Cardinals' Offense Stalls at Home

After losing on the road in their last game, the Prospect Heights boys basketball team had hoped to find a spark during a three-game home stand. Back on their home floor, things didn't go to plan.

On Monday, the Cardinals fell to Brooklyn Collegiate Academy 65-39. The offense didn't look cohesive from the opening tip.

Prospect Heights entered the game concerned about the Lions press and trap defense.  However, they handled the trap efficiently in the first quarter but made turnover after turnover in their halfcourt offense. Those turnovers lead to easy baskets in transition for Brooklyn Collegiate and at the end of the first quarter the Cardinals found themselves trailing 22-9.

In the second quarter any hope of a Prospect Heights comeback was thwarted as the Lions opened the quarter with a 12-0 run to take a commanding 34-9 lead.

"We didn't take care of the ball and struggled offensively," said Cardinals head coach Phyllip Jones.

The Cardinals trailed by 19 points at halftime and were never able to get enough stops to mount a second half comeback.  Kamal Nelson and Andre Phillips lead the team with 14 and 10 points, respectively, but they were the only Cardinals to reach double figures. In comparison Brooklyn Collegiate had four of their five starters reach double figures. 

Prospect Heights plans to work on their offense and taking care of the ball before their next game on Wednesday when they try to protect their home floor against the Bedford Academy Panthers.

"I am more worried about the players picking up the system and adjusting from game to game," said Jones.  "It would be nice to protect our home court and not lose these games because they may come back to hurt us later on."