It happened again.
Senior forward Taylor Charles almost couldn’t believe it, but Burlington Central got off to another sputtering start against Fox Valley Conference rival Huntley.
This time, Monday’s showdown came with a share of first place on the line.
“It was the same thing,” Charles said. “I believe at their place it was 11-0 to start, so not as bad, but still the same.
“In the back of my mind, I’m thinking, ‘Just one and it will all roll from there.’ Once we can get that first basket, we can usually get on a roll.”
The 6-foot-2 Charles, a Princeton recruit, broke through with a baseline layup with 45.7 seconds remaining in the first quarter. But that roll never followed.
The visiting Red Raiders were fast and furious, scoring 14 straight points at the start of a 48-35 victory that clinched a share of the FVC title with two games remaining.
Actually, Burlington Central (19-9, 13-3) did get back into the game, pulling within four points early in the third quarter. But Huntley (19-6, 15-1), which won the previous meeting 52-49, held on and never trailed.
“The first time we played them, we were familiar with their style,” Burlington Central coach Collin Kalamatas said. “We talked about it, but when you don’t have the ability to duplicate that in practice on a consistent basis, it’s difficult.
“I was disappointed we didn’t find it earlier. Once we did, we were confident in moving the ball and working it inside.”
The frenetic defensive start allowed Huntley to clog passing lanes and contest every shot. The Rockets turned the ball over five times and made just 1 of 8 shots in the first quarter.
Assessing the loss, senior guard Becca Carani was incredulous.
“It was frustrating because I know we can come out a little better,” said Carani, who’s in her third varsity season. “I know we didn’t have the right mindset going into the game, so it was a little frustrating seeing our shots weren’t falling.”
They did fall in the second quarter, though, with Charles making two baskets inside and having assists on two of the three 3-pointers the Rockets made.
Carani, senior guard Rylie DuVal and sophomore forward Emma Payton all connected from beyond the arc.
“It really helps spread the defense out,” Charles said. “I’m perfectly fine with driving and kicking the ball out. My teammates are very capable of shooting the threes.”
The Rockets cut the deficit to 24-15 at halftime. Charles’ 3-point play and a rebound basket in the opening two minutes of the third quarter whittled that down to 24-20.
Sammi Campanelli, however, had the answer for Huntley.
The 5-foot-8 junior guard, who drew Charles as her defensive assignment, also was a force on offense. She answered with a 3-pointer and two free throws on the way to a career-high 22 points.
The Red Raiders pushed the lead back to 13 entering the fourth.
“She’s really aggressive on defense and does a good job of getting in on me and making me work for good position for a rebound,” Charles said of Campanelli.
Charles finished with a team-high 20 points to go along with 13 rebounds and five blocked shots, while DuVal and Payton each added six points.
“We got it into Taylor several times, even though she had Sammi draped all over her back,” Kalamatas said. “But (Campanelli) is a great defender. She knows how to use the body in elusive ways, and it’s tough. She’s giving up, what, six inches to Taylor and still did a great job on her.”
According to Campanelli, she didn’t do it alone.
“It’s nerve-wracking facing her,” Campanelli said of Charles. “She’s a very good player, and it’s a tough battle every time. I just work hard, and the help defense from my teammates is important too.
“Our coaches told us to have confidence at the beginning of the game.”