King leads Rolling Meadows at Prospect

Just as Prospect's girls basketball team was making things interesting at the Jean Walker Field House on Friday night, Rolling Meadows decided to put an end to the suspense.

The Knights cut a 10-point halftime deficit to 4 points by the end of the third quarter.

However, the Mustangs came out kicking in the fourth quarter, scoring the first 10 points en route to a 55-38 Mid-Suburban East girls basketball triumph in Mt. Prospect.

And it couldn't have been more fitting that Megan King started the big fourth-quarter run with a 3-pointer.

It was her season-high fifth of the game and led to a game-high 19 points for the senior guard.

After a free throw by Kyra Spiwak, spinning bank shot by Katherine Nolan, 16-footer by Spiwak off an assist from King and a bank shot by Morgan Campagna, the lead was up to 44-30 for Meadows (8-3, 2-0).

"We came out really hard in the fourth quarter," said King who connected for three 3-pointers in the first quarter which led to a 13-8 lead. "When we are talking we are all over the place, and we get a lot more points that way."

That was certainly the Mustangs' way in the final quarter, indicative of the possession where they tossed nearly 10 passes before King found Spiwak for the open 16-footer that made it 42-30 with 5:10 left in the contest.

"It's great when Megan is knocking down shots," said Mustangs coach Ryan Kirkorsky of King who tossed home seven 3-pointers against Elk Grove last winter. "But even when she isn't, she is setting the tone on the floor."

The Mustangs were tuned in defensively as well, holding Prospect to just 2 free throws in the first six minutes of the final period.

By the time the Knights scored their first basket (layup by Clare O'Carroll (8 points), Meadows had built a 48-34 cushion.

Emily Frasco came off the bench to lead Prospect (5-5, 0-2) with 9 points while teammate Angela Villasin also had 8.

"When they'd hit those 3-pointers, our confidence would go down," Villasin said. "And they would just go on a run. They also have very good post players.

"We lost to them in the summer and now this game. Hopefully, we will be better the next time we play them."

Meadows' leaders in post were Campagna (12 points, 9 rebounds), Hannah Mickey (6 points, 7 rebounds) and Nolan (9 rebounds, 4 points).

Spiwak finished with 14 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists.

"We knew it would be a battle with Prospect," Kirkorsky added. "First off, the kids on both teams know each other so well. Second, They are a good team which has already been tested.

"I thought the difference was our kids running the motion offense in the fourth quarter and making great decisions."

Frasco and Villasin led Prospect with 4 rebounds apiece while Brenda Kendziera, Nikki Matters, O'Carroll and Villasin each had a pair of assists.

"We had some unforced turnovers and they took advantage," said Knights coach Gabrielle Lovin. "They're a great team and that No. 14 (King) had a hot shooting hand and hurt us in transition.

"We were right there at the end of the third quarter. We've just got to clean up our game and minimize the turnovers."