Huntley's Andrews sets school career scoring record
When Samantha Mader was setting the career scoring record for Huntley's girls basketball program, Ali Andrews was just learning how to dribble a basketball.
Eleven years later, Andrews is now the Red Raiders' all-time leading scorer.
Needing just 3 points to break Mader's career record of 1,655 set in 2004, Andrews first made 1 of 2 free throws, then, with 4:53 left in the first quarter, she stepped back and hit a 3-pointer from the right wing to become Huntley's career leader.
The 6-foot-2 Illinois recruit, still just a junior, went on to score 22 points in leading the Red Raiders to a 45-27 win over McHenry Wednesday night.
Huntley got a trifecta of sorts. The Raiders were able to celebrate a productive senior night, they closed out their second straight unbeaten Fox Valley Conference Valley Division championship and they got a new career scoring leader to boot.
"I'm just real proud of our kids, to be able to finish the conference season unbeaten," said Huntley coach Steve Raethz, whose team is 34-2 in the past three seasons in the FVC Valley.
"We're happy to send our seniors off on a positive note and it's great to have Ali set the record on our home floor. She's the best player I've coached in my 16 years here. Samantha Mader was a special player but to break the record in three years is special. She's been everything and then some for us. She's a great player and she's a better person off the floor."
The always humble Andrews took the accomplishment in stride.
"It means a lot," she said. "All the years I've put in are paying off."
And, smiling, she denied missing the second of her first 2 free throws so she could make a shot to break the record, a shot that has helped her develop a more rounded inside-outside game.
"I just saw it was open and I took the shot," she said.
As for the game itself, the Red Raiders (23-4, 12-0), who have won 15 straight, left little doubt after breaking away from a 4-3 game after Andrews' record-breaking shot and a 3-pointer from McHenry senior Lindsey Skinner, who led the Warriors (11-16, 3-9) with 11 points. From that point Huntley went on a 18-5 run to close out the first half with a 22-8 lead.
The Red Raiders' biggest lead of the night was 24, 37-13, after a Kayla Barreto basket with 7:03 left in the game. The Red Raiders shot 19-for-43 for the game. Junior Paige Renkosik added 8 points for the winners.
Huntley's final tuneup before hosting its own Class 4A regional next week will be a Friday home date against FVC Fox co-champion Hampshire in the unofficial FVC title game.
"We've got our sites set on that game and we want to play well in that game so we have good thoughts going into next week," Raethz said. "Hampshire's a good team so we're looking forward to that game."