Prospect gets on boards, coasts by Buffalo Grove

Prospect was looking to rebound when it opened its Mid-Suburban East girls basketball season Friday night against Buffalo Grove.

Not from getting beaten on the scoreboard but from a beating on the boards Tuesday night against Hoffman Estates.

The Knights (7-0, 1-0) responded and finished with a 19-rebound advantage and a 56-44 win at Jean Walker Field House in Mount Prospect.

"That was definitely one of our main goals after Tuesday (39-36 win) and it has been the whole season," said Prospect 6-foot-2 junior Sarah Hunt, who had 7 points, 8 rebounds and 5 blocked shots. "It was good to own the boards tonight.

"We had a different mentality. You have to have an aggressive mentality."

One which goes with the No. 1 goal Prospect coach Martha Kelly has for her program.

"I kept telling the girls to take it personally that Hoffman out-rebounded you (33-23)," Kelly said, "and to take it personally if BG tried to do it to you."

Prospect finished with a 37-18 rebound edge with 10 apiece from Hunt's sister Rachel (14 points, 4 blocks) and Sarah Winans (14 points, 5 assists). Lexi Glennon led the balanced scoring with 15 points.

"Being able to transition is another one of our main focuses," Winans said. "Tuesday night we didn't do the best job in transition.

"With the rebounding we were able to get the quick outlet and we wanted to push the ball and keep it a fast-paced game."

The first of three 3-pointers by Andrea DiPrima (14 points) capped a 7-0 run to start the game for BG (3-4, 0-1). Prospect answered with a 21-4 tear to take the lead for good.

BG got within 21-17 with 1:16 left in the half but Prospect started a 10-0 run and went up 31-17 on Glennon's long jumper 3:44 after halftime.

"We can all kind of count on each other," Winans said of the balanced scoring.

"It's good knowing if someone is open you can get them the ball and count on them," Sarah Hunt said after the Knights shot 13-for-19 from the field in the second half to finish at 50 percent (22-for-44).

BG could never get closer than 11 points in the final 12 minutes as Heather Nisbet scored all 11 of her points and hit three 3s in the second half. Stacey Lialios added 9 points.