Huntley clinches share of FVC Valley
A 12-foot fadeaway jumper over two defenders is a tough shot.
Bryce Only found a way to make it.
Only’s shot rippled through the nets with 3.6 seconds left in the game to give the Red Raiders an exhilarating come-from-behind 41-40 win over Dundee-Crown in Fox Valley Conference Valley Division play in Huntley Saturday night.
“I knew it was a tough shot,” said Only. “D-C had two guys on me. I was glad to get it off. I was glad it went in,”
Huntley coach Marty Manning said the play was designed to go to Only.
“The play was to go to Bryce,” said Manning. “It was a tough shot but it went in.”
Huntley (21-2, 10-0), with 2 games to go, clinched a tie for the conference championship with the win.
The Red Raiders, who trailed most of the game, grabbed a 39-38 lead with 53 seconds left on a 3-pointer by Troy Miller. It was Miller’s only 3 points of the game.
Guarded tightly by Dundee-Crown’s Will Stupar, Miller misfired on his first 10 shots of the game.
“Troy certainly has the shooter’s mentality,” said Manning. “He has no conscience. He was having a tough night but he came up with a big basket.”
Huntley’s lead was short-lived as Dylan Kissack stole a Huntley inbounds pass for a layup with 18 seconds remaining to give the Chargers a 40-39 lead, which set up Only’s heroics.
The Chargers (15-8, 8-2) looked in good shape when Kissack nailed a 3-pointer with 6:44 left in the third quarter to give D-C a 27-14 lead.
The Red Raiders whittled away at the D-C the rest of the quarter and got to within 4 of the Chargers at 31-27 when Amanze Egekeze nailed a 12-footer as time expired in the period.
Egekeze was the lone Red Raider in double figures with 18 points. He also grabbed 12 rebounds and blocked 4 shots.
“I have been in a shooting slump and was glad to hit some shots tonight,” said Egekeze. “I had a mismatch and the guys did a great job of getting me the ball in good position to score.”
Kissack paced D-C with 12 points while Kyle Bernhard scored 11.
“What a tough loss,” said D-C coach Lance Huber. “We are certainly mad and disappointed. They kicked our butts on the glass in the second half. That was the difference.”