Prospect dials up an 8-0 start

Television. Birthday. Dialing long distance.

So, what do the above have to do with undefeated Prospect posting a 65-32 win over St. Viator at the Jean Walker Field House on Tuesday night in Mt. Prospect?

Senior Taylor Will, playing her first game since appearing on Comcast SportsNet television over the weekend, scored a game-high 19 points and Knights freshman guard Emily Frasco celebrated her 15th birthday with one of Prospect's nine season-high nine 3-pointers.

It all added up to a second straight season in which the Knights have begun 8-0.

"Wow, that's a good team," said Lions coach Paul Missavage, whose team coincidentally watched Buffalo Grove also fire home a season-high nine 3-pointers on Monday night in the Lions' Cahill Gymnasium.

Will was featured as Comcast's All State High School Lights 'Player of the Week' for recently breaking the school's all-time scoring record.

"That was awesome," said the 5-foot-11 Frasco about watching the segment on her older teammate. "It's crazy. I've always looked up to her and I was so proud of her."

Will (three 3-pointers in the game) wasted no time putting Prospect on the board with a layup off the jump ball. A minute later it was junior Nikki Matters (two 3-pointers) starting the long-distance barrage from the corner for a 5-0 lead.

By game's end, Prospect had a season-high eight girls make it into the scoring column, including 16 points from senior forward Catherine Sherwood.

"It was nice to get everyone into the game and to see eight girls in the scoring column," said Prospect coach Ashley Graham. "It was also really exciting to see Taylor on TV last weekend, not only for her but for our team because all our girls got to experience it when they (Comcast) came to our gym."

St. Viator stayed within striking distance through one half but Sherwood helped set the tone in the Knights' big second half when they outscored the visitors 39-17.

Sherwood, also a track and field standout, scored the first 6 points of the third quarter. She got assists from Taylor Will on the first two and Brenda Kendziera on the last.

All three baskets came on the Knights' fastbreak.

"They got 27 points on fastbreak baskets," Missavage said. "So that says we have to take care of the ball better. And they shot 56 percent from the 3-point line."

Six different Knights hit 3-pointers, including Kendziera, senior Katie Olson and sophomore Haley Will, the younger sister of Taylor.

"The one thing we don't talk about too often is how well these kids play defense and ho well they commit to the scouting report," Graham said. "We didn't have a good first half but we had a great third quarter and that led to the fourth."

"It was really just keeping our energy up and talking together on the floor," Haley Will said. "Once we start running and get our transition going, that boosts our offense."

And, of course, with a player on the floor nearing 1,400 career points (Taylor Will has 1.393), the offense is always going to be dangerous.

"It was awesome seeing Taylor on TV," Haley Will said. "I'm so proud her. It's amazing to be able to playing on the same team with her these past two seasons."

For the second straight night and fifth time this season, the Lions (3-6) were led by freshman Myia Clark (8 points). Senior Kayne Stanley added 5 while senior Jessica Hohlweg, senior Maddie McAteer and junior Julia Bergström each chipped in 4.

"They took us out of our offense with their aggressiveness and wing denials," Missavage said. "But we'll find a solution. We had one but it didn't pan out.

"We need to play teams like Buffalo Grove (49-28 loss) and Prospect to get ready for our conference (East Suburban Catholic), one of the best in the nation. That's how I look at it. It's like wow, with the teams in our conference, if you can win four games you are doing something."