Kaniewski’s 3-ball edges Jacobs

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CRYSTAL LAKE– With the season on the line and his team trailing by two points in overtime, Huntley senior Mason Kaniewski hit the game-winning three-pointer with 23 seconds left, giving the Red Raiders a thrilling 51-50 win against Jacobs on Monday.

Moments after time expired in the IHSA Class 4A Crystal Lake South Regional game, he was hugged by fans and friends near midcourt. Huntley (15-12) advances to face Rockford Jefferson at 6 p.m. today in the regional semifinals.

“That was the biggest shot of my life,” Kaniewski said. “The play was designed for Tyler [Brunschon] and he was supposed to get the shot off a screen, but he was guarded and found me when I was open.”

“I didn’t want it to end tonight,” he added.

The final moments of both regulation and overtime were not for the faint of heart.

Jacobs (8-19) led the entire fourth quarter until Brunschon (game-high 16 points) pulled Huntley even at 39, with two clutch free-throws with 33 seconds left. Moments later, Jacobs junior guard Mike Peterson (11 points) took a running shot from about 10 feet that hit the front of the rim at the buzzer, and the game went to overtime.

In overtime, Jacobs led four times. Each time the Eagles took the lead, however, the Raiders quickly answered with baskets of their own. Huntley finished a perfect 5-for-5 from the field in overtime, which included a three by Brunschon with a minute play, and the game-winning trey from Kaniewski. 

The only time Huntley led in overtime was after Kaniewski’s game-winner. Jacobs senior forward Matt Schmidt was inches from being a hero himself in overtime, but his potential game-winning shot from just inside the foul line hit the rim twice, before the ball – and Schmidt – fell to the ground at the buzzer.

“Two different times we could’ve won the game with shots, and two different times we could’ve won it at the free-throw line,” Jacobs coach Jim Hinkle said. “Every time we scored in overtime, they scored.”
 
“What an incredible final three minutes of play by Brunschon,” Hinkle added. “But I think a few days from now, our kids are gonna look back on this game and realize just how proud they should be of their effort tonight.” 
 
Brunschon scored seven of Huntley’s 12 points in overtime, which included a perfect 3-for-3 mark from the field. But it was his assist on Kaniewski’s game-winner that turned out to be his biggest play of the night.
 
“Even though coach [Marty Manning] designed the play for me, he left me the choice to shoot, or to pass if I was covered,” Brunschon said. “I was pretty happy when the shot went in.”