Friday, July 8, 2011
Veteran coach had a great five-year run at Crystal Lake Central
It was clear for Fox Valley boys basketball teams that Crystal Lake Central was not the place to visit in the winter of 1996-97. The home-standing Tigers, coached by Jim Condill, were the class of the league and entering their den was not a good idea. “We had a 36-game winning streak at home,” Condill said. “Those last three years, we didn’t lose a game at home. I was awfully fortunate. We had some great crowds.” It’s been 13 years since Condill coached the Tigers and, until this past winter, Crystal Lake Central had not put together a 20-win season. In Condill’s day 20-win seasons were the norm. Condill’s coaching career at Cary-Grove opened in the 1976 season and his first team notched 15 wins. That would be his only winning season in an…
Monday, March 21, 2011
The Hardwood Tour comes to a close.
Excellence was abundant on The Patch Hardwood Tour during this past hoops season. From the gloriously outstanding campaigns of the Huntley Red Raiders and Crystal Lake Central Tigers to the late-season victories finally garnered by struggling squads from Prairie Ridge and Lake Zurich, effort earned rewards. In that same spirit, this column wraps up the 2010-11 basketball season by acknowledging the teams and individuals who made following the 17 clubs on The Tour an enjoyable experience. I want to point out that selecting the top guards of this season was an especially difficult task. I could have easily acknowledged a dozen more back-court players. Final Ranking of Top 10 Teams on the Hardwood Tour THE ALL-PATCH HARDWOOD TOUR TEAM First …
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Crystal Lake Central drops an overtime game in sectional to end campaign
Sure the record will show the Tigers from Crystal Lake Central let a 14-point first half lead disappear to end their splendid season Tuesday night at the Woodstock North Sectional. But even this disappointing 71-70 overtime loss to Rockford East can't take away from a marvelous campaign by this team's seniors. Jake Chrystal leaves the building after leading all scorers with 24 points in the final game. This hard-charging senior was most capable of taking games over with his ability to drive to the hoop. Joe Pijanowski: Number zero on this team improved as much as anyone as the season progressed. He wasn't afraid to mix it up inside. John Nemcek: The designated stopper on defense for the FVC champions. He could also be counted on for key …
Monday, March 7, 2011
Crystal Lake Central advances to Sectional
The attrition that accompanies the beginning of March Madness is startling in its callous swiftness. Teams build all year for a run in the state hoops tournament, but most hopes are snuffed almost immediately, and oft-times cruelly. After one week, just four of the 17 Patch Hardwood Tour teams are still standing, proudly hoisting Regional championship plaques. Three of those (Huntley, Crystal Lake Central and Fremd) were listed as this column’s top four teams in the final regular season poll. The fourth (Grayslake Central) is no real surprise, based on potential demonstrated numerous times during the year that belied its record. The advancing quartet in equally divided, with two of the squads (Huntley and Fremd) advancing to Class 4A …
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Battle of Crystal Lakes goes to overtime
Neighbors can argue which shot was bigger on Friday night. Was it Joe Pijanowski's huge 3-pointer with five seconds left in regulation? Or was it Tyler Dawson's stunning putback that beat the buzzer and sent the game into overtime? Crystal Lake Central (22-4) took Crystal Lake South's best punch and came out standing during the Tigers 54-51 overtime win over the Gators. The rivalry game at South closed out the regular season. Now back to those pressure seconds in regulation. Central, trailing 47-46, called timeout with 25 seconds to play. "We tried to get the ball to Jake (Chrystal),'' said CLC coach Rich Czeslawski. "All I saw was he fed Pijanowski.'' Pijanowski (13 points) found himself open from 3-point land. "We were running good …
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Coach Matt Timmerman's one-year romp ends with an overtime loss
DeKalb was the top seed in the Huntley Regional and with good reason, this club had been getting some looks in the top 10 and sported a 22-6 mark entering Tuesday's game with Prairie Ridge. And with less than 10 seconds to play in regulation, the Wolves (14-15) had the ball and a chance to upset the top seed. The final shot did not fall. DeKalb dodged Prairie Ridge's best effort and advanced to the Huntley Regional title game with a 47-39 overtime win. "It was our best effort of the year,'' said PR coach Matt Timmerman. "It was a close game throughout. We played a great team and that says a lot for us to be right with them." PR senior Haley Ljunggren closed her career with a double double (13 points, 11 rebounds). Another senior, Taylor …
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
The Patch Hardwood Tour examines boys high school basketball on a weekly rotational basis, focusing on teams in a 12-town region.
“The only thing that Huntley lacks is size.” That’s what I wrote in my notes as I watched the Red Raiders topple Jacobs from the ranks of the undefeated in the Fox Valley Valley conference on Tuesday. With the win, which took place on their opponent’s home court, the young Huntley club seized sole possession of first place in the division. It was a contest worthy of the stakes, with the Red Raiders finally emerging victorious in overtime on the right side of a 52-49 score. Meanwhile, the season winds down to its final two weeks prior to state tournament play. After the game Huntley coach Marty Manning echoed my scribbled concern about his team even while praising the effort that has led to an 19-4 season (7-1 in conference) and comparing …
Slowdown helps Crystal Lake South stay in regional game with McHenry
Sure from time to time, we see a player sprawled out on the floor. But it's one thing to fall hard on the basketball court and something different when somebody lands on you. What was Prairie Ridge girls basketball coach Matt Timmerman's first thought when he spotted senior Emily Bruksch sprawled out on the floor last week? "I thought she had broken her arm,'' Timmerman said. "Instead, it was a severe sprain. But she is so incredibly tough. If anybody could come back and play it was her." Monday night marked Prairie Ridge's first-round regional contest with Jacobs at the Huntley Regional and there was Bruksch dressed and ready to play. The Wolves (14-14) held Jacobs to six second-half points and earned a right to play the top seed in the …
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Prairie Ridge to face Cary-Grove ion first game
The Illinois High School Association announced the boys basketball regional and sectional pairings for the 2010-11 season. Class 4A: No. 5 seed Prairie Ridge, playing in the Prairie Ridge Regional, will take on No. 4 seed Cary-Grove at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 28, to begin regional play. No. 3 seed Crystal Lake South will take on McHenry during the third game of the Prairie Ridge Regional. The Gators and Warriors face off at 8:10 pm on Wednesday, March 2. Prairie Ridge Regional Monday, Feb. 28 Game 1: (4) Cary-Grove vs. (5) Prairie Ridge, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Mar. 2 Game 2: (1) Huntley vs. Winner Game 1, 6 p.m. Game 3: (2) McHenry vs. (3) Crystal Lake South, 8:10 p.m. Friday, Mar. 4 Game 4: Winner Game 2 vs. Winner Game 3, 7:30 p.m. Class…
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Rivalry game goes to CLC in matchup with Prairie Ridge
It was simply lots and lots of layups. On paper it was a 17-game winner versus a 16-game loser. But this was the second meeting of rivals Crystal Lake Central (18-4, 8-1) and Prairie Ridge (3-17, 1-7) Tuesday night. Count up 19 good shots in the paint for the Tigers and CLC left Prairie Ridge with a decisive 60-38 win over the Wolves. "We really moved the ball well on offense,'' noted CLC forward Jake Chrystal (10 points). "Part of that was beating the press. We also played good off the ball defense." On a tough reverse from Scott Truit, the Wolves knotted this game up at 6-6 halfway through the first quarter. The Tigers went on a 9-0 run from there and didn't look back. "They are good and big,'' said Prairie Ridge coach Corky Card. "And …
