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Forward-thinking Prospect gets key victory

As the days dwindle in January, high school boys basketball teams' attention turns towards the final stages of regular-season play and finishing strong in an attempt to net the best possible seeding possible.

With just three weeks until the IHSA does its part to both seed and pair teams for the postseason, every game takes on greater significance.

Take Tuesday's matchup at Prospect, for example.

The current Mid-Suburban East front-runners were assigned last month to the Class 4A Maine East sectional, which currently has five teams with 14 or more wins - Niles North, St. Viator, Evanston, New Trier and Maine South.

Thanks to a dominant first-quarter performance, that number grew by one as the Knights defeated Glenbrook South 62-36 Tuesday night to earn its 14th victory at the Jean Walker Field House.

"Our guys took this game serious tonight," Prospect coach John Camardella said. "After the Elk Grove game Friday, we zoned in on getting prepared to play a much-improved team from when we saw them up at the Wheeling tournament."

David Swedura got things going early for the home team (14-4) by belting 3 of his 4 triples on the night in the game's first 4:31, which propelled Prospect to an 11-2 advantage. They went on to shut out the Titans (6-12) the rest of the opening quarter with an 8-0 tear that Jon Kriedler finished with a 3-point play, making it 19-2 at quarter's end.

In the second quarter, Prospect scored all 12 of its points from beyond the arc. Six-foot-1 junior guard Sam Murray connected on 3 of his 4 threes in the period as the Knights went 8-for-10 from long range in the first half (they finished the game 10-for-16).

Murray (game-high 14 points) attributed the team's outside success to its inside prowess in the second half. The constant deep threat allowed Kriedler (12 points) and 6-5 senior Jalen McLachlan (10 points) to join both he and Swedura (12 points) in double-figure scoring.

"It can open things up inside because teams have to take measure how many guys we have that hit from outside," Murray said. "We've become very mindful of how teams are starting to defend us, so seeing both Jon and Jalen have big second halves really is a plus."

Glenbrook South within 12 on a Joe Shapiro bucket that made it 22-10 with 5:59 left in the opening half. 6-2 Sophomore forward Dom Martinelli paced the visitors with 11 points.

The Knights return to their home court at 6 p.m. Friday for an MSL East matchup against Buffalo Grove. Prospect holds a 2-game lead over both Hersey and Rolling Meadows, while the Bison are 3 games behind with 4 to play.

All of which serves as a motivator for Camardella and his team to shore things up as Prospect inches closer to nabbing a third consecutive East title and its eighth in the last 10 years.

"While we're in the process of taking it game by game, we are very aware of what those other teams are doing " Camardella said. "Which goes to Friday's game against a Buffalo Grove team that will give you everything it has. It's going to be a tough challenge."

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