Boys basketball: CL South will have its own ‘March Madness’

Crystal Lake South’s boys basketball team is about to experience a week like no other.

After a week’s quarantine for COVID-19 protocol, the Gators start a six-day string of games Sunday with a 1 p.m. game at McHenry.

“Six games in six days, no practices leading up to it,” South coach Matt LePage said. “We’ve been doing some Zoom meetings, and guys have been doing home workouts, hopefully cardio-driven. [It is] March Madness to say the least. We’re just excited to get back out there.”

South (1-3, 1-3 Fox Valley Conference) had to stop its season after a 59-54 victory over Huntley on Feb. 16. Fortunately, the Gators had enough season remaining that they could squeeze all their games into one week and not miss any of the already abbreviated season.

The closest thing in high school sports to what the Gators will do might be when wet springs produce baseball/softball rainouts, and teams, late in their seasons, wind up playing every day.

After Sunday’s game, South hosts Burlington Central on Monday, is at Crystal Lake Central on Tuesday, hosts Jacobs on Wednesday, hosts Cary-Grove on Thursday and hosts Hampshire on Friday.

There is a possibility of a seventh straight game day if South finishes in seventh through 10th in the FVC standings. The FVC Tournament will start March 6 with two play-in games.

Talking loud: Cary-Grove senior Drew Talkington hit a 17-footer with eight seconds remaining Tuesday as the Trojans (5-1, 4-1 FVC) won their fifth consecutive game, beating Dundee-Crown, 41-40.

Talkington, a 6-foot-4 forward, has made a significant impact for a team that graduated two 1,000-point scorers (Beau Frericks and Frank Jakubicek), along with point guard Clark Cunningham.

Talkington is averaging 11.5 points a game to lead the Trojans, who have not lost since their season opener at FVC-leading Burlington Central. Drew Sepeczi (9.8) and Mike Clarke (9.5) are next for C-G.

“His ability to shoot from the outside makes him hard to guard,” C-G coach Adam McCloud said. “He really worked hard in the offseason. He legitimately was able to train at Pure Sweat [basketball facility in Crystal Lake]. He’s put in the time, put on good weight and good muscle, and he doesn’t mind contact.”

McCloud said playing against Jakubicek, who is 6-8, in practice every day was a benefit for learning how to get off shots.

“The only way he could compete against Frank was to be very, very crafty,” McCloud said. “He shot fakes as well as any big I’ve ever coached. By the third shot fake, the defender leaves his feet. He’d get Frank the same way [in practices]. He’s shown flashes of that.”

Rough stretch: Prairie Ridge (3-2, 3-2) started the season with three consecutive wins, then ran into the FVC’s top two teams and lost to C-G and Burlington Central.

The Wolves still hope for a strong finish and final standing after winning one FVC game a year ago.

“We need to execute at a higher level,” Wolves coach Ryan Smith said. “We’ve seen the two teams at the top, and they’ve kind of exposed some of the areas of execution we need to improve upon.”

Guard Mason Loucks feels Prairie Ridge can learn from its losses.

“We’ve beaten the teams we should have beaten,” Loucks said. “Now it’s getting better and beating teams we know we can beat.”

KRC race: Marengo is halfway to its goal of winning back-to-back Kishwaukee River Conference titles, although the Indians may face their toughest competition in the final two weeks.

Marengo (5-0) leads Richmond-Burton and Woodstock North (both 4-1) by one game with five to play. The Indians get two with R-B next week and two with Woodstock North in the final week.