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Electric atmosphere surrounded Buffalo Grove-Meadows game

A basket for you, a basket for me.

A 3-pointer for you, a 3-pointer for me.

This happened over and over again on Feb. 7, 2020 on an electric Friday night in February as Max Christie of Rolling Meadows and Kam Craft of Buffalo Grove seemed to have an intense game of one-upmanship going.

The two basketball stars combined for 88 points in one of the most entertaining and dramatic high school sporting events I have ever covered, and for sure one of my favorite games in my 23-year career at the Daily Herald.

While Christie (42 points) and Craft (46 points) dueled (I had never before seen two high school players score 40-plus points in the same game), their teammates provided all of the proper support. And the standing room only crowd took care of the electric atmosphere.

First place in the Mid-Suburban League East was on the line. The regular season was nearing an end and the gym at Buffalo Grove was buzzing.

In the end, Christie and Rolling Meadows got the best of Craft and Buffalo Grove 93-83, but it took double overtime to do it.

"I think it was a fun game to watch. I think we gave the crowd what they wanted to see," Christie said after the game. "And for us, it's a big game. They (Buffalo Grove) came to our place and beat us by 10, and now we beat them by 10 at their place and it means we're still in the race to win the MSL."

"What a high school basketball game. Two really good teams, two really good players going at each other," Rolling Meadows coach Kevin Katovich said moments after the game as fans passed by congratulating him. "I have a lot of respect for Buffalo Grove and what they've done, and our guys battled too. It was quite a fun game on a Friday night.

"And that was something between Max and Kam. Just two really, really talented players obviously. That's why the gym was packed. People got their money's worth."

And the players got memories to last a lifetime.

Craft said that single game will alter the future of boys basketball at Buffalo Grove.

"It was just a big game and everyone came out," Craft said after he emerged from a sullen but proud locker room. "The crowd was really into it and I think it helped us throughout the game but things just didn't work out in the end and that's a tough loss.

"But I think we've changed the culture here at BG. It's never been like this. Everyone is coming out to the games. It's a great environment. This is the biggest crowd I've ever played in front of. Everyone was into it. There was a lot of talent on the floor to see. It was just a crazy experience."

RM tops BG in double-overtime classic

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