Loss shows Benet it has much to learn
And so it begins.
Benet's brutal slate of February boys basketball games kicked off Saturday with a 45-30 nonconference home loss to state-ranked DePaul Prep and its stifling defense.
The Redwings (17-5) have eight regular-season games remaining and none of their opponents boast fewer than 15 victories. The list includes Marian Catholic and Notre Dame in the East Suburban Catholic Conference and nonconference matchups against Stevenson, St. Charles North and Indiana power La Lumiere.
On both ends of the court, DePaul Prep (18-3) - bouncing back from Friday's Catholic League loss to Brother Rice - gave Benet plenty to learn from as it tries to round into playoff form.
"If we don't learn it's going to be a long month," said Benet coach Gene Heidkamp. "Hopefully we'll make some adjustments for the rest of the season.
"Their defense took away everything," he said. "They kind of took it to us in the second half."
Benet stayed close until the Rams opened the third quarter with a 10-0 run highlighted by a pair of 3-pointers from Lance Mosley, who knocked down five 3s in the game. A 20-18 halftime lead blossomed to 30-18 midway through the third quarter.
"When the shots aren't falling we can always rely on our defense," Mosley said. "As soon as we lost to Brother Rice, Benet was our bounce-back game. We're still disappointed about a loss, but winning helps."
Benet's offense managed 12 second-half points as the Rams took away the 3-point line and denied post passes to 6-foot-8 Colin Crothers with deflections by lightning-quick guard Rasheed Bello and 6-10 Brian Mathews.
The Redwings took only 23 total shots, including 3-of-7 3-point shooting. Crothers scored 8 points while Jack Prock had 7 and Tyler Van Eekeren and Colin Gillespie scored 6 points each.
T.Y. Johnson led DePaul Prep with 16 points to complement Mosley's 15.
"The kids know Benet is a fabulous basketball program," said Rams coach Tom Kleinschmidt. "The culture coach Heidkamp has created is unbelievable, and that's why we play them. We want to get ready for the tournament, and to win on the road at this place gives us a lot of confidence."
Twitter: @kevin_schmit