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Mack, Prospect measure up against Conant

Frankie Mack gave Prospect a glimpse of its boys basketball future Tuesday in the opening round of the 39th annual Joe Majkowski Thanksgiving tournament at St. Viator in Arlington Heights.

The present looks pretty promising, too.

Mack drilled the second of 2 free throws with 7.5 seconds to play to lift the Knights past Mid-Suburban West favorite Conant 44-43 in the season opener for both teams.

"I was just thinking next play," said Mack, who missed the first free throw and then had to endure a Conant timeout. "I was a little nervous and the crowd was on my back. But I knew I just had to hit one, and that's what I did."

Prospect then stiffened up defensively, forcing an off-balance shot by Danny Ranallo, wide to the left of the basket.

Prospect began the game with just one starter that is a senior. The Knights, who start 3 juniors and a sophomore, have been hoping to build some momentum this year with an eye on next season.

But coach John Camardella cautioned about looking quite so far into the future.

"We don't want to get ahead of ourselves," Camardella said. "People in the community are saying, 'You are young. You are young.' But for the seniors, they are not young. For this team, this is the only time that they will be together."

Camardella said that feeling carried his team on Wednesday."

"It is a group that believes in themselves," Camardella said. "They expect to win."

It didn't look likely in the third quarter. Behind Jimmy Sotos, who led the Cougars with 17 points, Conant had built a 33-24 lead with 2:35 left in the period.

"The game was getting away from us," Camardella said. "We switched into that 1-3-1, which we have been practicing a lot. It got a nice run that got us back in the game."

Antonio Gardner hit a pair of free throws to ignite a 9-0 run that featured one of the four 3-pointers from Mack.

"We fight," said Dan Marshall, who came off the Prospect bench to score 5 points and grab 7 rebounds. "We pride ourselves on working hard out there. And that's what got us back in the game."

Ryan Davis, who at 6-foot-9 was playing playing guard at times for the Cougars, moved himself down on the block. Conant began to recognize the mismatch and Davis powered in 3 baskets. Ben Schols hit a 3, and Conant regained the lead at 42-37 with 4:43 to play.

Prospect still found a way to get back in the game.

The Knights rallied with a 3 by David Swedura to make it 42-40 with 2:22 to play. Conant scored its final point of the game with 2:00 left on a free throw by Chima Oduocha. But the Knights tied it with 2 free throws by Mack and another free throw by Matt Szuba with 1:19 to make it 43-43.

Conant had a chance to take the lead, but the Cougars missed two chances within 5 feet of the basket with 45 seconds to play. Prospect held for the last shot, and after 2 timeouts, Mack drew a foul far away from the basket with 7.5 seconds left and his team in the double-bonus.

"I had a lot of confidence in my free throws," said Mack, who finished with 19 points. "I work on them every day."

Conant coach Tom McCormack said his team, which was playing without Kyle Bradley and Palmer Graham, who are out with injuries from the football season along with Brandon Vinson, will be looking to build off the loss.

"We come here to play good competition and we certainly did that tonight," McCormack said. "I know we are going to get better as a team."

Szuba had 7 points for Prospect while St. Joseph transfer Mike Downing had 8 points and 6 rebounds for Conant.

  Conant's Tony Ziccardi drives for a layup against Prospect during the St. Viator Thanksgiving basketball tournament in Arlington Heights on Tuesday. Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
  Conant's Mike Downing attempts a shot under the basket as Prospect's David Swedura, middle, and Michael Ritchie defend during the St. Viator Thanksgiving basketball tournament in Arlington Heights on Tuesday. Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
  Conant's Jimmy Sotos drives to the basket for a layup as Prospect's Alec Busiel defends during the St. Viator Thanksgiving basketball tournament in Arlington Heights on Tuesday. Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
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