No shame in Prospect’s loss at Brooks

Prospect got nearly everything it wanted from its Saturday afternoon trip to face Chicago Public League champion Brooks to finish the boys basketball regular season.

A unique trip to Chicago’s South Side saw the Knights ahead by 5 points late in the third quarter. But the state’s fourth-ranked team in Class 3A answered with an 18-point run and held on for a 75-67 victory at the old Mendel High School gym.

“It was a hostile environment (in the small gym), it was loud and it was crazy,” said Prospect junior guard Mike LaTulip, who scored a game-high 26 points and hit a season-high six 3-pointers. “It was everything you want in preparation for the state tournament.

“We want to keep this rolling here. This is a rare good loss against this team and how talented they are.”

Prospect (17-8) had no letdown after Wednesday’s Mid-Suburban League title-game victory and showed no intimidation by taking a 30-20 second-quarter lead.

But Brooks (23-3) closed the half on a 15-4 tear. Mike Powell (22 points) hit a 28-footer to end the third quarter to start a 13-0 run for a 65-57 lead.

“I thought we played near-perfect for three quarters … but unfortunately the game is 32 minutes long,” LaTulip said. “We need to play composed and I thought we were composed most of the game.

“It seemed like every time we turned the ball over it turned into a basket for them.”

LaTulip also guarded Wisconsin-bound guard George Marshall and limited him to 16 points. Prospect committed 18 turnovers as Brooks turned up its zone pressure defense the last three quarters.

“Our kids came in ready to compete,” said Prospect coach John Camardella, “and we had two two-minute stretches where we didn’t necessarily lose our composure, but they’re a much more athletic, skilled team.

“Their backcourt is unbelievable. End-to-end they’re the two fastest guards we’ve seen.”

Terry Redding scored 13 points and Matt Loebbaka and Grant DePalma added 10 points apiece for the Knights.

“We’re clicking at the right time,” LaTulip said.

They have won 9 of 11 going into Wednesday’s Mundelein regional semifinal against a Waukegan team that will combine athleticism and pressure defense similar to Brooks.

“It was just neat going down there and they were very hospitable,” Camardella said. “It gave us a chance to look at what one of the top-caliber teams in the city looks like.

“We always preach what you look for if someone from our area is to go deep in the state tournament and that’s why we schedule these games. Hopefully we gained a little confidence.”