Palatine meets tough challenges

Playing some of the Mid-Suburban League's best basketball teams has brought out the best in Palatine.

Last week the Pirates beat MSL West co-leader Conant 49-46 and lost to East leader Hersey 56-54. Earlier this season they beat three-time defending East champion Prospect 65-55 and lost to defending MSL champion and West co-leader Fremd 44-40.

So what has been the secret to the Pirates' success against some of the MSL's most successful teams?

"We have to go out and lose a handful first," Palatine coach Eric Millstone said with a laugh of the win over Conant ending a seven-game losing streak. "It's a young group and they're kind of figuring things out along the way."

Few would have figured the Pirates (6-10, 2-2) for an upset of Conant with a losing streak which included an 0-4 finish at the York tournament. But the near-miss against Hersey to start the year was a sign they were going in the right direction.

"Naturally, when you have a team that's inexperienced you worry about the psyche of the team when they're on a little bit of a losing streak," Millstone said. "There was definitely a little bit of a cause for concern.

"For the most part they did compete pretty well over Christmas, although the scores didn't indicate it. There were a lot more positives out of that (Hersey) game."

That was also when the Pirates switched exclusively to a 2-3 zone. Millstone said they have played it confidently and with good communication and movement.

Senior guard Peter Bony had 15-point games against Hersey and Conant. Millstone has also liked his efficiency the last four games as he's shooting better than 50 percent from the field.

And Millstone said it's no coincidence that 6-foot-5 sophomore Josh Baldus had his best games against Prospect and Conant.

"It seems when he plays well it gives us an inside presence," Millstone said, "and we're that much more well-rounded."

Now Palatine enters a rugged stretch where it is at Vernon Hills at 6 p.m. today and hosts Schaumburg (6-8, 2-2) on Saturday. Then it hosts Fremd on Jan. 22 and Barrington on Jan. 28.

"An obvious point of emphasis this week is making sure we continue to move forward," Millstone said. "We showed some growth the last two weeks but it won't mean anything if we don't compete and play smart this weekend."

The big game in the West has Fremd (11-6, 3-1) hosting Conant (11-4, 3-1) on Saturday with sole possession of first place in the division on the line.

It also features a battle of longtime friends in area scoring leader Zach Monaghan (23.3 ppg) of Fremd and one of the area's top defenders in Conant's London Dokubo.

Barrington (12-6, 2-2) has won four straight and six of seven going into Saturday's game at Hoffman Estates (4-11, 0-4).

Hersey's balancing act: Hersey nearly had five players score in double figures in its 60-59 victory over Prospect last Friday. One of the most encouraging signs was the 8 points off the bench from 6-4 junior Stefan Vucicevic.

Vucicevic came in averaging 4.4 points and didn't score in the Huskies' previous game against Palatine.

"We got some big minutes from Stef and he's really worked on his game," said Hersey coach Steve Messer. "He had good offensive possessions right around the rim and he was scoring. He's been struggling but those are huge baskets.

"He plays great defense and works hard. It hasn't clicked for him (offensively) but it came at a big night."

Messer was also happy with the minutes off the bench from guard Kevin Kozil and the leadership of Hersey's only seniors Connor Miklasz and Tom Sutrinaitis.

"Especially Connor stepping up defensively against (Mike) LaTulip," Messer said. "I know he scored 25 but they were hard-earned. He made him work."

Now Hersey (9-6, 4-0) looks to extend its four-game winning streak when it hosts Elk Grove on Saturday.

"We knew it would be good competition down there," said junior Justin Jobski of Hersey's rebound from losing its first two games in the Pekin Holiday Tournament. "We knew it would be a battle and it would give us a good look at things."

A lesson for the Knights: Prospect (8-6, 3-1) has been accustomed to looking down at the rest of the MSL East for nearly three years.

But for the first time since Jan. 2008 the Knights find themselves out of the division lead when they host Buffalo Grove (11-6, 3-1) in Saturday's game where the loser could fall two games out of first in the division.

"It's a hard reminder but a good reminder," Prospect coach John Camardella said after the Hersey loss. "The game still does teach you things when you lose."

Two big pluses for the Knights were the second-half work of Dan O'Brien to get the offense going and 6 points and 14 rebounds off the bench from 6-9 Will Botefuhr.

"O'Brien is the most unselfish guy on the team," said Prospect 6-6 senior Matt Loebbaka, who scored a career-high 22 points in the loss. "When everyone shares the ball we're at our best and we have to get back to that. If we keep sharing the ball like we did in the second half (against Hersey) it will be a good second half of the season."

BG has received a nice boost from senior guard Jeff Zabrin in the last five games. He's hit double figures every time and is averaging 15.4 points.

Rolling Meadows (6-9, 1-3) hosts Wheeling (4-11, 0-4) in Saturday's other East game.