Prospect's Reed double trouble for Lions

A double-double from Prospect senior Kevin Reed meant big trouble for St. Viator on Tuesday night.

The 6-foot-7 senior finished with 18 points and 17 rebounds as the Knights (17-6) pulled away from a 1-point halftime deficit to a 66-48 nonconference boys basketball victory at Jean Walker Field House in Mount Prospect.

"It was a total, complete game from him," Prospect coach John Camardella said of Reed also getting 4 assists and 3 blocked shots.

"I kind of got a little angry," Reed said of 11 second-half rebounds as the Knights finished with a commanding 43-22 advantage. "I was getting hacked inside and I wasn't getting anything so I started going harder."

Which made it very difficult for the Lions (14-9) as the Knights won their fifth straight game. A couple of tip drills to end the third quarter and start the fourth sparked a 7-point run that put them in command at 52-36.

Reed had a tip-in to beat the buzzer after four Knights' misses and then scored after three straight misses.

"We just couldn't make a layup," Reed laughed. "We were tipping it back and forth and I said 'this is ridiculous.' I was just excited we made a layup."

The Knights did make 48 percent of their shots (27-for-56) as Joe LaTulip had 15 points, 4 assists and half of their eight 3-pointers. Jason Leblebijian had 14 points and 7 rebounds and junior Kevin Matkovic came off the bench for a career-high 9 points and 5 rebounds.

Reed had 9 points as the Knights led 22-18 after a frenetic first quarter.

"It was awesome," LaTulip said. "That's the best way to play basketball, I think. Up and down, get out and try to run our stuff. That's the kind of team we are."

The Lions were 7-for-15 from the field and 3-for-6 on 3s in the first eight minutes but cooled to 32 percent overall (18-for-56) and 6-for-22 behind the arc. They also missed their first 9 shots after halftime as Prospect went on a 9-point run to a 38-28 lead despite 4 turnovers.

"For the most part I think our looks were decent looks but unfortunately they didn't go down," said Viator coach Joe Majkowski. "We can't give up 22 points in the first quarter.

"We can play at a fast pace but I do think it favors Prospect in this matchup."

Richard McLoughlin (12 points) and Brendan King (10 points) led Viator. Leblebijian and Bobby Reibel limited point guard Alan Aboona (4 assists) to 8 points on 3-for-12 shooting.

"Our defense just set the tone, especially in the second half," LaTulip said.