Girls basketball: Campanelli leads Huntley to 35-1 season, another perfect FVC record, and sectional championship
Most high school senior athletes would be envious of Huntley’s Anna Campanelli.
Campanelli, a 5-foot-10 guard, enjoyed a memorable senior season, helping lead the Red Raiders girls basketball team to 35 consecutive victories to start the season before last week’s 57-33 Class 4A supersectional loss to eventual fourth-place state finisher Loyola Academy.
Averaging a team-high 16.6 points per game, along with 5.2 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 3 steals per contest, Campanelli proved her versatility throughout Huntley’s record-breaking season.
Her performance earned Campanelli the role as the captain of the Daily Herald Fox All-Area girls basketball team for the 2024-2025 campaign.
“It was a super special season,” said Campanelli. “It was the best season I could have asked for. Our whole team was super close, and we had a lot of fun.”
A 4-year varsity player, Campanelli began her senior season on a positive note, scoring a career-high 32 points with 9 steals during Huntley’s 53-35 victory over Rockford Boylan at the Dundee-Crown Thanksgiving Tournament.
It marked her first time scoring 30 points in a game, as the Red Raiders went on to capture the tourney title.
A month later, Campanelli, who topped the 1,000-point mark early in the season, made a triumphant return to Dundee-Crown, hitting a game-winning free throw with 1.3 seconds remaining during the Red Raiders’ 49-48 win over Maine South in the championship of the Komaromy Holiday Classic.
“That was my favorite game,” said Campanelli. “It showed how much our team had come together against a tough Maine South team.”
Later in the season, Campanelli finished with 17 points, 5 assists, and 4 steals during Huntley’s 50-38 victory over Cary-Grove, helping seal the Red Raiders’ unbeaten Fox Valley Conference campaign.
During postseason play, Campanelli was once again at the forefront, scoring a game-high 14 points in Huntley’s 39-37 sectional semifinal win over Lake Zurich.
She added 14 points and 5 assists during the Red Raiders’ 63-50 sectional title victory over Libertyville, before closing out her prep career with a team-high 18 points against Loyola.
“It was a pleasure to watch her grow the past four years,” Huntley coach Steve Raethz said of Campanelli. “She has a tremendous work ethic, which showed with the ability to score at all three levels this season. She extended her range in 3-point shooting and improved her post game.
“Anna had a great 4-year career. She had the benefit of playing with her sister, Sammi, and Jessie Ozzauto, the first two years — they helped take her under their wings.
“The last two years, she embraced the leadership role and became more vocal. Her competitiveness and drive is what separates her from others.
“What makes her special is that she’s an even better person off the floor.”
Supported by teammates Paula Strzelecki (U of I-Springfield), Ava McFadden, Aubrina Adamik, Evie Freundt, Isabella Boskey, and others, Campanelli achieved most of her preseason goals.
“I couldn’t have done it without the help of my teammates and coaches,” she said. “We had one of the deeper benches, and there was no drop-off. We all shared one goal — we wanted to win.
“Coach Raethz — he’s awesome. He’s an even better person off the floor. He cares about us girls. He gets the most out of his players. We were always so well-prepared, and he had a lot of trust in our team.”
Campanelli finished her career with 110 victories, second-most in school history behind Ali Andrews (2013-2016).
“Anna is the only player in program history to win four straight FVC titles,” said Raethz.
Campanelli, who began playing basketball as a first grader, will take her talents to Kent State this fall.
“It was one of the last (college) visits I made last summer,” she said. “I connected with the coaches and everything fell into place.
“I think I’ll be more of an off-guard — in the role as a 2 or 3 (small forward) at Kent State.”
Campanelli, who earned Illinois Basketball Coaches Association First Team All-State honors this past weekend, plans on majoring in early education at Kent State.
“My mom is a teacher, and I hope to be a first- or second-grade teacher one day,” she said. “I love being around kids.”
Campanelli finished her career with 1,404 points, 583 rebounds, 362 assists, 284 steals, and 107 three-point baskets.
“Anna is such a balanced player,” said Raethz. “She does it at both the offensive and defensive ends of the court. She’s a willing defender capable of guarding multiple positions, and she’s the consummate team player who gets her teammates involved. The sky is the limit for her.
“I have been so fortunate to coach her. She’s a special talent and a great person off the floor. We’re going to miss her.”