Boys basketball: Rolling Meadows executes late, tips Prospect
In a back and forth hardwood fight between Prospect and Rolling Meadows Tuesday night, the host Mustangs used a late rally to prevail 45-42.
"We knew it was going to be a one or two possession game at the end," Meadows coach Kevin Katovich said.
"Prospect is a good team. I just told our guys (to) let's stay close at the end and see what happens. I'm really proud of our guys for executing and getting the win."
The Mustangs (12-6, 2-3) earned the victory by going on a 14-5 run over the game's final 5:13 after a pair if charity tosses by Prospect junior center Danny Simon had placed the visitors up 37-31.
It began with a pair of triples from senior guards Tyler Stankiewicz and Andrew Krestel with Krestel's evening things up at 37 with 4:06 remaining.
The lead would switch a couple of more times as a Quinn Zinzer three put the Knights back up 42-41 with 2:10 left before Meadows senior Marty Lesner's successful pair of free throws 10 ticks later put them ahead to stay at 43-42.
After a scoop and score by Krestel made it 45-42 with 60 seconds remaining, Prospect (8-9, 1-4) got the ball back for one last chance to tie.
That moment came with a second to go when Zinzer was fouled while appearing to have attempted a shot from the beyond the arc which would have given him three free throw attempts to even the contest.
However, after conferring, game officials decided that he had taken his field goal try just inside the line making it a two-shot foul attempt that Zinzer would miss on both to end the game.
Krestel led all scorers with 15 points, followed by Lesner with 8 and senior forward Ben Babula with 6.
Senior guards Colin Tucker and Anderson Neach shared team-high scoring honors for the Knights with 10 each followed by fellow senior Johnny Nellis with 6.
Krestel credits his teammates’ discipline and drive for allowing themselves a comeback opportunity.
"It doesn't matter if we're down 20 or down 5," Krestel said. "We're always going to play at our speed. That's what we do and that's how we're able to stay in these games."
Swiderski honored: Before the game, both teams took the time to honor former Daily Herald Correspondent Greg Swiderski who was in attendance to witness his 6,000th high school basketball game.
The milestone traces back to his days as a freshman at St. Patrick High School on Chicago's Northwest side in the fall of 1968. Swiderski, who retired from the Daily Herald two years ago, was treated to a standing ovation by players, coaches, and spectators.