Though Crystal Lake South didn’t hit a field goal in the final quarter, the Gators outlasted McHenry 58-49 Friday in the Fox Valley Conference opener for both teams.
Free-throw shooting proved the deciding factor, as the Gators (12-3) hit 14-of-16 from the line in the fourth quarter and were 24-of-31 overall. Senior guard Cory Evans, who finished with 14 points, was especially smooth, nailing six free throws in the fourth.
“Overall, my strokes felt smooth,” Evans said of his clutch foul shots. “I just concentrated on my form, and the free throws went in. I’ve been working on them in practice. I know I have to hit them.”
McHenry (10-5, 0-1) trailed 46-39 after three quarters and came as close as 49-48 with 2 minutes 13 seconds to play but managed just one free throw down the stretch.
Crystal Lake South senior Phil Wallace, a 6-foot-4-inch guard, led all scorers with 25 points. Chad Reilly led the Warriors with 20 points, while Lucas Slater added 15.
For the Gators, the game was a measure of revenge: Crystal Lake had lost to McHenry 40-39 last year in the regional. “That was in my mind,” Wallace said. “This was sort of a payback.”
“It’s a start,” Evans said. “Every game from here is important.”
