Boys Basketball: Hinsdale South holds off Benet

Updated: February 10, 2012 9:52PM

Benet coach Peter Paul said he would like to bottle the second half of Friday’s regular-season finale at Hinsdale South and save it for next week’s regional tournament.

He’d probably like to pickle the first half.

No. 22 Hinsdale South closed the first quarter with a 14-3 run to build a 20-9 lead, led 33-21 at halftime and by as many as 16 points in the third quarter. Benet used a late 14-2 run to get within 49-47, but the Hornets held on at the free-throw line to upset the No. 6 Redwings, 53-47.

“The second half, we played basketball,” said Paul, whose team has lost two in a row after winning 18 straight. “The first half we didn’t play as well as we like to play. If we can bottle up the second half, we’ll be happy.”

A three-pointer by Hindale South’s Andrea McNally with 5:30 left in the first half gave Hinsdale South (20-6) a 26-11 lead. A pair of three-pointers by Sidney Prasse got Benet within 28-19 at the 3:24 mark.

But Benet had no defense for Hinsdale South at the free-throw line. The Hornets made 10 of 12 free throws in the second quarter to maintain a 33-21 lead at the break.

“We talked about our defense at halftime,” Paul said. “It’s got to be on the defensive end without Madeline Eilers (who played sparingly with a knee injury) in there. If we’re going to do anything, if we’re going to anywhere, it’s got to be on the defensive end.”

Benet picked up its defense in the second half, but still trailed 47-33 with 5:33 remaining in the fourth quarter. That’s when Chrissy Prasse (16 points) buried three consecutive three-pointers and sister Sidney Prasse (21 points) added a fourth to pull the Redwings within 49-47 with 2:36 left.

However, Uzo Okoro mde two free throws and Brittany DeClouette and McNalley each made one as Hinsdale South outscored Benet 4-0 over the final 2:32. For the game, Hinsdale South was 19 of 25 from the free-throw line while Benet (22-6) was just six of 10.

Okoro led Hinsdale South with 19 points and eight rebounds, Toni Romiti added 13 points and McNalley finished with 10.

“This is the last time I’m going to play in this gym and it’s nice to get a win,” Okoro said. “I told the guards to look inside more the past few games. I’ve been open more. We’ve started working together more.

“People underestimate us,” the 6-foot-1 senor added. “They can make what they want. But I think this game showed that we’re the better team.”

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