January 02, 2025
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Huntley stays unbeaten by toppling Maine South, wins 1st Komaromy Holiday Classic title

Senior Anna Campanelli leads Red Raiders' comeback

By Dave Hess – Daily Herald Media Group
Huntley’s Red Raiders celebrate a win over Maine South in Komaromy Holiday Classic varsity girls basketball championship game action on Monday, Dec. 30, 2024, at Dundee-Crown High School in Carpentersville.

Huntley celebrates a win over Maine South in Komaromy Holiday Classic varsity girls basketball championship game action on Monday, Dec. 30, 2024, at Dundee-Crown High School in Carpentersville. (Patrick Kunzer for Shaw Local/Patrick Kunzer for Shaw Local)

CARPENTERSVILLE – Huntley remained undefeated, but it wasn’t easy Monday night in the championship game of Dundee-Crown’s 41st annual Komaromy Holiday Classic.

The Red Raiders defeated two-time defending champion Maine South 49-48, dropping the Hawks to 13-4 on the season.

Huntley’s Red Raiders celebrate a win over Maine South in Komaromy Holiday Classic varsity girls basketball championship game action on Monday, Dec. 30, 2024, at Dundee-Crown High School in Carpentersville.

Huntley celebrate a win over Maine South in Komaromy Holiday Classic varsity girls basketball championship game action on Monday, Dec. 30, 2024, at Dundee-Crown High School in Carpentersville. (Patrick Kunzer for Shaw Local/Patrick Kunzer for Shaw Local)

Huntley’s Anna Campanelli, who scored 19 points, sealed the win for the Red Raiders by making 1 of 2 free throws with 1.3 seconds left.

Huntley (14-0) won the tournament for the first time.

“This was a very physical game,” said Campanelli, a Division I Kent State recruit. “This was a great win against a great Maine South team who is state ranked. It is a great feeling to win this tournament.”

Senior center Paula Strzelecki had a double-double with 18 points and 13 rebounds for Huntley.

“I was able to get inside and get position,” Strzelecki said. “The girls did a great job of getting the ball to me inside. We just kept fighting.”

Maine South led 42-36 after three quarters. With the Hawks leading 46-38, the Raiders tied the game at 46 with an 8-0 run propelled by seven points from Campanelli.

Luca Garlin hit a half-court buzzer beater at the end of the first quarter to give Huntley a 13-11 lead.

Campanelli, Strzelecki and Ava McFadden were named to the all-tournament team.

“It was a great effort by our girls for 32 minutes,” said Huntley coach Steve Raethz, who lost his voice during the game. ”I am very proud of our players. We kept fighting the entire game even when we were down. Anna and Paula were outstanding. It was a team effort. We made them make really tough shots. It was a great feeling to win this great tournament and beat a state-ranked team like Maine South.“

Huntley’s Paula Strzelecki, center, tussles with Maine South’s Hayden Fahy, left, in Komaromy Holiday Classic varsity girls basketball championship game action on Monday, Dec. 30, 2024, at Dundee-Crown High School in Carpentersville.

Huntley’s Paula Strzelecki, center, tussles with Maine South’s Hayden Fahy, left, in Komaromy Holiday Classic varsity girls basketball championship game action on Monday, Dec. 30, 2024, at Dundee-Crown High School in Carpentersville. (Patrick Kunzer for Shaw Local/Patrick Kunzer for Shaw Local)

The Hawks were led by Katie Barker with 16 points. Cornell recruit Ally Pape scored 12.

“Give Huntley all the credit,” Maine South coach Jeff Hamann said. “They executed down the stretch and we didn’t. Hopefully we can learn from this and be better in February.”

In the third-place game, St. Charles North (15-3) pulled out a 45-39 win over Stevenson (9-7) behind Sydney Johnson’s 21 points that included four 3-pointers.

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