Fremd edges Palatine in emotional contest

Ed Molitor would've liked nothing better than to have walked out of Fremd last night, for the last time, with a win.

But the retiring Palatine coach was denied in a tight duel with former "student" Bob Widlowski, the Fremd coach.

In a game that was very emotional in more ways than one, the Vikings held off the Pirates in the Mid-Suburban West duel 43-40.

"This is one my favorite places to come for a game," said Molitor, who, after 32 years at Palatine and 500 wins overall, dropped his final regular-season game to his crosstown rival, coached by his former Pirate player.

"It's kind of a special place. They've always been very cordial to us," Molitor added.

They were before the game, when Widlowski made a special presentation and announcement honoring Molitor.

"He changed the attitude of basketball in this area," said Widlowski.

And when it comes to Fremd-Palatine, "It's been a tremendous rivalry. I played for coach Molitor. I told the kids, 'You've got to bring your 'A' game.' "

They did, especially down the stretch. Fremd guards Jim Mundt (19 points) and Dan Bruno (10) took over, clamping down inside to help double-team Palatine twin towers Monroe Brooks (10 points) and Josh Rustman.

Mundt hit all 5 of his second-half shots, including a trio of 3-pointers. Bruno did all his scoring in the second half, including 3 of 4 free throws and 3 of his final 4 field goals, including a 3-pointer.

The win moves the Vikings to 4-2 in the Mid-Suburban West and 8-9 overall, and they think they're ready to assert themselves.

"Oh yeah," said Mundt, "We're better than our record.

"With that win (we could be) second in conference. We've been playing pretty well."

It seemed Palatine might steal it when John Castellano (12 points) and Matt Rossi (11) combined for 10 fourth-quarter points and briefly gave the Pirates (6-11, 1-5) the lead. But a Bruno 3, his drive for a hoop and his 2 free throws off another drive gave the Vikings a 4-point lead. With one last chance, Palatine, under tight pressure, could not get off a good look at a 3-pointer at the buzzer.

"It was a very good high school game. Typical Fremd-Palatine. Bodies flying all over," said Molitor.

"He has the same level of intensity now," said Widlowski of Molitor, "that he had 30 years ago."

Hoffman drops two: Hoffman probably would have rather not played two a day after it fell out of the MSL West lead with a tough loss to Schaumburg.

But the Hawks (11-7) did in the Rockton Hononegah Invitational and lost 38-36 to Normal Community and 52-38 to host Hononegah.

Hoffman couldn't hold a 6-point lead with a little more than a minute to play in the opener as Normal (10-9) hit three 3-pointers.

Tom Dombrowski (8 points) and Kevin Lessner (7 points) led the Hawks but scoring leader Luke Mead was held to 4 points.

Against Hononegah (18-2), ranked sixth in Class 4A by the Associated Press, Mead, Dombrowski and Ben Collins had 7 points apiece. Hoffman trailed 20-19 at halftime and 37-31 after three.

After a day of rest, the Hawks play two more Monday against Neuqua Valley at 11 a.m. and Normal West at 3:30 p.m.