Prospect holds off Hersey behind LaTulip, Redding

There is no class system with Prospect.

Everyone is believed in equally as evidenced by the junior achievements of Joe LaTulip and Jack Redding in Tuesday night's Class 4A Prospect boys basketball regional semifinal with Hersey.

LaTulip and Redding combined to score the final 14 points as the fourth-seeded Knights (20-7) completed a tough three-game season sweep over No. 13 Hersey (12-16) with a 60-52 victory at Jean Walker Field House.

"With our team I honestly feel like it's just a bunch of guys," LaTulip said. "There's no class rank. We're all just very equal."

LaTulip scored a game-high 19 points and had 5 assists and Redding scored 15 as the Knights reached 20 wins for the first time since 1985.

Seniors Kevin Reed (13 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists) and Jason Leblebijian (11 points) helped push them into Friday's 7:30 p.m. regional final against the winner of today's 7:30 p.m. semifinal between No. 5 Loyola and No. 12 Niles West.

And there was no fear from LaTulip or Redding after Hersey turned an 11-point deficit with 6:59 to play into a one-possession game in the final three minutes.

"The courageous nature of both of them - offensively was able to keep the lead in our favor," said Prospect coach John Camardella, "It was big."

LaTulip's drive off a loose ball with 3:05 left put the Knights up 53-47. Hersey countered at 2:44 on a 3-pointer by junior Kyle Miklasz (10 points).

Reed then found Redding on a baseline backcut for a layup at 2:04. With 1:20 left, Redding got a 3-point play as he banked in a lane drive to give the Knights some room to exhale at 58-50.

"Big games like the Schaumburg game (Mid-Suburban League title overtime win) and Evanston game really taught us how to keep our composure when the pressure is high.

"Something coach does really well is give us confidence in practice. We've played so many big games we all look for our shots."

But as the Huskies did in a 59-46 loss Feb. 6, their dribble penetration gave the Knights' man-to-man fits.

Finishing the deal inside was the problem as Hersey shot just 34 percent from the field (18-for-53) and 5-for-16 on 3s. Prospect shot 58.5 percent (24-for-41) and 7-for-14 behind the arc.

"We kept adjusting and working and I'm really proud of them for that," said Hersey coach Steve Messer. "Defensively they sagged more to the basket (in the second half) to clog the lane more.

"There were a significant number of possessions in the third quarter where they were doing a good job defensively and we didn't play patient enough to get good looks."

Senior Demitriy Velikov and sophomore Connor Miklasz, who hit three 3s, had 12 points apiece for Hersey.

"In the playoffs it's one and done," LaTulip said. "You just have to stay cool and believe in the system and believe in what you're doing."