Prock shoots Benet past St. Charles East

Jack Prock has simply taken advantage of his opportunities.

Whether bombing away at the 3-point line or providing standout defensive effort, the 6-foot-3 Benet senior has been ready for whatever comes his way.

Prock was at it again Thursday, scoring 12 of his 17 points in the second half of Benet's 55-44 nonconference win over St. Charles East in Lisle.

" (Prock) shot the ball really well (tonight), but he adds a lot on the defensive boards and he's also defended well," Benet coach Gene Heidkamp said. "He's given us a lot, and I thought tonight he did a good job once he got settled a little bit of handling the ball ... he's somebody that we count on consistently. He's answered the bell pretty consistently this year."

Prock and fellow senior Colin Gillespie combined forces for an impact third quarter. The two combined for 14 points in the quarter, helping Benet (11-3) overcome a sloppy 16-turnover first half.

Prock and Gillespie also combined for 9 rebounds.

"Jack has come out this season and played really well," said Gillespie, who scored 15 points himself. "He gave so much on the offensive side, but he's added so much on the other aspects of the game as well. (He's) not just a shooter."

St. Charles East (9-6, 3-1) entered Thursday on a three-game winning streak. The Saints perhaps executed their most intensive defensive showing in the first half with pressure-packed full court defense but ultimately had trouble on the offensive end.

Benet pulled ahead 33-21 with 3:26 left in the third quarter, and St. Charles East's Scott Breidigan and Gillespie exchanged 3-pointers.

Breidigan hit two additional 3s, while Gillespie made one for a 39-30 Benet lead. But the Redwings' defense shined the rest of way for much of the fourth quarter.

With 3:57 left in the game, Saints forward Thomas Ditsworth hit a layup and converted the foul to make it a 10-point game, but Gillespie and Prock each scored on layups to effectively put the game out of reach.

Colin Crothers added 8 points, 7 rebounds and 4 blocks, while Jacob Snell added 10 points, 10 rebounds and 3 blocks to lead Benet.

The Saints forced Benet into 24 turnovers but couldn't take advantage with 16 for 46, and worse 6 for 24 from beyond the arc.

Chase Monkemeyer and Luke Matheny each had 7 points, while Breidigan had 9 points. Ditsworth led with 11 points and 9 rebounds.

"Bottom line, I thought (Benet was) tougher than us; they were physical down low, and that really bothered us," St. Charles East coach Pat Woods said. "And that's why we shot poorly."