Crystal Lake Central Stifles McHenry in FVC Matchup

Bud Shanahan's defensive effort and scoring spark Tigers to 55-38 victory

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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In a Fox Valley Conference boys basketball game, Crystal Lake Central defeated visiting McHenry 55-38 behind a strong defensive performance and balanced scoring. Crystal Lake Central's Bud Shanahan, a 6-foot senior, was tasked with guarding McHenry's 6-foot-7 big man Adam Anwar and held him to just 13 points, well below his season average. Shanahan also scored a team-high 12 points for the Tigers, who closed the first quarter on a 15-0 run and never looked back.

Why it matters

This game highlighted the defensive intensity and team effort that has helped Crystal Lake Central turn its season around after an earlier loss to McHenry. The Tigers' ability to contain one of the conference's top players in Anwar was a key factor in the victory, showcasing their defensive prowess and team chemistry.

The details

Bud Shanahan's physical presence and defensive pressure on Anwar was a major factor, as he limited the McHenry star to just 3-of-13 shooting. The Tigers also received strong contributions from Danny Spychala, who recorded a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds, and Johnny Geisser, who knocked down two 3-pointers in a 47-second span to help Crystal Lake Central pull away in the first quarter.

  • Crystal Lake Central closed the first quarter on a 15-0 run.
  • Bud Shanahan drained a right-corner 3-pointer early in the second quarter to extend the Tigers' lead to 22-6.
  • McHenry's Blake Renfro scored on a putback with 5:12 left in the third quarter to cut the deficit to 33-27, but the Tigers responded with a 66-second stretch that included 3-pointers from Sonny Shanahan and Bud Shanahan to push the lead to 41-27.

The players

Bud Shanahan

A 6-foot senior for Crystal Lake Central who was tasked with guarding McHenry's 6-foot-7 big man Adam Anwar and held him to just 13 points. Shanahan also scored a team-high 12 points for the Tigers.

Danny Spychala

A 6-foot-7 player for Crystal Lake Central who recorded a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.

Adam Anwar

A 6-foot-7, 225-pound senior for McHenry who was held to just 13 points, well below his season average, due to the defensive pressure from Bud Shanahan and the Crystal Lake Central team.

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What they’re saying

“Whenever I caught the ball, he was really up into me. Not just him, but all five on the floor were connected on defense, and they all played their tails off. They were just being really physical.”

— Adam Anwar, McHenry Player (shawlocal.com)

“They came out with more energy than we did, and that's something that we got to clean up. We talk about that in the pregame huddle every single game, that everything's about us, everything's about being together – and it's on me. As a leader, I've got to be better at getting us going, especially off the jump.”

— Adam Anwar, McHenry Player (shawlocal.com)

“They played super hard, and they deserved it. I tell our kids, 'The toughest team wins,' and [Central was], by far, the toughest team.”

— Corky Card, McHenry Coach (shawlocal.com)

What’s next

The Tigers will look to build on this victory as they continue their push for a strong finish to the regular season in the Fox Valley Conference.

The takeaway

Crystal Lake Central's stifling defense and balanced scoring effort proved to be the difference in this key conference matchup. The Tigers' ability to contain one of the league's top players in Adam Anwar showcased their defensive intensity and teamwork, which will be crucial as they aim to make a deep postseason run.