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Where there's a Will, there's a way to a Prospect scoring record

Senior Taylor Will picked quite a stage to become the all-time leading scorer in Prospect girls basketball history.

Before a near-packed house at Hersey High School, Will rang up a game-high 26 points to help lead the Knights past the Huskies 52-48 in a dramatic Mid-Suburban East opener between two of the area's top teams.

The Brown University recruit broke the scoring record which had stood since 1981 with one of her familiar swooping drives to the basket for a layup.

It gave the visitors a 14-11 lead with five seconds left in the first quarter and Prospect fans were on their feet cheering Will's grand accomplishment.

"When I first got here I never thought something like this was attainable," said Will, who has 1,374 points, breaking the mark set by Colleen Grant (1,352 points). "But people kind of started talking about it when I got closer last year. I try not to be a selfish player and like to see everyone scoring. But I know I also have to score points.

"I'm so lucky to have the team I play for. Everyone is so supportive and great to me. And I give so much credit my sister (Haley, the starting sophomore guard who has had her share of assists to Taylor). I couldn't do it without any of them."

Down 9-2 early, the Knights surged back to within 24-22 at half and took the lead for good in the third quarter, thanks in part to three 3-point baskets by junior guard Nikki Matters in less than four minutes.

Taylor Will, Matters (13 points) and senior forward Catherine Sherwood (13 points) took care of all the scoring for Prospect (6-0).

"That's awesome," Matters said of watching Will set the record. "Taylor deserves it, and the whole team deserves this win. Everyone is so supportive on and off the court."

Hersey (5-2) was led by senior Anne Korff (16 points), junior Maggie Berigan (12) and sophomore Claire Gritt (11).

"We knew Taylor has always been a big player at Prospect," said Korff, whose had 2 big baskets in the fourth quarter to keep the Huskies within striking distance. "She's one of my best friends and I know she is the player who makes them go. We've got to give her credit."

Prospect coach Ashley Graham credited her girls for staying patient when they fell behind early.

"I was super frantic at first but then coach just told us to slow down," Will said. "She said there is a lot of time."

"We absolutely respected Hersey," Graham said. "They're a great team and they were coming off a huge win (over highly-ranked Fremd). We told the girls that basketball is a game of runs and we had to stay disciplined."

The Knights did exactly that, clawing their way back into the game with a 10-0 run to close out the first quarter.

Hersey was in front 30-27 after a pair of free throws by Gritt with 5:47 left in the game.

But Prospect used a driving layup by Sherwood and Matter's second 3-pointer to take the lead for good.

"My teammates hit me with the passes and I just put the shots up," said Matters, who matched her season total of three 3-pointers going into the game with three in one quarter.

Hersey got to within 47-46 on 2 more free throws by Gritt with 1:36 left and then Korff made a steal on the ensuing inbounds pass to give the Huskies a chance for the lead.

But Prospect came up with a big stop and then held on in the final minute.

For the game, the Knights were 11 of 25 at the free throw line.

"Even though our free throw shooting was not great, we made them at the end," Graham said. "Sometime it's the offense that doesn't click, sometimes the defense or something else. This time, it was our free throw shooting but we found a way to win."

Hersey was playing its third straight unbeaten team (after falling to Buffalo Grove and defeating Fremd).

"We didn't take advantage of some opportunities," said Fendley, whose team's last three opponents have a combined record of 20-1.

The Huskies' only losses since December of 2012 have been to MSL East teams.

"The East is so competitive," Fendley said. "You know every game is going to be like this."

"When they were missing those free throws, we weren't capitalizing," Korff added. "But you've got to hand it to Prospect. They're a great team. We put up defense on their key players but others stepped up for them."

And Taylor Will stepped into history at the Ken Carter gymnasium, the only court in the MSL East to be named for an athletic director other than Will's very own home floor, the Jean Walker Field House in Mt. Prospect.

"I am so proud of Taylor," Graham said. "This is such a tremendous accomplishment that speaks volumes about what a great scorer she is. She can score in many ways and each year she has improved an area of her game.

"I think the greatest thing about this accomplishment is that she first recognizes her teammates and thanks them. There isn't a kid out there who deserves this more. She certainly puts in the time and demands the best out of herself."

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