Schaumburg slips past Prospect
It was bombs away for Schaumburg and Prospect in a rare Monday night boys basketball game in Mount Prospect. The teams combined for 16 3-pointers and when the smoke cleared Schaumburg held on for a 55-52 victory.
"We had some guys hit some big shots," Schaumburg coach Wade Heisler said. "Especially in the third quarter. I thought we shot the ball with confidence and we expect to make shots."
Armen Torosian and Arnav Karnik combined for five 3-pointers in the second half. That shooting enabled Schaumburg (16-3) to get some separation from Prospect (7-9), which scored the final 10 points of the second quarter to knot the game up at 22-22 at the half.
"We knew we had to have some energy after their run at the end of the first half," said Torosian, who had a trio of 3-pointers in the third quarter and finished with 9 points.
"I just started hitting 3s and it worked out well for us."
It became contagious as Chris Hodges, the Saxons' 6-foot-8 post player, went outside to nail one of his two triples as Schaumburg opened up a 35-30 lead.
"I just wanted to take what they would give me," said Hodges, who finished with 15 points, 9 rebounds and 3 blocks.
"I was looking to score, but I was also looking to kick it out. There were open shooters. They can't take everything away. The unselfishness of this team is why we're playing so well together."
Prospect, which converted 7-of-9 shots in the third quarter, used that hot shooting to keep within striking distance. The Knights then used a quick surge to begin the fourth quarter and took a 42-40 lead with 6:28 to play on a 3 by Matt McAleer.
Schaumburg answered with a pair of 3s by Karnak and Joe Storino to pull back ahead 46-42 with 5:24 to play.
"Coach told us before the game that he wanted us to push the ball," said Karnak, who would convert two of his 3-pointers in the fourth quarter and finish with 9 points.
"I tried to get open for a 3. I made eye contact and they got me the ball. It was momentum for us."
Schaumburg led 53-50 with 12.8 seconds left when the Saxons' Jared Schoo came up with a huge offensive rebound after a missed free throw. Schoo, who was then fouled, converted both free throws to help put the game away.
"Our execution down the stretch, we missed some shots," Prospect coach John Camardella said. "We missed some box outs at the end which cost us the game. We didn't finish. We shot real well. But a lot of their guys were banging 3s."
Prospect was led by Matt Woloch and Owen Schneider, who each had 13 points. Chase Larsen had 12 points on four 3-pointers and Brian Dini had 5 points.
Schoo had 6 points and 7 rebounds while Sturino and Vaurice Patterson had 6 points each for the Saxons.