Prospect rallies past Maine West in OT
If you heard that Prospect shot 4-for-14 on 3-pointers and committed 19 turnovers, you'd probably think the Knights, first-place team in the MSL East and on an 8-game winning streak, got beat, right?
Not. Despite some challenges, they rallied back from down 41-32 in the first round of the Wildcat Hardwood Classic at Wheeling against gritty Maine West to score a 58-51 overtime win Wednesday.
Prospect has won nine straight and next meets Geneva in a quarterfinal at 5:30 p.m. Thursday.
Keyed by their ability to run their 4-corner offense for the majority of the game, even when behind, the Knights enabled themselves to get more open looks and deny Maine West's pesky defense the chance to double-team and force turnovers.
"We just slowed down," said swingman John Czeslawski, whose team-high 15 points were a departure from his usual rebounding, defense-first role.
"I just look for my open lanes," said the senior, who scored 7 straight points in the third quarter (including a 3) to help propel a 13-point run that carried Prospect from down 30-19 late in the first half into the lead.
From there, it was a seesaw game as Czeslawski, Jon Kreidler (14 points) and foul-plagued Jalen McLachlan traded baskets with inside enforcer Jack Collins (15 points), Darrington Bates and Milos Dugalic (12 points) of Maine West.
The Warriors (5-5) had to be beside themselves after letting two big leads get away and outplaying Prospect most of the game, especially through the tense final moments of regulation.
The game went overtime after Collins and Bates countered late Prospect hoops from David Swedura, whose shooting touch came alive in the fourth quarter and overtime, and Tim Lussenhop (14 points).
In a final flurry, Prospect missed two good looks at the horn.
In overtime, it was all Prospect as Czeslawski scored from Lussenhop, Lussenhop hit a short jumper after a nice move and Swedura hit two free throws. McLachlan, despite foul trouble, had a key offensive rebound to set up a Czeslawski drive and added 2 free throws, not his strong suit.
"We went to our 4-corner offense. We had to go to that," said Prospect coach John Camardella. "We had to look below the pressure. Our guards, down the stretch, were great."
One of them, Swedura, a three-year varsity star, was happy to keep everyone involved even when his shooting was not what it usually is.
"I was trying to do whatever I can. When they deny me, other guys are open," said the veteran senior who had half his 8 points in overtime.
"My team needed me," Czeslawski said. "We needed that win."
Maine West also got stellar play from its guards, Bates and Julian Dones (10 points), in addition to swingman Dugalic and Ely Grimmer off the bench.
The Warriors play at 9 a.m. Thursday against Dundee-Crown.