Ozzauto secures a milestone: 1,000th career point

HUNTLEY — Joe and Janet Ozzauto probably knew they had a future “gym rat” on their hands maybe in the winters of the early 2010s. Jessie Ozzauto fell in love with basketball about that time as brothers Joe and Josh Ozzauto were among her first hoops teachers.

“Jessie would be out playing basketball in the driveway in the ice and snow,” dad Joe said.

Joe Ozzauto was speaking 1,000 Huntley points later on another winter’s day. Ozzauto, a senior, joined the school’s 1,000-point club, exactly, on a three-pointer from the top of the key. She finished with a career high 29 points in the HHS 68-39 win over Burlington Central. The game was stopped in the fourth quarter for a celebration. Huntley’s record improved to stood at 25-4, 16-0 in the Fox Valley Conference.

“I played on a boys team in second grade and with my older brothers in the driveway,” Jessie Ozzauto said, the basketball of the 1K shot in hand. “It was real cool to get 1,000 points tonight, but also to win a share of the Fox Valley Conference title.”

The game-stopping play came as Ozzauto and Ashlyn Horton handed off a pass to Ozzauto for the big assist. “It wasn’t a designed play,” Horton said. Horton described Ozzauto as “a great team leader.”

With almost 30 points needed, team members thought the 1,000th might come the next game at Dundee-Crown Feb. 8. That added to the fun when Ozzauto notched her 13th point of the fourth quarter, Horton said.

“She hit the 29 points she needed, it was a real great effort. I’m so proud of her,” HHS coach Steve Raethz said.

Also impressed was Ozzauto’s hoops skills trainer, Ryan Hartman, who has worked with several Red Raiders.  “I was so impressed by Ozzauto’s attention to detail,” Hartman said.

After the key shot, Ozzauto enjoyed the celebration then took a spot on the team bench, cheering on as teammates finished off the scoring. She is committed to play D-I basketball at Leigh University in 2023-2024.

Burlington Central coach Collin Kalamatas, who teaches at District 158, had praise for Ozzauto.

“We knew Ozzauto was within 29 points of 1,000,” Kalamatas said. “She’s a very talented player who works really hard. Hats off to her. Ozzauto progressed a lot as a high school basketball player. One of her biggest strengths has been her ability to run the floor and attack the rim. That basket she made was impressive because four years ago, the scouting report on her was to make her shoot from the outside. Now she has developed that range and is a threat to score from anywhere on the floor. She has improved so much.”

Huntley’s Sammi Campanelli had another strong game with 17 points against the third-place FVC Rockets. Monday’s victory led to an outright league title attempt Feb. 8 at Dundee-Crown before a regular season finale at Crystal Lake Central Feb. 10.