Huntley holds off Dundee-Crown, keeps Valley lead

When Huntley's lead started slipping away, Dylan Neukirch took matters into his own hands.

The Huntley senior converted 3-point plays on consecutive possessions to help the Red Raiders hold off Dundee-Crown, 51-40, in Fox Valley Conference Valley Division boys basketball action in Carpentersville Friday night.

The Chargers, playing on Senior Night, had whittled a 17-point Huntley lead down to 5 at 41-36, when Neukirch drove the lane for a layup and got fouled. He converted the free throw, and did it again on Huntley's next possession. After a D-C free throw, Troy Miller hit a 3-pointer to put the Raiders (19-4, 7-1) back in control.

Neukirch didn't exactly shy away with the game on the line.

"As a sophomore and junior, I was a little more tentative," he said, "But as a senior you definitely want the ball in your hands."

"He sometimes does things a little too aggressive and out of control, but tonight he was great," said Huntley coach Marty Manning.

"Mainly because we got him the ball in the post instead of him having to dribble from the top of the key down there."

Neukirch finished with a game-high 17 points. Miller added 13 and Tyler Brunschon had 10 for Huntley, which beat the Chargers (11-11, 3-5) for the third time this season.

Jamel Kimbrough had 12 points and 5 rebounds for D-C. He made 2 straight baskets to get the Chargers within 5. Ryan Smith and Dylan Kissack added 11 and 8 points, respectively, for the Chargers.

The Raiders raced out to an 11-4 lead and led by double digits for most of the second and third quarters.

The necessity of late comebacks has become a disturbing trend for the Chargers.

"Unfortunately, we're pretty good at that because we've been behind a lot," said Charger coach Lance Huber. "I thought our kids played hard to get back in the ballgame, but falling behind is becoming all too common."