The long arm of Frank Jakubicek sends Cary-Grove to the sectional final

Fox Valley conference fans will be talking about Frank Jakubicek’s two huge blocks for decades. And the Huntley players will see them replayed in their nightmares.

Cary-Grove’s 6-9 senior swatted away game-winning attempts from the Red Raiders at the end of regulation and the end of the first overtime. The Trojans went on to win 49-46 in the second overtime of the Class 4A McHenry sectional semifinal on Tuesday.

Jakubicek, a Belmont recruit, downplayed his heroics.

“We were all gassed, in double-overtime especially,” Jakubicek said. “They were, we were. It was just who wanted it more at that point so we were digging deep and trying to get stops. I knew there was only a few seconds on the clock so I just went for the block. It was awesome. Great fan support from both teams and so loud. This is what you dream of as a little kid so I’m just glad I got to be a part of it.”

Jakubicek finished with 17 points, seven rebounds and five blocks. Cary-Grove senior Beau Frericks, the leading scorer in school history, led the Trojans (31-3) with 24 points. He was 6-for-10 shooting.

“Beau and Frank are really good but the most underrated part of their team is their half court defense,” Huntley coach Will Benson said. “They have other dudes that play hard. We had a couple chances to win and they played good defense.”

Neither team scored in the first overtime. Cary-Grove took the lead for good on Frericks’ three-point play to open the second overtime.

“It’s our rival school,” Frericks said. “It is personal with these two towns. We rose to the occasion and got the job done.”

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The game was physical. The conference rivals split the two regular season meetings. Frericks and Jakubicek started slow, combining for just nine points in the first half.

“We weren’t sure what defense they were going to come out in and that was on us that we didn’t adapt right away,” Frericks said. “In the second half we made some changes and I knew I could get to the rim a little more.”

“Our nerves got the best of us, just coming out to start such a big game,” Jakubicek said. “We kept our composure in the second half, stuck to the game plan and got it done.”

Senior Uchenna Egekeze led Huntley (27-7) with 12 points and seven rebounds. Luke Difrancesca added 11 points and six rebounds and Ryan Vrugt scored 10.

“The third quarter our defense was bad,” Benson said. We have had a bad quarter against them in all three games this season. Our guys fought and fought. That was an awesome game and a great memory. If we play those guys ten times it would be pretty close to a split. They deserved to win, they made plays at the end.”

Cary-Grove will face the winner of Wednesday’s St. Charles North vs. Rockton Hononegah semifinal in the sectional final on Friday.

“This is the toughest schedule we’ve ever played,” Trojans coach Adam McCloud said. “We’ve beaten really good teams and lost in close games to really good teams. I’m happy for our community. That was the most electric atmosphere I’ve ever been in as a coach. I’m just proud of everybody.”