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Outcome aside, Prospect savors a brush with fame

Standing outside their locker room in the United Center, several Prospect basketball players abruptly took off down the hallway.

Injured Bulls superstar Derrick Rose was walking from the locker room to the court to get in a workout four hours before the Bulls tipped off against the Phoenix Suns.

“He was ballin’,” said Prospect guard Bobby Frasco of Rose. “He looked ready to play. It was sick. We’re like kids on Christmas.”

It was moments like those which made Prospect’s 65-36 loss to Lyons Township at the Madhouse on Madison more about the experience than the actual result.

The Knights, after all, got the one they wanted on Friday night in a 1-point victory over Elk Grove to put them in first place in the Mid-Suburban East.

Just 15 hours later, Prospect (11-5) struggled shooting, making 12 of their 43 shots. But all the team could talk about afterwards was an experience they’ll never forget.

“Win or loss aside, I’m really glad our guys got a chance to do this,” said Prospect coach John Camardella.

“I was amazed at how much bigger it is,” said Prospect senior Jake Young. “I’ve been to a bunch of Bulls games and it’s just so much different down on the court.”

Frasco was able to adjust well to the different shooting background that goes along with playing in an NBA arena. The junior hit 6 of his 10 shots for a team-high 14 points, including a steal and dunk in the fourth quarter.

“It’s a blessing,” Frasco said. “It was the coolest basketball game that I’ve ever played in. Obviously the outcome stunk, but it was a fun game.”

Max Cahill’s free throw to open the second quarter cut the Lions lead to 10-9 but Lyons Township ended the half on a 14-2 run to take a 24-11 lead into halftime.

Trailing 45-17 to start the fourth quarter, Prospect adjusted to the bigger floor and put up 19 points in the final quarter.

Mike Houghton, Matt McPartlin and Danny Thomas all had baskets in the fourth quarter for a Knights squad that played all 15 players.

“There was definitely a lack of ability to do what we wanted to do,” Camardella said. “I felt like some of our guys were a little bit tired after last night. Our shots were short. And Lyons got out and knocked down a ton of shots. It felt like it ballooned.”

Sophomore Harrison Niego led the Lions (8-8) with 23 points.

Loss aside, about the only thing Prospect had to be disappointed about was that they were stuck by their locker room while their friends and parents got to watch Rose get in his workout on the floor.

“We were just trying to have fun out here,” Young said. “We wanted the win, but it was fun.”

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