Prospect downs Trinity for second-straight win
After missing four free throws in the first quarter, Prospect's girls basketball team made its last eight in the final quarter to pull away to a 61-52 win over Trinity on Tuesday.
The win was the Knights' second straight at the York tourney in Elmhurst while the Blazers fell to 1-1.
"That was nice," said Prospect coach Marie Miller of the eight straight free throws that included two apiece from Summer Srodulski, Eliot Dujotrek and senior Sarah Skaggs, and then another pair by Srodulski with 12.5 seconds left.
"That was definitely a good turnaround (from the first quarter). It's always frustrating when you miss those free throws because it's a free opportunity. But we composed ourselves at the end, acted like a mature basketball team and ended up finishing which was good."
And six of those free throws came from a sophomore (Srodulski) and junior (Dujotrek).
"We're a young team so that shows a lot about us to make those shots," said Skaggs, one of two senior starters along with Ellen Sherwood, who had 10 points and 6 rebounds. "When you're going to the free-throw line at the end, those are clutch shots you've got to make. I'm really proud of the way we've played the last two games."
Srodulski led the Knights with 16 points in her second varsity game.
"She's a sophomore playing out there but she's fearless," Miller said. "We've seen good things from her and good things are going to come so we're real excited for the season ahead."
Junior forward Mia Gusloff (14 points) and Dujotrek (10) also reached double figures for the Knights.
"The girls trusted the game plan right from the start," said Miller who watched her team race out to a 17-6 lead.
Trinity, led by talented junior Makiyah Williams' 22 points, climbed back into the game, thanks to four 3-pointers in the second quarter.
"We were able to pull them out of their zone for a few possessions and then they went back in it," said Trinity coach Kim Coleman, who got 44 points from Williams in a 72- 43 win over St. Charles East on Monday night.
"I thought their post player, No. 12 (Gusloff), did a really god job of making an impact defensively and offensively. Not necessarily always scoring but she definitely made us pay attention to her."
The Blazers actually pulled ahead 26-25 and 28-27 before Prospect got the lead for good when Srodulski's 17-footer made it 29-28 at half.
Prospect extended the lead to 48-32 early in the fourth quarter before Trinity made another charge and got to within 53-49 with 1:50 left.
That's when Prospect closed with the 8-2 run consisting of eight straight free throws.
"Trinity is a good basketball team," Miller said. "So it's exciting to see us continue to compete and come out on top.
"And she's (Williams) a great basketball player, that's for sure. We've just got to keep it rolling. We're getting excited as every game gets us closer to Mid-Suburban League play which we're looking forward to."