Alex Kantecki

Woodstock sophomore Max Beard averaged 26.3 points a game in a 3-0 week for the Blue Streaks, including conference wins against Harvard and Marengo. Beard is the Northwest Herald Athlete of the Week.

Crystal Lake Central built what felt like a comfortable lead early, but Wauconda overtook the Tigers in the third quarter to win the Northern Illinois Holiday Classic title hosted by McHenry. Ruby Macke led Central with a game-high 28 points.

Western Michigan senior guard Addison West, a 2019 Cary-Grove graduate, was named to The Associated Press All-America first team Monday.

Crystal Lake South freshman Gaby Dzik exploded for 23 points in the second half on her way to a career-high 30, and junior Laken LePage posted a double-double with 10 points and 10 steals in a 58-35 win over Prairie Ridge.

Johnsburg freshman Summer Toussaint has made an instant impact for the Skyhawks, most recently scoring 33 points Wednesday, and was chosen as the Northwest Herald Athlete of the Week in an online vote.

Marian Central looks to defend the Northern Illinois Holiday Classic championship when the 14-team event hosted by McHenry tips off Saturday. Huntley's Anna Campanelli is off to a red-hot start, plus more in this week's girls basketball notes.

Cary-Grove hit three straight 3-pointers to end the first quarter and played shutdown defense in the second against Hampshire in a 53-30 Fox Valley Conference win Monday.

The boys swimming season is already underway. Check out our team-by-team preview with top returners, key newcomers and info on each local team for the 2024-25 season.

Jacobs co-op boys swimming won Harlem's Dave Logterman Memorial Invite to open the season, Huntley girls bowling was first at the Dundee-Crown Charger Scramble, Richmond-Burton boys wrestling took third at Rockford East, and more in Saturday's Northwest Herald roundup.

Huntley senior Georgia Watson helped the Raiders bring home their first state trophy since 1997 with a fourth-place finish in a loaded Class 4A field. Watson, who will graduate early to enroll at Kentucky, is the 2024 Northwest Herald Girls Volleyball Player of the Year.

Meet the 2024 Northwest Herald All-Area girls volleyball team.

Richmond-Burton coach Mike Kamholz led the Rockets to their second straight Kishwaukee River Conference title, first regional championship since 2015 and a sparkling 36-2 record. Kamholz is the 2024 Northwest Herald Girls Volleyball Coach of the Year.

Huntley senior Anna Campanelli led the Red Raiders to the Dundee-Crown Thanksgiving Tournament title and scored a career-high 32 points against Boylan. Campanelli is the Northwest Herald Athlete of the Week.

Huntley senior Ava McFadden knocked down 3-pointers in the first, third and fourth quarters Tuesday to help lead the Red Raiders past Cary-Grove 50-38 in the Fox Valley Conference opener for both teams.

Crystal Lake South co-op junior Bella Fontana earned her first individual state medal and was named co-Most Valuable Swimmer at the Fox Valley Conference Meet. Fontana is the 2024 Northwest Herald Girls Swimmer of the Year.