The first boys basketball meeting between Huntley and Crystal Lake Central, on Dec. 14 at Central’s Fieldhouse, was missing a major ingredient that would have added luster.

Huntley’s 6-foot-7 forward Amanze Egekeze was not yet back from surgery for patellar tendinitis in his right knee. The Red Raiders fought hard, but Central won, 54-46, in the Fox Valley Conference crossover game.

Egekeze is back this time as Huntley (17-7) hosts Central (23-3) at 7 p.m. Friday in the FVC crossover placement game that is the unofficial conference championship. There are six other placement games scheduled for today.