Crystal Lake – Crystal Lake players, coaches and fans mixed around the court in the swamp in any special hurry to leave on Friday night.
This was a moment that required proper saturation.
The gates took care of Hampshire 63-44 in their Fox Valley Conference Boys Basketball Game to end a correct conference season and set school records for victory.
James Carlson said, “It is difficult to go 18–0 at the conference, not many people do so.” “This team has a group of chemistry and we do so well. It is not surprising for me that we have done so.
“In the beginning of the season we knew that we are going to be a difficult team to defeat. Once we rolled, we cannot be defeated.”
South (27–3, 18–0 FVC) joined the Gaters teams from 1982, 1988 and 1993, which was an undefined FVC champion. Its 27 wins broke the tie with the teams of 1982 and 1988.
“This is quite achievement,” said Matt Leopage, the coach of the gates. “The year we knew that we had some pieces, but these people had to actually buy in their roles and they did such a great job throughout the season.
“We have certainly earned all 18 of them. It is a cat of achievement. It is a special group of people.”
Four was started in the south from last season, but the FVC was the tallest team and the leading scorer at the conference was led by 5 -Foot -11 point guard AJ Dameirov.
Their size-6-foot-5-5-5 start was very high for beginning-wipe-pars (13–18, 7-11), the longest starrer 6–2 forward Adrian Ugochuku. No other starter is longer than 6–0.
South opened the 26–12 halftime lead with 17-3 second-quarter advantage. Hampshire scored 17 runs in the third quarter and scored 5 out of 10 field goals, but the gates warmed into the quarter to thwart two 3-pointers with Freshman Carson Trivelini. Dameirov scored nine points in the third quarter.
Whips coach Mike Fedarly said, “We talked about being a little more aggressive (aggressive), especially away from the ball,” Coach Mike Fedarly said. “That first half, even in some parts of the other, was stable. People were not biting in the middle. First when we played, we were too much liquid.
“I receive it, they are much larger than us. Defensely, there were lots of missing assignments and we cannot do it. It is hard enough for the guard (Demirs) and then leave 10 who leaves those who do not score so much.”
This was the first FVC title of South since 2019 when the gates shared with Crystal Lake Central.
“We talked about this for some time,” Hayes said. “We focus on each game, but behind our mind we wanted to get it. And we went out and got it tonight.”
Dameirov led all the players with 18 points, further threw in 15 by Coleton Hayes and Trivelini added nine with three 3. Ugorchukwu led the whip with 13 points.
“Carson was terrible. He comes in and he is very aggressive, ready to set fire,” said the lepage. “When he was out of there and AJ was playing with each other and we were stopping at the same time, there was a very good complement of defense for crime. We played with a little more force.”