High hopes remain after tough loss for girls’ basketball

Alyssa Degan, Executive Visuals Editor

After losing 10 seniors last year, the girls’ basketball team was still able to find success in the MSL conference. Prospect ended up co-champs of the MSL East division with their rival Hersey, just like last year. Because Hersey out-scored Prospect by three in the two games they played, Hersey got to play in the crossover against the MSL West champs, Fremd. 

Prospect met Barrington on Feb. 7, both as MSL division runner ups. Both teams were very talented and it reflected in the game. Although Prospect was trailing for most of the game they never gave up. They were still in the game the whole time. 

Coach Matt Weber had a plan going into the game to challenge Barrington.

We are a completely different team this year than we were last year,

— Matt Weber

“We are a completely different team this year than we were last year,” Weber said. “We relied on some of our strengths last year to try to compete, and this year, we have different strengths.”

At halftime the Knights were only trailing by six points. They continued to push through but eventually followed the Fillies by 13 points with four minutes left in the third quarter.

Once the fourth quarter was underway the Knights stepped it up. With a full court press approach, they got many steals followed by baskets and eventually brought it to a one-point game; 60-61 Fillies leading with two minutes left.

“I thought we did a good job of rotating through our different defenses and putting pressure on them and forcing them into making some mistakes,” Weber said. “Then just take advantage of those mistakes on the other side.”

Jean Walker Fieldhouse was electric. The bench was going crazy at every point closer to a lead. Unfortunately, the Fillies weren’t going to keep it that close. The game ended with a 70-64 loss for the Knights. This showed a lot of improvement from last year’s encounter with the Fillies which ended with a 51-28 loss for the Knights.

The top scorer for Prospect was Skylar Splinter, junior, with 17 points. Following Splinter was Alli Linke, freshman, with 13 points and Nicole Atteo, senior, with 12 points.

These three players were recognized at the MSL championship game as all-conference players.

Prospect ended the regular season with a record of 9-1 in conference and 22-8 overall. As they head into the playoffs they have their heads high. 

Prospect, the sixth seed, will be playing Round Lake, the 11th seed, at Hersey on Feb. 13. A win from that game would result in the Knights facing off against the Huskies, the third seed, once again, for the regional title.

“As long as we keep playing team basketball, team offense, team defense, finding the hot hand helping each other out,” Weber said. “We should be able to accomplish some of those goals.”