Egezeke, Huntley charge past Dundee-Crown

Amanze Egekeze saved his best for last.

Egekeze scored 12 of his 16 points during the fourth and final quarter to help propel Huntley to a 55-39 win over Dundee-Crown in Fox Valley Conference Valley Division boys basketball action in Carpentersville Friday night.

Making only 1-of-2 shots during the first three quarters with only 4 points, the 6-foot-8 senior center made all 3 of his shots from the field coupled with 6-of-8 from the free-throw line in scoring 12 points during the final 8 minutes.

The Belmont University-bound standout added 12 rebounds, 4 blocked shots and 3 assists to his resume.

“I wasn’t as aggressive as I should have been in the first three quarters,” said Egekeze. “It was frustrating. I couldn’t get in any rhythm. I wanted to exert myself in the fourth quarter and help our team. This is always a tough place to play. It was a good team win.”

Huntley coach Marty Manning was happy to see his team make more of an effort to get Egekeze the ball in the fourth quarter.

“We had a lot of chances to get him the ball during the first three quarters and didn’t do it,” said Manning. “We looked for him more in the fourth quarter and he got some good shots and got to the free throw line.”

Holding a 36-28 lead after three quarters, Egekeze and the Raiders (9-4, 2-0) seized control of the game early in the fourth quarter, With Egekeze scoring 4 points along with a basket each from Zach Gorney and Kyle Slonka the Red Raiders scored the first 8 points of the final 8 minutes to extend an 8-point third quarter lead to 16, 44-28, with 6:22 left in the contest.

The Chargers (4-9, 0-2) climbed within 10 of Huntley, 48-38, on a 3-pointer by Nick Munson with 2:44 left but couldn’t get any closer,

“Their size wore us down in the fourth quarter,” said D-C coach Lance Huber. “We would get to the basket and they would swat it away.”

Gorney backed Egekeze with 15 points, 11 during the first three quarters and Riley Wicks tallied all 10 of his points during the first 24 minutes.

“Most teams are going to overplay and double and triple team Amanze,” said Manning. “That will give opportunities to players like Zach and Riley, who carried us for three quarters.”

Kiwaun Seals led the Chargers with 12 points and Cordero Parsons tallied 10.