Long-range shooters go the distance

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A few local boys basketball teams are not surprised that Marian Central reserve forward Dave Luczak will be competing in the IHSA Class 3A Three-Point Shootout at 5 p.m. today at Carver Arena in Peoria.

Luczak and Johnsburg guard Mike Dombrowski are the two area competitors in the shootout, both in 3A. Luczak, a 6-foot-3 senior, usually made the most of his minutes, displaying a shooter’s mentality when he came into a game.

“Coach (Curtis Price) calls me a shooter,” Luczak said. “Absolutely, that’s definitely my strong suit. He always told me to have confidence.”

Luczak and Dombrowski both hit 19 threes for the season. Both also had to go to overtime shoot-offs in Friday’s sectional finals to advance. Luczak hit 10 in the first round, then nailed 6 of 10 from the corners in the shoot-off with two other competitors for two spots.

Luczak did not play varsity basketball in the 2008-09 season but obviously did his share of shooting between practicing for baseball. As a left-handed pitcher, he was selected to the Northwest Herald All-Area second team last season.

Dombrowski was the lone junior starter on Johnsburg’s 27-3 team, which is the third-best record in school history. He averaged 11 points a game.

“It feels very good to be going as the second person in school history,” Dombrowski said. “I was a freshman on the varsity when Ryan Weingart did it (two years ago).”

Prairie Ridge’s Sean Riordan (6-foot-4), Hampshire’s Sarwan Khan (6-9) and Richmond-Burton’s Chad O’Kane (6-0) will be in the Slam Dunk Competition at 6 p.m. today.

Dixon, Fiedorowicz honorable mention: Johnsburg’s dynamic duo of Mike Dixon and C.J. Fiedorowicz were named to The Associated Press Class 3A All-State basketball team as honorable mention selections.

Dixon and Fiedorowicz were four-year starters and led the Skyhawks to a 27-3 record and the Vernon Hills Sectional championship game. Johnsburg lost to St. Viator, 66-54, in that game.

Dixon averaged 14 points, 5.0 assists and 4.4 rebounds a game, and shot 90 percent on free throws for the Skyhawks. Fiedorowicz averaged 16 points, 8.0 rebounds and 2.0 blocks a game.

Blazier, Engelbrecht honored: Harvard senior Chase Blazier and Alden-Hebron sophomore Shane Engelbrecht were named to the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Class 1A/2A All-State team as honorable mention selections.

Blazier averaged 11.9 points a game for the Hornets; Engelbrecht scored 11.3 points a game for the Giants.

Combining forces: Jacobs’ hockey team will merge with Huntley and Marian Central for the spring season and next year. Golden Eagles coach Chip Anderson, who coached this season, will not return as coach.

Jacobs did not have a junior varsity team this season and will lose seven seniors to graduation. Huntley combined with Lake Zurich and Marian Central this season and played in the Metro Central National Division.

“It’s hard to replace those seven seniors,” Anderson said. “It’s a little bit a sign of the economic times too, that some families just can’t afford to have kids play.”

Jacobs lost to Niles Notre Dame, 5-0, in the AHAI Blackhawk Cup White Division State Tournament championship game Tuesday night.

• Joe Stevenson covers high school sports for the Northwest Herald. He can be reached at 815-526-4513. He also can be reached by fax at 815-459-5640 or by e-mail at jstevenson@nwherald.com.