Inside 
 Boys Basketball

Ryan Gilbert

Prairie Ridge, jr.

Gilbert, a 6-foot-1 guard, scored a season-high 25 points as the Wolves defeated Cary-Grove, 57-38, Saturday in their Fox Valley Conference Valley Division game.

Prairie Ridge (4-10 overall, 1-0 FVC Valley) had won only once in its previous 10 games. Gilbert hit 10 field goals, five of which were 3-pointers, for his game-high total.

“It was exciting,” Gilbert said. “I was glad I got the opportunity and my coach [Corky Card] had faith in me. The guys ran the floor and got me open shots, and I was able to hit them.”

Noteworthy

Streaking: There is no question the hottest area team is Crystal Lake Central (13-1), but Woodstock (11-4) is not far behind.

The Blue Streaks have won 10 of their past 11 games after Saturday’s 62-52 victory over Johnsburg.

“I feel like, for the most part, we’ve done a good job,” Streaks coach Alex Baker said. “There are no more nights off the rest of the season. We have to bring our ‘A’ game every single night.”

Woodstock has guard Jordan Turner, one of the area’s top scorers, along with guards Brad Kaufmann and Andy Buhrow, both of whom are adept at 3-pointers, and 6-foot-7 junior Damian Stoneking provides a nice presence inside.

Favorites: Crystal Lake Central has established itself as the favorite in the FVC Fox Division with 13 consecutive wins and the Jacobs Holiday Classic championship.

On the Valley side, two-time defending champion Huntley looks like the team to beat with 6-foot-7 Amanze Egekeze ready to return. The Red Raiders (8-5) played well without Egekeze, an NCAA Division I prospect.

After Huntley, the Valley side looks balanced. Dundee-Crown (7-3) does not have height but has speed and strong guards. Crystal Lake South has improved and could be a factor, while Cary-Grove, Jacobs, McHenry and Prairie Ridge have played well at times, too.

This week’s top games

Crystal Lake South at Huntley

7 p.m. Tuesday

The Gators were runners-up in the Jacobs Holiday Classic, where they played some of their better basketball. Huntley is looking for a third consecutive FVC Valley title.