point plus margins of victory, 74-17 over Burlington Central Jan. 10 and a follow-up 59-8 cruise control win at McHenry Jan. 14. HHS, ranked sixth by the Associated Press, was 18-0, 7-0 Fox Valley Conference after the win over the Warriors.
“Our depth has been the biggest reason for our success,” Huntley coach Steve Raethz said after the McHenry game. “We have a number of players who can come in and contribute. “(Against McHenry), we played hard and did a good job off the ball and the defense was solid both in the full-court and half-court.”
At McHenry, a quartet of Red Raiders contributed eight points each as seniors Paula Strzelecki and Isabella Boskey, sophomore Alyssa Borzych and freshman Evelyn Freundt shared the total. Senior Anna Campanelli led with 15 points.
The latest barrage of offense brought the team’s season points total to 1,026 points, an average of 57 points per contest.
“It’s been awesome,” Boskey saud. “We have a lot of shooting drills at practice.”
The depth assisted in helping as junior starter Luca Garlin was out with an ankle injury. Madison Diaz, a senior, got the start at McHenry. Contributing at Dundee-Crown’s Christmas tourney was Lana Hobday with 11 points against New Trier.
The talented players on offense boost the scoring behind 1,000-point senior Campanelli, inside threat Strzelecki and senior Ava McFadden. This trio earned all-tourney honors at Dundee-Crown’s Christmas tournament. Campanelli is a D-1 Kent State University commit.
Meanwhile, the defense stifles the opposition, with an average margin of about 30 points per game. Huntley has prevailed when challenged, of late by Prospect, a 55-51 win and Maine South, a 49-48 victory for the D-C tourney championship.
In other recent games, Borzych tallied nine counters with three 3-pointers in a 74-17 win over Burlington Central Jan. 10. This was Huntley’s first win total over 70 points after two 69-point games and one at 68 points. Campanelli led against the Rockets with 18 points, while Strzelecki and Aubrina Adamik added 10.
Huntley is in a stretch of several road games. They are at Prairie Ridge in Crystal Lake in league play Jan. 17 before facing Lincoln Way East and DeKalb at DeKalb on Jan. 18.
College update
Serpe nets 19 points in MCC win
Huntley High School alumna Cassidy Serpe led McHenry County College women’s basketball team to an 84-62 win at Elgin Jan. 9 in a Skyway Conference game.
Serpe, a freshman for the Scots, scored 19 points as she was 9 for 19 in field goal attempts. She also had nine rebounds, one assist, one steal and one blocked shot. The Scots record was 8-9 overall, 2-1 Skyway after the win. In another game, Serpe scored 12 points in an 86-67 loss to Olive-Harvey.
Ozzauto helps Leigh
Huntley alumnna Jessie Ozzauto, a sophomore member of the Leigh University women’s basketball team, contributed four assists, one steal and one point when Leigh beat Army West Point, 90-51 Jan. 12. Leigh was 12-4, 3-1 Patriot League. Ozzauto has played in 13 games this season and has scored 33 points.
College update
Huntley High School alumna Cassidy Srrpe led McHenry County College women’s basketball team to an 84-62 win at Elgin Jan. 9 in a Skyway Conference game.
Serpe, a freshman for the Scots, scored 19 points as she was 9 for 19 in field goal attempts. She also had nine rebounds, one assist, one steal and one blocked shot.
Also reaching double digits scoring were Isabella Frohling, who scored 15 points, had 12 rebounds, and three steals. Zoie Lewis netted 12 points and 15 rebounds, while Chloe Kmiec added 14 points, 13 rebounds. Reese Kominski contributed 10 points. MCC won the deciding fourth quarter, 27-20. The Scots record was 8-9 overall, 2-1 Skyway after the win.
In another game, Serpe scored 12 points in a 86-67 loss to Olive-Harvey.
