Benet passes Marian Catholic's test
Final exams were being held this week at Benet like at many other area high schools.
Consider Thursday night's 71-38 home win over East Suburban Catholic Conference foe Marian Catholic an easy test.
The Redwings built up a 27-9 lead midway through the second quarter and never looked back to move to 17-0 overall and 5-0 in the ESCC.
Twelve Benet players figured in the scoring, led by Matt Parisi's game-high 21 points that included five 3-point baskets.
“I was fortunate to knock down the shots when I was open,” Parisi said.
The Benet senior guard and coach Gene Heidkamp were quick to point out the game that Frank Kaminsky turned in Thursday night.
The 7-footer finished with 6 points and 7 rebounds, but both stressed that the value of his play went beyond the numbers in the box score.
“Frank was a huge factor,” Heidkamp said. “He made some big plays in the first half. His stat line was pedestrian, but he dominated the game.”
The Spartans (7-9, 2-4) never had a chance.
When Marian Catholic coach Mike Taylor called a timeout with 4:51 left in the first half after the Redwings went up 27-9, Dave Sobolewski, who scored 13 points, had just made his third 3-point basket of the night. Benet was a perfect 4 of 4 from 3-point range in that quarter and was 6 of 8 from the field overall.
Taylor said when a team faces the Redwings, their “A” game must be brought.
“You have to play almost perfect. They shot well and we did not and there's a difference when their post player is 6-11 (Kaminsky) and ours is 6-2,” he said.
After a 13-8 Benet advantage in the third quarter, the Redwings put this one on ice with a 24-point burst in the final quarter. Parisi hit for 11 points in that period and sank three of his five 3-point baskets then.
Pat Boyle finished with 9 points for the Redwings with 8 rebounds. McInerney scored 7 and pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds.
DiAndre Bellamy led Marian with 14 points.
Next up for Benet is a Saturday battle against Oswego at the Naperville North Shootout.
“They're playing unselfish and smart. They're playing to their strengths and avoiding their weaknesses.,” Heidkamp said of Oswego.
A season of accomplishment and a season of lots of remaining possibilities rolls on.
“You try to enjoy every moment,” Parisi said. “This is a senior team and this (season) is the last time we'll step on the floor as a team together.”