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Huntley closes in on FVC Valley title

Trailing 15-11 at halftime, while shooting 20 percent along with standout sophomore center Ali Andrews scoring only 3 points, Huntley girls basketball coach Steve Raethz knew the complexion of the game had to change if his Red Raiders were going to stay undefeated in Fox Valley Conference Valley Division play.

It turned out to be a tale of two halves for the Red Raiders.

With Ali Andrews scoring 19 of her game-high 22 points in the second half, Huntley outscored host Prairie Ridge 36-27 during the final 16 minutes in posting a 47-42 conference victory.

Huntley, 18-3 overall, remains unscathed in league play at 8-0 as it seeks the program’s first conference championship since 2001.

“In the second half, we had five kids looking to score and we attacked the basket,” said Raethz. “We were flat in the first half and Prairie Ridge had something to do with that. The kids knew what was at stake. In the second half, we got the ball to Ali better in the paint and in the block and she was much more aggressive.”

PR (15-8, 8-2) sustained the momentum gained from the first half to start the third quarter. A 15-footer by Aly Clark gave the Wolves a 25-19 lead with 4:22 left in the third quarter.

Huntley got back in the game via the 3-pointer. With Ali Andrews, Kayla Barreto and Bethany Zornow canning treys the Red Raiders went on a pivotal 9-0 run to turn a 6-point deficit into a 3-point 28-25 advantage late in the third quarter.

Leading 28-27 after three quarters, Ali Andrews scored the first 6 points of the fourth quarter as the Raiders took a 34-27 lead with 5:45 remaining in the contest.

PR climbed within 38-36 with 2:45 left on a layup from Sarah LeBeau but couldn’t get any closer.

Huntley sealed the deal by making 7-of-8 from the free throw line in the final 1:30. Samantha Andrews made 3-of-4 while Baretto and Zornow each made 2-of-2.

“At halftime, coach told me go harder to the basket,” said Ali Andrews. “PR was really packing it in so I had to move around more. My teammates got me the ball in better position to score in the second half.”

Lebeau led the Wolves with 13 points while Maddie Drain scored 11.

“The kids played hard and I am so proud of them,” said PR coach Rob Baker. “We threw a trick defense at them but Huntley and Ali Andrews are so good they figured it out.”

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