July 06, 2025
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Boys basketball: Crystal Lake South overcomes slow starts, tops Huntley for Johnsburg tourney title

By Dave Hess – Daily Herald Media Group
Crystal Lake South’s Cam Miller, left, joins the celebration while AJ Demirov, front, is embraced by Cooper LePage as the Gators won against Huntley in the title game of the Johnsburg Thanksgiving tournament in boys basketball on Friday.

Crystal Lake South’s Cam Miller, left, joins the celebration while AJ Demirov, front, is embraced by Cooper LePage as the Gators won against Huntley in the Johnsburg Thanksgiving Tournament title game Friday. (Patrick Kunzer)

JOHNSBURG – There wasn’t the least bit of panic.

With Huntley making 4 of 5 from 3-point range, the Red Raiders opened up a 16-4 advantage with 2 minutes left in the first quarter.

The last 26 minutes belonged to Crystal Lake South.

The Gators outscored the Red Raiders 49-33 to rally for a 53-49 win to claim the championship of the Johnsburg Thanksgiving Tournament on Friday afternoon.

South (4-0) overcame adversity to win the title. The Gators played over three quarters without starting guard Zachary Peltz, and returning starter Brady Schroeder is possibly sidelined another week.

“We have a veteran group and they fought back,” Gators coach Matt LePage said. “There was no panic. We guarded the 3 better after the first quarter. We beat some good teams in this tournament. It is good to be 4-0.”

With two 3-pointers from Ethan Blackmore and one each from Lucas Crosby and Ty Goodrich, the Red Raiders (3-1) led by 12 in the first quarter.

Crystal Lake South’s Cooper LePage, left, and Josh Washington, right, keep close tabs on Huntley’s Ty Goodrich, center, during the title game of the Johnsburg Thanksgiving tournament in boys basketball on Friday.

Crystal Lake South’s Cooper LePage, left, and Josh Washington, right, defend Huntley’s Ty Goodrich during Friday's game.

The Gators, on the strength of seven points from Cooper LePage, ended the first quarter on a 9-1 run and sliced the Raiders’ lead to 17-13 after 8 minutes.

“They outplayed us the last three quarters,” Huntley coach Will Benson said. “They defended the 3 better and they made us earn every basket. They have great athletes. The effort was there. South just beat us.”

With South leading 36-33 after three quarters, the Gators scored the first five points of the fourth quarter on a 3 by Anthony Demirov and a driving layup from LePage. The Gators led 41-33 with 5:52 left in the game.

The Red Raiders responded with a 5-0 run to cut the South advantage to 41-38 but couldn’t get any closer.

Cooper LePage paced the champions with 23 points which included two 3-pointers.

“It is awesome to win this tournament and start the season 4-0,” said Cooper LePage. “We didn’t panic when Huntley got off to a lead early. Huntley is a very good team. We faced adversity with Schroeder (Brady) and Peltz (Zachary) out.”

Demirov added 15 points and Cameron Miller 11 for the winners.

Huntley, which made only 3 of 10 from 3-point range the last three quarters, was led by 14 points from Goodrich and 10 each by Crosby and Blackmore.

Johnsburg took third place in the tournament with a 67-60 win over Wauconda. Geneva finished fifth by beating Grayslake North 67-33.

https://basketball.dailyherald.com/sports/20221125/crystal-lake-south-shakes-off-slow-start-beats-huntley-for-johnsburg-crown

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