Boys basketball insider

Jake Wagner

Huntley, Senior

Wagner, a 6-foot-2 forward, had a career night Friday when he hit nine 3-pointers and led Huntley with 32 points in its 76-51 victory over Prairie Ridge. His nine 3s was a school record.

Wagner made 9 of 12 shots from behind the arc as the Red Raiders moved to 4-0 in Fox Valley Conference Valley Division games. Huntley is trying to win its third consecutive division title.

“Our team has so many different scoring options, so any night anyone can go off, and it was just my night,” Wagner said. “My teammates were feeding me well, and I was just feeling it.”

Wagner scored 10 points in Tuesday’s 55-42 victory against Crystal Lake South. He hit two 3s in that game.

Noteworthy

Special anthem: Professional singer and broadcaster Wayne Messmer will sing the national anthem when McHenry hosts Jacobs in boys basketball at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 6.

Messmer sings the anthem at Chicago Wolves’ games and has sung it at games for the Bears, Blackhawks, Cubs and White Sox throughout his career.

Last year, McHenry had Jim Cornelison, the tenor who usually sings the national anthem at Blackhawks’ games, come to sing it at a home game.

Old school: Jacobs boys basketball coach Jim Hinkle, who is retiring after this season, has been granted a final request for his last home game. When the Golden Eagles finish their regular season, hosting Crystal Lake South on Tuesday, Feb. 19, the game will be played in Jacobs’ old gymnasium.

This is Hinkle’s 16th season at Jacobs and his 38th as a head coach.

Rather cheesy: Woodstock’s 54-53 victory over Crystal Lake Central Friday was one of the best games of the season with what was at stake, sole possession of first place in the FVC Fox Division.

Still, there was a moment of levity in the third quarter when Central sophomore Cavanagh Murphy was being removed for the game for what an official thought was blood on his jersey. After closer examination, Murphy was allowed to remain in the game.

Central public address announcer Justin Hubly explained what happened for the fans like this: “Cavanagh Murphy will stay in the game. It’s not blood on his jersey, it’s nacho cheese.”