Tenacious Prospect captures regional crown

All season long, Prospect's girls basketball players have been reading John Maxwell's book, "The 17 Essentials of a Quality Team Player."

They got to the 17th and final chapter this week. It was all about tenacity.

"It was about never quitting," said second-year Knights coach Martha Kelly. "And that's what these girls did. They never quit."

Even though 12th-seeded Lincoln Park (16-9) would never fold, the No. 4 Knights also hung tough to the finish and posted a 51-45 victory in the championship game of the Glenbrook South regional.

The Knights (19-9) will face top-seeded Loyola (27-2) in Monday's 7:30 p.m. semifinal of the Class 4A Niles West sectional.

It was Prospect's first girls basketball regional crown since 2004 and seventh in school history.

"Yep, we knew we had to come out with tenacity like we read (in Chapter 17)," said senior Danielle Brucci, who scored 12 points with 4 steals and two 3-pointers in the first quarter. "And it really showed.

"We were shooting for this (regional title) all season and it's just an amazing feeling. We really worked hard at practice the last week and half and it really paid off."

Marissa Pettenuzzo's career game paid off, too, as the sophomore forward collected a personal-highs of 12 points and 5 rebounds.

"Marissa was great," Kelly said. "This was probably the most minutes she has played all season. I couldn't take her off the floor, just like with a lot of the kids. Marissa attacked the basket, finished and made free throws (4 of 5)."

The Knights' free throws down the stretch helped seal the deal.

A 3-pointer by Lions junior guard Tanisha McTiller (game-high 14 points) cut the Prospect lead to 45-43 with 1:59 left.

However, Brucci made 3 free throws and scored a layup off a nice long pass from Alyssa Glennon (4 steals, 4 points) with 16 seconds left to hold off the Lions. Teammate Lexi Glennon also made a free throw in the final minute.

The game was tied at 13-13 when Prospect gained the lead for good on sophomore Sarah Hunt's little left hook in the lane. Moments later, teammate Sarah Winans drove for a layup to give the Knights a 19-15 lead.

"It was so exciting," Pettenuzzo said. "The key to the game was rebounding, playing defense and boxing out. They all paid off at the end. Our team chemistry was really on."

Rachel Hunt led the Knights with 13 points and 7 rebounds.

"Rachel did a phenomenal job getting rebounds and one of her jobs was keeping No. 21 (5-foot-10 Wessie Johnson) off the boards and she did that," Kelly added. "Lexi and Alyssa did a great job guarding their No. 10 (McTiller).

"The keys for us were to rebound, take away their dribble penetration and execute offensively, and we did them all."

Lincoln Park coach Larry Washington praised the Knights.

"Their motion offense gave us a lot of problems," he said. "They are a very good screening team. We did a great job until McTiller fouled out (1:22 left in game). But I credit Prospect, they're a real good team."