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Rebounding, balanced scoring lift Prospect over Hersey

It was "B and B Time" for Prospect's boys basketball team.

The Knights crashed the boards and got balanced scoring as they pulled away from Hersey 57-44 Thursday in a Mid-Suburban East game in Mount Prospect.

Prospect (10-9, 4-2) had a decisive 32-20 rebounding advantage. The Knights also had all five of their starters with at least 8 points.

"For us we talk about what we can control, effort games, " Prospect coach John Camardella said. "I thought we manufactured points in other ways and we had guys contribute all over."

The Knights got extra hard work inside from 6-foot-5 Brian Dini, who has 15 rebounds, and 6-4 Chase Larsen, who had 6 rebounds.

"We don't have that much height," said Dini, who also had 9 points and 3 blocks. "I am trying to be a presence down there, especially with the lack of size on our team."

Larsen, who had 11 points 9 of which came in the second half, said getting rebounds, especially on the offensive end, was huge for him and the Knights.

"The coaches really challenged me to step up my game," Larsen said. "One part is the boards. So I just crashed, crashed, crashed. It was big for us. All season we have been missing and lost some close games. Getting those boards and getting this win was big for us."

Prospect led by four in the first half when Hersey (7-13, 2-4) pulled to within one on a 3-pointer by Scott Rogowski that made it 25-24. Prospect scored the final 5 points of the half, which included a driving basket by Ben Osowski at the buzzer that sparked the Knights.

"This is my sixth game and I and kind of am getting back into the rhythm," said Osowski, who missed all of last season and part of this season with injuries.

"I saw an opening and knew the clock was running down. It was huge going into halftime and gave us a little energy."

Prospect converted five of its first six shots to begin the second half as the Knights opened up a 41-32 lead. Hersey got another 3-pointer from Rogowski, but the Knights exploded again, going on an 8-0 run to put the game away with a 49-35 lead with 6:32 to play.

"We have struggled at home a little bit this year," said Camardella, whose team has won three straight in the MSL East.

"I was glad we were able to reclaim that Walker Field House advantage. I felt our guys got out to it."

Owen Schneider led the Knights with 13 points. Marco Shaw had 9 points thanks to a trio of 3-pointers, Matt Woloch had 8 points and Osowski chipped in 5 points.

Hersey was led by Ben Randall, who had 10 points. Brent Wolff had 7 points while Rogowski and Alec Naumowicz each had 6 points.

"They hurt us on the glass," Hersey coach Austin Scott said. "Physically, we weren't ready for that challenge. I don't think we were at our best rebounding and that was a collective effort."

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