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Whitebloom blossoms as Prospect trims Hersey

Prospect junior guard and defensive specialist Grant Whitebloom grew up Friday at the Knights Jean Walker Field House.

Whitebloom's defensive efforts on Hersey standout guard Joe Coffaro was a game-changer.

"We're very much a team," said Knights coach John Camardella. "It was an incredible individual effort by Grant tonight. He was just very focused on what he had to do tonight. I was very proud of him."

That effort, along with some stellar defensive play by Matt Szuba, helped the Knights top Prospect 49-47 on the opening night of Mid-Suburban East play.

Prospect's Frankie Mack put the Knights ahead for good at 48-47 with :09 left after taking a sideline inbounds pass and driving to the basket uncontested for the score.

"On their last basket," said Hersey coach Steve Messer, "(Mack) just went to the rim, and that can't happen. We didn't play well consistently."

Szuba came up with a big steal with .2 left in the game when he intercepted a Hersey pass on the sideline and converted the first of two free throws to ice the game for the Knights, who improved to 2-2 and 1-0.

Coffaro struggled early, scoring just 2 points in the first half as the Knights held a 22-13 lead at the break.

Hersey (3-2, 0-1) used a 14-0 run to turn a 25-15 deficit and turn it into a 29-25 lead with 1:45 left in the third quarter.

"They were really bodying us," said Coffaro, "and we weren't able to handle that. We stepped up our game in the third quarter. We got some good looks and got back in the game."

Hersey built a 37-29 lead with 6:08 left on a free throw from Kevin Starr (11 points, 3 rebounds) before the Knights came back.

Whitebloom hit 3 of 4 free throws and Antonio Gardner mad one while subbing for Mack, who had a left leg cramp on a drive to the basket.

Whitebloom then came up with a key steal from Coffaro to make a basket.

Moments later, the Huskies stepped out of bounds, and Gardner responded with a 3 for a 38-37 lead with 4:18 left.

Whitebloom intercepted a pass, and with :58 left hit a short jumper for a 46-42 lead.

Coffaro hit a long 3, and a pass from Zack Cooper to Starr gave the Huskies their last lead at 47-46 with :16 left.

"Joey's a great player and we had to find a way to contain him," said Whitebloom. "We needed to get a spark, and my steal and the three-point basket got the crowd going. We just stuck together throughout. If we did that, I felt we could win."

"Grant was a big spark for us," said Szuba. "We just weren't fighting in the third quarter. We came out flat, but coach got us back together after they made that third-quarter run."

Images: Prospect vs. Hersey boys basketball

  Prospect's Grant Whitebloom and Matt Szuba provide strong defense against Hersey's Christopher O' Toole late in the fourth quarter in a thrilling win over Hersey on Friday at Prospect. mwelsh@dailyherald.com
  Prospect's David Swedura works his way around Hersey's Joe Coffaro in the first half Friday at Prospect. mwelsh@dailyherald.com
  Prospect's Frankie Mack gets the ball swiped away in a strong defensive move by Hersey's Christopher O' Toole late in the second half on Friday at Prospect. mwelsh@dailyherald.com
  Prospect's Dan Marshall and teammate Matt Szuba sandwich Hersey's Mark Milligan on Friday at Prospect. mwelsh@dailyherald.com
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