Very different paths for Fremd, Prospect
Fremd has cruised in the express lane while Prospect has traveled an obstacle-filled road since Christmas.
But they have both arrived at a destination expected by many Mid-Suburban League boys basketball observers.
Reigning MSL champion and East three-peater Prospect (16-8) will visit West champion Fremd (23-1) at 7:30 p.m. today in the league's 40th annual title showcase.
Prospect won an MSL record seventh title game last year in overtime over Schaumburg and won 10 of its first 11. Since then it has gone 6-7, lost third-year varsity guard and scoring leader Joe LaTulip for six games with a knee injury and has lost four of its last five.
"The last couple of weeks have been hard and new to our guys," said Prospect coach John Camardella, whose team has given up 81 and 84 points in its last two losses and an average of 65 points the last 13 games. "The real positive we've taken from that is to try and impress on them it's the body of work that counts, not a game here and there."
Since suffering its only loss to 25-1 Neuqua Valley, Fremd has gone on a 13-game tear to make its first MSL title-game appearance since it won its third crown in 1998.
"The goal of this team was to get Fremd back on top," said senior forward and third-year varsity starter Chris Klimek. "That's why the MSL West championship was so emotional for us."
The Knights know the feeling after ending a 23-year title drought last year. And Klimek and coach Bob Widlowski know regardless of the Knights' recent struggles, they pose a big threat in the dangerous long-range LaTulip duo of Joe (16.2 ppg, 4.2 assists per game, 53 3-pointers) and his sophomore brother Mike (14.3 ppg, 55 3s).
"I'm good friends with the LaTulip family," said Klimek, who played AAU ball with Joe. "Mike's having a phenomenal year as well. They're talented but we're talented as well."
Especially on the defensive end where the guard duo of 6-1 Zach Monaghan (16.7 ppg, 3.5 apg, 40 3s) and 6-3 Quinn Williams (8.5 ppg) have helped the Vikings allow only 47.5 points a game.
"I think we've been very solid defensively since Christmas-time," Widlowski said. "But Prospect also creates some interesting matchup problems. We have to be prepared to guard them from anywhere."
Monaghan is a similar threat and has been in perfect sync at times finding Klimek (17.7 ppg, 7 rebounds per game) inside. Klimek scored a career-high 36 points against Hoffman Estates on Friday.
"They have one of the best guards in the conference in Monaghan and I don't know if there's a better forward than Klimek in the conference," Camardella said of the West co-players of the year. "It presents a great challenge."
Fremd also gets a strong inside presence from 6-5 Charlie Rosenberg (8 ppg) and 6-4 Jack Konopka, who has started the last five games since 6-6 Nick Pflederer went out with an ankle injury. Pflederer returned to practice Monday and his availability would be determined by how his ankle reacted Tuesday.
Long-range senior threat Chris Vainisi and junior Quinton Brown have been Fremd's top two guards off the bench and senior Jeff Chappell has had an increased role since Pflederer's injury.
Prospect senior forwards Jack Redding (11 ppg, 6.3 rpg), Nsenzi Salasini (7.2 ppg, 5.6 rpg), Sam Pope and Kevin Matkovic will play key roles against Fremd's size inside. That could also give 6-7 Jake Suckow more time for the Knights.
Senior guard Eddie Gerdes got some starts while Joe LaTulip was out. And Camardella hopes the Knights can rebound the way LaTulip has from his dislocated right knee to scored 27 against Hersey and 15 against St. Viator last week.
"He's not 100 percent (physically) but mentally he is," Camardella said of LaTulip's return for the last four games. "Mentally he's as focused as he's ever been and his will and determination makes up for any physical problem he has right now."