Prospect gets defensive, defeat Stevenson
Prospect’s girls basketball players called it their biggest win of the season.
“Oh my God,” said senior center Maura Benson after the Knights topped state-ranked Stevenson 45-42 in the Jean Walker Fieldhouse on Tuesday night. “I’m so psyched.”
“By far, our biggest win,” added junior guard Michele Molini, who hit the 3-pointer to start the Knights on a 10-0 run in the decisive fourth quarter.
The game was Prospect’s fourth in six days, and second in a row without starting guard Jessica Petrovski (illness).
The Knights are now 7-3 while Stevenson stands at 6-2.
“Overall, we did so great as a team, even missing one starter,” said Benson, who scored 10 points with 10 rebounds and 6 blocked shots. “I thought we played really great defense.”
The game was tied at 31 when Molini hit her big 3-pointer.
“When I’m open, I have confidence,” Molini said. “I figured it was a close game and Stevenson has a lot of good shooters. So I knew if I could hit it, it would give us a chance to get the lead and try to extend it.”
The Knights extended it all the way to 41-31 before coach Tom Dineen’s Patriots staged a terrific rally to get to within 43-42 with 20 seconds left.
The Pats fouled Benson with 15 seconds left and she made both free throws for the 45-42 lead.
“I was actually feeling pretty confident because I was feeling it at the line in this game,” Benson said. “I didn’t feel any pressure because I knew we were leading and I could just extend the lead.
“I was really happy I was making my free throws (6-of-7) because I wasn’t really scoring much with my regular offense.”
Junior Adriane Falagario also scored 10 points for the Knights while Molini and freshman Taylor Will each chipped in 8.
“What I was most proud about from these girls was that they basically played four games in a row,” said Knights coach Martha Kelly. “It was a tough stretch and to go 3-1 (loss at Libertyville and wins over Elk Grove, St. Viator and Stevenson) that’s very good.”
Rolling Meadows 65, York 37: Rolling Meadows exploded to a 42-27 halftime lead and never looked back in the nonconference game played at the Forest View Educational Center in Arlington Heights.
The Mustangs (6-3) were led by Jenny Vliet (17 points, 3 3-pointers), Alexis Glasgow (15 points), Amanda Gunn (14 points, 1 3-pointer) and Jackie Kemph (12 points).
“It was a terrific effort from the girls,” said Mustangs coach Todd Hatfield, whose team hosts Hersey at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Forest View in an MSL East contest.
Conant 45, Glenbard East 22: Conant improved to 4-5 as 6-foot senior forward Natalie Kutrumanes (16 points) was the high scorer in the nonconference game in Hoffman Estates.
Freshman Katie Lomas chipped in 7 points for Conant and classmate Sidney O’Keefe added 6 with a 3-pointer.
Maine West 53, Deerfield 25: It was quite a night for Maine West senior point guard Amanda Hoye, who scored 26 points (4 3-pointers) with 10 rebounds in the CSL North game.
“Everything starts with the point guard and Amanda had the best game of her career,” said Warriors coach Derril Kipp.
Sophomore Brittany Collins added 14 points and 10 rebounds for the host Warriors while teammate Megan John had three baskets in the first half as West led 25-11.
Maine West (2-7, 2-0) pitched a shutout for the last ten minutes.
“We played well,” Kipp said. “We played with more confidence, we made shots and we rebounded well.
“We played at a little faster speed. Hopefully, we’re starting to get a little better.”