Pirates don't crumble in familiar situation

Some familiar signs of trouble were occurring for Palatine in the fourth quarter of Tuesday night's Mid-Suburban League boys basketball crossover at Wheeling.

The Pirates saw a 12-point lead with 61/2 minutes left sliced to 3 points just three minutes later. Wheeling kept it too close for any comfort into the final seconds.

But Palatine (4-21) answered the challenge and held on for a 59-53 victory. It ended a five-game losing streak that included blowing a 9-point fourth-quarter lead to Barrington and 5-point leads in regulation and the first of 2 overtimes to Fremd on Friday.

"We stuck together as a team with our communication," said Palatine senior point guard Mark Knoeppel. "The previous two (MSL West games) we thought we could win those. When we saw the same situation we knew we could close this one out."

Knoeppel had 10 points as part of a balanced attack that led the Pirates to their season high for points.

Nat Pearson capped a 14-point night with 2 clinching free throws with 13 seconds left. Senior Kevin Becker provided a big boost off the bench with 10 first-half points and Matt Rossi had 9 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists.

"There's nothing wrong with getting your ears pinned back once in a while as long as you learn from it and move forward," said Palatine coach Eric Millstone. "It was nice to see them get rewarded."

Palatine responded to every tough situation. Knoeppel hit a 3-pointer to start a 7-point run after Wheeling got within 30-26 on a rebound basket by Mike Zimmer (11 points) and a drive by James Kurtz (13 points).

A 24-footer and a tough 13-foot pullup jumper by Michael Barton (13 points) got the Wildcats within 49-46 with 3:21 left. Rossi answered with a lane drive for a 3-point play 13 seconds later.

"We made a number of really silly mistakes," said Wheeling coach Lou Wool. "From a positive standpoint we did play hard and competed to the end and certainly didn't quit."

Palatine missed 5 of 8 free throws down the stretch - including two 1-and-1s - but Cody Bobbit slipped inside to grab the last one and set up Pearson's free throws.

"It showed we can get to that next level and finish a game," Knoeppel said.