Football players add muscle to court

Mike Frericks, one of four football players who also play of the CLS basketball team, sizes up a Central defender during the Gators' 61-39 win on Friday.
(Dave Shields/for Pioneer Press)

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Joe Carmody helped pave the way for Crystal Lake South's remarkable run to the IHSA Class 7A state football semifinals last month.

But the all-FVC offensive lineman was never congratulated like he was on the basketball court last weekend.

The home fans came charging down and attempted -- albeit unsuccessfully -- to carry the 5-foot-11, 215-pounder off the court after his long three-pointer beat the buzzer Friday night.

"I just threw it up," said Carmody, who was making his first varsity appearance. "It was pretty cool."

It wasn't a game-winning trifecta by any means. The Gators easily took down rival Crystal Lake Central 61-39 in the home opener.

But Carmody has become a fan favorite, not only because of what he's done on the football field, but also because of where he came from on the basketball court.

"I was always playing ball with those guys at the park and they kept telling me I should try out for the team," recalled Carmody.

Carmody was one of seven football players who arrived at 6 a.m. for their first basketball practice just three days after falling to Geneva in the state semifinals.

Steve Rogers, a defensive back/wide receiver for the state semifinalists, put together his third straight 20-point effort in the win over the visiting Tigers despite having just five practices under his belt.

"We had a great football season and once that ended it was kind of sad," Rogers said. "All of us wish we were going to State. But then it came to Monday and all of the sudden we had a basketball game in two days.

"Now, we have a new sport and new goals."

Rogers has joined former football teammates Mike Frericks, Alex MaCaulay and Kevin Rogers in the top seven of South's rotation. Frericks had six points, while MaCaulay had five points and five assists against the Tigers (1-3).

"They're a huge part of what we're going to do this season," CLS coach Dan DeBruycker said. "They were ready right away -- even the first day of practice.

"The confidence of them being so successful in football is a positive thing for us. We just want that to carry over and use that to our advantage."

The Gators ambushed Central with an 11-0 run to open the second half and outscored the visitors 24-8 in the third to put the game away.

Adam Olszewski keyed the third-quarter barrage with three three-pointers and all of his 11 points. Eric Wilde contributed eight points and five rebounds. Rogers finished with a game-high 20 points for South (3-2).

"When he stays within himself, he's extremely impressive," DeBruycker said of the high-scoring senior forward. "He creates a lot of problems for other teams and he played a heck of a game defensively today."

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TROJANS: Chad McCarron scored 17 points and Pete Pellizzari added 14 as Cary-Grove (4-1) defeated Grayslake North 58-38 Friday night.