Olivia Leuze posted a 13-point, 14-rebound double-double and Malaina Kurth added 11 points as the Cary-Grove girls basketball team handed Burlington Central its first Fox Valley Conference loss of the season, defeating the Rockets 42-35 on Tuesday night.

Bud Shanahan drained two 3-pointers during a 16-2 run in the second quarter, and Crystal Lake Central went on to beat visiting Woodstock 66-50 Monday night in a nonconference boys basketball game between 10-3 teams.

Burlington Central junior Audrey LaFleur scored a career-high 25 points for the Rockets in a 68-59 win against Pecatonica at the Dixon Christmas Classic and averaged 17.5 points over four tournament games. LaFleur is the Northwest Herald Athlete of the Week.

Crystal Lake South sisters Laken and Gracey LePage aren't taking their final season together for granted, Burlington Central's hot start, a key KRC battle between Marengo and Johnsburg looms, and more in this week's Northwest Herald girls basketball notes.

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The Chicago Bears lost to the Detroit Lions 19-16 in the regular season finale Sunday afternoon at Soldier Field in Chicago.

Cary-Grove basketball twins Adam and Brady Bauer have been joined by their younger brother Evan this season. The Bauer trio has helped the Trojans put together an 11-2 record, including 4-0 in the Fox Valley Conference. Plus, more in the Northwest Herald boys basketball notebook.

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Northwest Herald photojournalist Gregory Shaver explains why he selected these 20 images as his favorite photographs of 2025, out of almost 3,000 images submitted from assignments.

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A selection of the top sports photos in the Northwest Herald in 2025, by Shaw Local photographers.

Huntley's Aubrina Adamik and Luca Garlin earned all-tournament honors, and the Red Raiders held off a record-setting game by Mundelein's Casey Vyverman for a 59-45 win in the seventh-place game at the Komaromy Classic on Tuesday.