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Big second half powers Huntley past Cary-Grove

Any good feelings Cary-Grove had after hanging tough with Huntley for one half vanished quickly after halftime.

Huntley stymied the Trojans on the defensive end, holding C-G scoreless for more than 6 minutes. The Red Raiders knocked down shots on the other end, or rebounded their own misses to try again.

The Raiders scored the first 13 points of the second half on their way to a 56-35 Fox Valley Conference boys basketball victory Wednesday night at Elroy Fitzgerald Gymnasium.

"It was definitely getting stops," said Huntley guard Ben Ahmer, who hit t23-pointers during that stretch. "We held them to, what, nine points in the second half. And then offensive rebounding was huge. getting second chances, better looks, inside out and stuff like that."

C-G (3-4, 1-2) went on a 7-0 run late in the second quarter to tie the score at 20-20. Huntley (7-1, 3-0) ended that quarter with Adam Guazzo taking an inbound pass and passing to Nate Ary for a buzzer-beating 3.

Guazzo then started the second half with another 3, then scored a pair of baskets inside, before Ahmer hit 2 3s.

"It definitely was on the defensive side, getting stops," said Guazzo, who finished with 10 points and 12 rebounds. "We were a little colder in the first half, we hit more shots in the second half. We brought more energy, got more loose balls and no offensive rebounds (in the second half)."

John Mau scored two late baskets in the third quarter, but Huntley opened the fourth quarter with 12 consecutive points.

"We shared the ball in the second half and started making shots and were able to pull away," Raiders coach Will Benson said. "Stop, score, stop, score, those things add up and that's what we kind of did."

Ahmer hit 4 3s and led all players with 20 points. Wieczorek and Oliwier Dzic each scored 7. Mike Clarke led C-G with 11, while Jake Hornok scored 8 with 2 3s, all in the first half.

The Trojans were missing 6-foot-5 Zach Bauer, their tallest player, who was out sick.

"Our guys played hard and I told them if they were patient and took advantage of stops we would be in the game," Trojans coach Adam McCloud said. "Huntley is too good of a shooting team to let offensive rebounds and turnovers pile up, and that's what killed us in the second half.

"We were a little more careless (with the ball). They were giving us a little more in the first half, they ratcheted up the pressure on the ball a little bit."

Cary-Grove's Michael Clarke shoots over Huntley's Adam Guazzo, left, and Chet Andrews, right, Wednesday. Gregory Shaver for Shaw Media
Huntley's Adam Guazzo tries to block the shot of Cary-Grove's Michael Clarke Wednesday. Gregory Shaver for Shaw Media
Huntley's Ian Ravagnie, right is fouled by Cary-Grove's Calvin Slimko as Ravagnie shoots Wednesday. Gregory Shaver for Shaw Media
Cary-Grove's John Mau tries to steal the ball from Huntley's Ben Ahmer Wednesday. Gregory Shaver for Shaw Media
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