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Sports

Red Raiders Win First Regional Title Since 2007-08 Season

Huntley struggles shooting but escapes with 34-32 win over McHenry in Class 4A Prairie Ridge Regional championship.

Friday night’s IHSA Class 4A Prairie Ridge Regional championship game between Huntley and McHenry was not one for people who enjoy great shooting and high-scoring.

The Red Raiders and Warriors combined for just 26 field goals in 32 minutes and Huntley’s Troy Miller made two free-throws with four seconds left to seal a 34-32 victory for the Red Raiders. Huntley, who won their first regional title in three years, will play Elgin Tuesday night at 7:30 p.m. in the Jacobs Sectional semifinals. The Red Raiders (24-4) started the first five points of the game, holding McHenry scoreless the first six minutes of the contest and took a 7-4 lead going into the second quarter. McHenry took the lead midway through the second, scoring five quick points for an 11-10 lead before Huntley responded with the final six points of the half to lead 16-11 at the break.

In the second half, the two teams started to find some shooting rhythm with Huntley holding a lead most of the half before McHenry took a 29-26 lead with under three minutes to play. After the Red Raiders tied it with two minutes left, Justin Frederick made his only shot of the evening to give Huntley a 31-29 lead with just over a minute to play. After Miller gave Huntley a three-point lead with a free-throw with 20 seconds left, McHenry turned the ball over and Miller added two more free-throws to clinch the win. Frederick said that the Red Raiders thought they have found an advantage.

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“We were actually looking to work it inside, we felt we had a couple of mismatches inside,” Frederick said. “The offense was set up so one guy goes inside and one goes out and I had the open shot.”

Miller said late in the game, he was confident of his chances at the free-throw line.

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“I knew I wanted the ball in my hands, I shoot high-80 percentage from the line and practice all the time,” Miller said. “I just wanted it in my hands.”

Huntley coach Marty Manning said that it has been a banner year for a team that was barely above .500 last season.

“I’m proud of this group having the limitations that they did, not having a good year last year and then Dylan (Neukirch) going down with an injury to start the year and still our guys were very confident throughout the entire year,” Manning said. “To win a conference championship and a regional championship is quite an accomplishment for a team with just two seniors although those two seniors are really, really good.”

Neukirch finished with a team-high ten points while Miller added eight in the win.

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