Meadows bounces back with balanced attack

Wheeling was determined not to give up 41 points to Rolling Meadows' Richie Kemph again.

Meadows was determined not to be shut down the way it was Saturday when Kemph was shut out at Prospect.

Each team succeeded but the Mustangs' balance tipped the Mid-Suburban East boys basketball game their way in a 61-49 victory Thursday night at Wheeling.

"It was probably the best team game we've had of the year," Meadows junior Jimmy Garoppolo said after scoring a season-high 12 points on 6-for-10 shooting. "No one was selfish and we were making the extra pass."

Meadows (9-10, 4-3) rebounded from a 72-37 loss to Prospect by parlaying 15 assists into 59.5 percent shooting from the field (22-for-37).

Senior Teddy Metzger had a perfect night en route to a career-high 18 points. Metzger hit all 5 of his shots from the field and two 3-pointers and all 6 of his free throws in a 10-point fourth quarter.

"We were patient and kept our spacing," Metzger said. "We just executed the game plan and we were well prepared."

Wheeling (6-13, 2-5) seniors Mike Zimmer (12 points, 5 rebounds) and Jarrett Austin limited Kemph to 13 points - 28 fewer than the Dec. 11 meeting.

But Kemph didn't force anything as he was 5-for-9 from the field and had 4 assists.

Dan Wenzel (9 points) and Metzger knocked down 3s in the first two minutes and knocked out Wheeling from its box-and-1 on Kemph.

Will Trunk (8 points) also had a pair of first-half 3s and 8 points and Kyle Weiner had 4 first-half assists.

"That was the best (we ran our offense)," said Meadows coach Kevin Katovich. "What was so frustrating about the Prospect game is that wasn't how we've been playing the last few weeks."

Two Wenzel layups put Meadows up 35-20 a minute into the second half. Wheeling, which also got 12 points from Michael Barton, picked up its defensive pressure to get within 42-36 with 6:43 to play.

"In the second half we tried to up-tempo the game," said Wheeling coach Lou Wool. "We just didn't defend them well overall."

Which was evident on Meadows' next possession on Metzger's uncontested lane drive. James Kurtz countered with a driving jumper but Metzger hit 2 free throws to start a 9-point run to a 53-38 lead with 3:35 left.

"We were with Prospect at the start of the second quarter but a few things went wrong and we couldn't find a way to come back," Metzger said. "Tonight when things went wrong we got together and figured out what we had to do to get the job done."

Garoppolo capped the run with a layup and driving jumper in the lane.

"I feel like I should play like this every time," Garoppolo said. "I've got to step up a little bit more."

Waubonsie Valley 69, Barrington 50: Barrington fell to 4-17 overall with the nonconference home loss.