Hot start carries Prospect over Buffalo Grove
Visiting Prospect got off to a fantastic start in its Mid-Suburban League East girls basketball game Friday night at Buffalo Grove.
The Knights stormed ahead of the Bison right out of the gates as their hot shooting staked them to a commanding 19-6 lead late in the opening quarter.
And while Buffalo Grove stayed within striking distance for most of the contest, Prospect ultimately pulled away in the second half to capture a 60-42 MSL East victory.
A 6-point run by the Bison (1-2) cut the Knights' lead to 25-17 early in the third quarter as both squads struggled through some cold shooting spells early in the second half.
But Prospect (2-1) really got rolling offensively as a 10-point run gave the Knights their biggest lead of the game at 35-17 with 3:31 remaining in the third quarter.
After starting the first two games of the abbreviated season, Prospect senior Jenna Acosta scored a game-high 14 points coming off the bench. Junior guard Andie Will scored 13 points for the Knights while junior teammate Summer Srodulski also hit double figures scoring with 10 points.
"She (Acosta) did an amazing job off the bench for us, and she really set the tone on defense," said Prospect coach Matt Weber, whose team led 37-23 entering the fourth quarter. "It was a good team win, and we have to keep it going in the tough East."
The Bison were never able to make another strong rally after Prospect's third-quarter surge. But junior Leah McKenna had a strong second half to lead Buffalo Grove with 11 points while junior teammate Cassidy Green added 8 points in a reserve role.
The Bison have no seniors on their squad this season, and they only dressed nine players for the contest Friday night.
"I'm just trying to keep it positive, it's a learning experience for our girls, and I'm excited about having all of them back next year," said Buffalo Grove coach Martha Kelly, whose team trailed 25-15 at halftime. "We turned the ball over too much, but there are positives, and I think Green is doing a good job coming off the bench for us."
Prospect pulled away in the fourth quarter as a 3-pointer by junior Jessica Reizer made the score 50-29 late in the period.
Buffalo Grove teammates Olivia Genthner and Kora Kipley scored 6 points each as did Eliot Dojutrek for the Knights.
"I didn't start last year or get a ton of minutes so I really didn't know what to expect," said Acosta, whose team was outscored 6-4 in a defense-dominated second quarter. "I really took practices more seriously this year, and I think we have huge potential this year."
Coach Weber was happy with the senior leadership he got Friday night.
"That is what we ask of our seniors, we want them to play fast, and tonight I thought we did a tremendous job of helping each other," added Weber. "Our point guard (Will) is the leader, and she did a good job leading for us."