Crystal Lake South got what it wanted Friday night-the Fox Valley Conference title.
Chris Hibbs scored 22 points and grabbed nine rebounds, and Dana Rasmussen had 10 points and 12 rebounds as the Gators (20-4, 12-1) beat McHenry 70-37. The Gators clinched with help from Cary-Grove, which upset second-place Dundee-Crown (10-3).
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“We had two tangible goals within reach tonight, to win a portion of the conference championship and to win 20 games,” said Crystal Lake South coach Gary Collins. “I thought Dana and Chad (Johnson, who had six points and three rebounds in the second quarter) answered the bell in the second quarter when Chris had to sit down.
“I thought the way our kids played defense and kept them in a half-court game was the key factor,”
St. Joseph 76, Marian Catholic 65: Brandon Kelley scored 26 points as St. Joseph (17-7, 10-2) stayed tied with Marist for first place in the East Suburban Catholic with a 76-65 victory over Marian Catholic. The Chargers went on a 13-2 run in the second quarter to take a 47-30 halftime lead and led 63-43 after three quarters.
St. Joseph played without starters Rodney Horton and Elton Buster, who are academically ineligible but are due back next week.
“We have one to go and we must get that to get at least a tie (for the title),” St. Joseph coach Gene Pingatore said.
Marengo 65, Burlington Central 62: Jason Bohart scored 27 points as Marengo (18-6, 9-1) slipped by in the Big Eight.
Cary-Grove 69, Dundee-Crown 67 (OT): Kevin Kooistra (19 points) hit a pair of free throws to put Cary-Grove ahead 68-64 in overtime as the Trojans (14-9, 7-6) hung on for a mild Fox Valley upset. Brad Steele added 20 points and Matt Timmerman added 15. Lee Brown’s 25 points were tops for Dundee-Crown (15-8, 10-3).
Crystal Lake Central 80, Jacobs 63: Jeff Shiers scored 19 points and Erik Ingbretson 18 for Central (12-12, 8-5).