Saxons, Knights take their shot at MSL crown

Prospect's Joe LaTulip and Kevin Reed initially gave a typical no preference reply when asked who they wanted to play in tonight's 39th annual Mid-Suburban League boys basketball championship game.

But when two of the driving forces of the MSL East champions were pressed further on the issue last Tuesday, before it was known who would represent the West, a second chance was on their minds.

"I want a rematch with Schaumburg - redemption," LaTulip said of a 63-50 road loss to the Saxons on Jan. 6.

"I don't really care, but I'd probably like a shot at Schaumburg," Reed said. "But anyone in the West is good."

So the Knights (18-6) will get their second shot at 7:30 p.m. at Jean Walker Field House in Mount Prospect. Schaumburg (20-5) emerged with the tiebreaker from a three-way tie at 7-3 for the West title with Conant and Hoffman Estates.

For 6-foot-5 Schaumburg senior Blake Mueller this will be his first shot at a Prospect team that became the first in 11 years to go unbeaten in East play. Mueller had 10 points and 10 rebounds in Friday's 50-46 win over Hoffman, which was his fourth game after missing the first 21 from ACL surgery in his right knee.

"I'm pumped," said Mueller, a third-year varsity player. "It's an extra game I get to play and I'm just excited.

"We have to come out and play hard and play defense and do what we have to do to win."

Prospect won the last of its six MSL title games in 1986 and is tied with Conant for the most in league history.

Schaumburg is next with five - including wins at Prospect by its 1999 Class AA fourth-place team (68-54) and its 2001 AA state champion (62-53).

The Saxons' last title was in 2003 and they lost to Hersey in their last appearance in 2006. Prospect shared last year's East title in John Camardella's first season as coach but is making its first title-game trip since 2001.

Prospect's loss at Schaumburg was the last of a four-game skid that started at Wheeling's Christmas tournament.

The 6-7 Reed, who averages 13.6 points and 9.6 rebounds a game with 70 blocks, scored 14 points. But LaTulip (12.2 ppg, 3.3 assists per game, 45 3-pointers) and senior defensive stopper Jason Leblebijian (14.3 ppg, 46 3s on 49 percent accuracy) were held to 5 and 7 points respectively and one 3 apiece.

Since then the Knights' only loss in 10 games was 74-57 loss to Glenbrook North.

"They're a whole lot better than when they played against us," said Schaumburg coach Bob Williams. "It will be exciting."

The first meeting was also the second-to-last game for the Saxons' Cully Payne. He scored 23 points against the Knights and was averaging 22.3 with 42 3s when his season came to an end because of stress fractures in his back.

The Saxons lost their last three games in January but have rallied to win five in a row.

Senior Justin Swiercz (10.4 ppg, 35 3s) had 16 points, 10 rebounds and four 3s in the win over Prospect.

Swiercz, third-year varsity guard Perrish Bell (8.2 ppg), 6-4 Josh Spandiary (7.8 ppg) and Chris Kelly (4 ppg) have taken turns with big offensive nights in their current streak. Junior Joe Infusino is also a long-range threat off the bench.

"We have to get everybody touches on the ball and spread the points offensively," Bell said after scoring a team-high 15 against Hoffman. "We have to screen and move and get easy shots."

A key for the Saxons, who also get solid defense from junior guard Declan Geraghty, is keeping the Knights from breaking out for open looks in transition.

Junior forward Jack Redding (8.3 ppg, 6 rpg) and Nsenzi Salasini (5.8 ppg, 5.2 rpg) add to the Knights' balance. Senior guard Bobby Reibel and juniors Thomas Kelly and Kevin Matkovic have been their top players off the bench.

"We had the offense for awhile and now we're starting to get the defense," Reed said. "It's really the right time to mold our complete game."