Fremd celebrates first MSL title since 1998

Fremd expected Prospect to respond to a double-digit deficit like a defending champion.

But when the Vikings saw their advantage getting less and less comfortable, they responded like Mid-Suburban League boys basketball champions Wednesday night.

Fremd (24-1) never lost its poise or lead and celebrated its first MSL title in 12 years with a 67-58 victory before more than 2,000 in Palatine.

"This is just awesome with everybody coming out (on the floor) to celebrate a big win," said Fremd senior Captain Chris Klimek, who battled through foul trouble for 14 points and 7 rebounds.

"I'm speechless," said junior Zach Monaghan, who scored 16 of his 23 points in the final 10:44 to seal the Vikings' fourth MSL crown. "We had goals at the beginning and this was one of the major ones.

"We've checked off most of them but we still have more in hand."

Senior Quinn Williams scored 17 points on 6-for-11 shooting and worked with Monaghan and reserve guards Chris Vainisi and Quinton Brown to make Prospect (16-9) long-range threats Joe and Mike LaTulip work for their shots.

Charlie Rosenberg added 9 points and 4 rebounds and Jack Konopka had 4 rebounds. Six-foot-6 senior Nick Pflederer returned from a five-game absence with an ankle injury to provide some valuable minutes as the Vikings won their 14th straight game.

"Everyone who plays can score," Williams said after the Vikings shot 53.3 percent from the field (23-for-45).

Fremd raced to a 30-16 lead 2:03 before halftime on a driving jumper by Monaghan. Williams' baseline drive 2:29 after the break made it 38-28.

But Prospect, which ended a 23-year MSL title drought last season, answered.

Senior Jack Redding (15 points, 11 rebounds, 6 assists) hit 2 free throws, Mike LaTulip (18 points on 7-for-16 shooting) hit one of his three 3-pointers and Joe LaTulip found Jake Suckow (6 points, 6 rebounds) for a layup to make it 38-35.

"The second half definitely gave us a positive boost," Redding said. "I thought we attacked the hoop better and defensively we were a lot more active."

But Monaghan's 25-footer capped Fremd's 8-1 response.

"Good teams are going to make runs," Williams said. "Charlie stated that during a timeout. We all kept our cool and played our game."

Especially when Klimek went to the bench with his fourth foul with 1:07 left in the third and Fremd up just 46-41.

A Monaghan steal-and-layup helped push Fremd back to a 54-45 lead. Joe LaTulip, who was held to 6 points on 1-for-7 shooting, hit a 3 but Monaghan came right back and nailed a 23-footer.

"He's something else," Klimek said.

"My God, can Monaghan shoot," said Prospect coach John Camardella after his team's fifth loss in six games. "It was an impressive performance in the second half."

And Monaghan was hardly done. He sliced through the lane and flipped in a drive for a 3-point play to make it 61-52 with 2:43 to play.

"My teammates have confidence in me," Monaghan said. "They say, 'keep shooting,' and that's what I did."

Prospect could get no closer than 7 points the rest of the way. Monaghan, Williams and Klimek combined to hit 6-of-8 free throws in the final 1:20 to set up the trophy and net-cutting celebrations.

"I thought they really kept their composure when they cut it down, especially with Chris out," said eighth-year Fremd coach Bob Widlowski. "They've been in those situations before and they handled them as they're expected to."

Nsenzi Salasini added 7 points and Kevin Matkovic added 6 points off the bench for Prospect after Sam Pope left the game in the first two minutes with a hyperextended right elbow.

"They just did an outstanding job," Camardella said of Fremd. "Their perimeter defense is sound, they're lanky and long and they disrupt the flow of your offense.

"You can see why they've won a lot of games."

Including one of the school's biggest since 1998.