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Hersey shoots lights out in win over Prospect

Hersey's shooters were in their zone on Friday night.

And they were able to get Prospect out of its zone defense.

Four different girls hit the Huskies' first four 3-point attempts in the game's first three minutes, lifting the home team to a 14-2 lead it never relinquished.

Hersey (5-2, 1-0) added another long range basket from Natalia Kubsik, which the 5-foot-10 junior turned into a 4-point play (fouled on the shot) for a 20-5 lead with 3:14 still remaining in the opening period.

Hersey never let Prospect to within double digits en route to a 71-46 triumph in the Mid-Suburban East opener on Friday at the Carter Gymnasium in Arlington Heights.

Senior Jordan Carlquist started the 3-point run followed by two from Katy Eidle and then one with 5:31 left in the first quarter by junior Mary McGrath.

"It was so exciting," Kubsik said of the fast start. "It just hyped us up and we knew we had to keep the momentum the whole game. We couldn't be like 'hey, we're up' and then lose the lead. We had to keep it up the whole game."

That's exactly what the Huskies did.

"We've been playing catch-up for most of the season," said Prospect coach Marie Miller, whose team is 4-2 and 0-1. "But when you play a good shooting team like Hersey, it's hard to catch up."

Eidle led the 3-point parade with three and the freshman shared team scoring honors with McGrath (17 points each). Mary Kate Fahey added 13 points.

McGrath and Jordan Carlquist each chipped in 8 points while senior Jessie Carlquist and junior Maggie Kaepplinger came off the bench to also hit 3-pointers. Junior Annie Lindgren capped the scoring for Hersey with a rebound layup.

"The way we were shooting, I even told our girls at half that I don't know what I would have done to defend us," said Hersey coach Mary Fendley. "We had four kids hitting 3s, including our center Natalia, who actually had that 4-point play."

Kubsik also led Hersey with 7 rebounds.

"Natalia has been our most consistent rebounder. She has really had a vibe in the paint. She creates havoc for the other team," Fendley said.

Fahey led the Huskies with 6 assists, including a beauty to McGrath, who converted a 6-footer with 3.4 seconds left in the first half for a 41-22 lead.

"The key was working together as a team and looking for the open player," Kubsik said. "It was not being selfish, passing the ball when we had people on us, taking the open shot and being confident in each other."

Sophomore Andie Will led Prospect with 17 points while junior Eliot Dojutrek added 10 and sophomore Summer Srodulski 9.

"The best part is that this was our first game (conference) so we'll get to see them again," Miller said. "So it's just the beginning.

"Andie and Eliot did a great job finding their spots. We were hoping to have a more post-dominated game but again we're looking forward to getting back to practice and getting that confidence back as well."

Hersey's 71 points were a season high.

"I didn't expect to score 70 points," Fendley said. "That's (Prospect) a good team. "I think we just played really well against a good team."

  Hersey's Jordan Carlquist, left, and Prospect's Summer Srodulski chase down a loose ball during Friday's girls basketball game in Arlington Heights. Paul Valade/pvalade@dailyherald.com
  Hersey's Mary McGrath, right, takes a shot past Prospect's Ellen Sherwood (14) during Friday's girls basketball game in Arlington Heights. Paul Valade/pvalade@dailyherald.com
  Hersey's Natalia Kubsik (24) blocks the shot of Prospect's Eliot Dojutrek during Friday's girls basketball game in Arlington Heights. Paul Valade/pvalade@dailyherald.com
  Prospect's Andie Will, left, is pressured by Hersey's Jessie Carlquist (2) during Friday's girls basketball game in Arlington Heights. Paul Valade/pvalade@dailyherald.com
  Prospect's Summer Srodulski, left, positions herself for the rebound with Hersey's Avery Larson during Friday's girls basketball game in Arlington Heights. Paul Valade/pvalade@dailyherald.com
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