Ferrante, St. Viator meet the challenge against Prospect
It was next man up for St. Viator on Saturday, and Nick Ferrante showed that he was more than ready for the challenge.
With a depleted Viator squad, Ferrante, who saw minimal playing time last year as a junior, stepped up big for the the Lions. He scored a career-high 11 points and had 8 rebounds as St. Viator held off a late rally by Prospect to persevere 43-40 Saturday in Arlington Heights.
St. Viator (4-0) was able to claim the title of the 38th annual Joe Majkowski St. Viator basketball tournament for the first time in two years after losing the title last year to Prospect.
St. Viator was without two of its starters. Mark Falotico, who has yet to play this season and is not expected back until after Christmas with a foot injury. He was joined on the bench by 6-foot-6 Sal Cannella, who sprained his ankle blocking the final shot of Friday's game against Highland Park.
"I had a lot of people with confidence in me and telling me to shoot the ball," Ferrante said. "I finally listened to them. Their confidence made me play better."
St. Viator coach Quin Hayes was impressed with Ferrante and the play of his bench.
"We have a resilient bunch," Hayes said. "We cover each other and play for each other.
"Ferrante had a great game. He came up big when we needed him."
Prospect got off to a fast start, hitting 3 of their first 4 shots. But St. Viator's defense began to stiffen, forcing the Knights away from the basket.
"It was another defensive effort," Hayes said. "That's the way we have played all season so far."
The defensive intensity forced Prospect to convert just 4 of their next 13 shots and the Knights went scoreless in the 6:40 of the first half.
Meanwhile, Viator and its group of subs went to work. Behind Jake Stepuszek (6 points), Kyle Hammarlund and Danny Walsh (6 points), the Lions went from a 17-16 advantage to a 25-16 lead at the half.
"I found out in our walkthrough I was starting," Walsh said. "I got some minutes earlier in the tournament. But it is a lot different when you start. I was glad I could contribute."
The Lions extended their lead to 31-16 on a 3 by Ricky Muench (6 points) with 6:55 left in the third quarter.
Prospect (1-3) finally regained its scoring touch.
Led by Kyle Beyak (12 points), Kyle Formanski (11 points) and Grant Miller (6 points), the Knights began to chip away at the lead, closing to 39-29 after the quarters.Prospect pulled to within 41-37 with 2:20 to play in a basket by Formanski.
St. Viator the appeared to be in control on a basket by Ferrante with 2:12 to play to make it 43-37. The Lions then went on to miss three consecutive one and bonus free throw attempts, opening the door for the Knights.
Prospect got its foot on the threshold thanks to a putback rebound by Joe Panczko and a free throw by Panczko. But the Knights just couldn't get all the way through when Beyak's 3-pointer at the buzzer rimmed out.
Prospect coach John Camardella, whose team lost 3 games by a total of 5 points, including a pair of overtime losses by a point each, was pleased on how well his team battled.
"We came out the gate strong," Camardella said. "But all through the tournament we had spots like that where we struggled.
"We need to learn to close out games, which leads to winning basketball."