Stevenson connects in a classic against Prospect
Like heavyweight fighters, counter-punching basketball powerhouses Stevenson and Prospect kept going back …
and forth …
… at Wheeling on Wednesday night in their Wildcat Hardwood Classic quarterfinal.
Prospect came out smoking, hit 9 of 14 first-quarter shots, including both of its 3-point attempts to connect with a 20-14 lead.
“We were pretty lazy off the ball. They came out with much more energy,” said Stevenson standout forward Michael Fleming.
That would be the last quarter Prospect would “win.”
Fleming personally got Stevenson back in the game with a 3-point shooting display that had the crowd ooh-ing and ahh-ing, and by defending effectively against Prospect’s Mike LaTulip.
“He took the challenge,” said Stevenson coach Pat Ambrose of Fleming guarding LaTulip, a slick point guard who can kill you as deftly with a no-look assist as he can with an NBA-range 3-pointer.
Stevenson chipped away, finally knotted the score after three quarters and asserted itself thanks to the shooting and defense of Fleming and 6-foot-6 senior center Colby Cashaw.
The Patriots prevailed 66-63 in a game that more closely captured the intensity of a sectional final than a Christmas tournament quarterfinal.
Down the stretch, with ties or a lead changing on virtually every possession, Stevenson took control on Cashaw’s dunk from an inbounds lob for a 3-point play and a 59-57 lead. Andy Stempel and then Fleming added 2 free throws apiece. Cashaw blocked a shot, protecting the Patriots from damage when Brad Reibel canned a 3-pointer for Prospect in the final moments.
Prospect assistant coach Brad Rathe was standing in for John Camardella, who was at his wife’s side as she gave birth to their daughter.
Rathe felt it was “a couple of small plays down the stretch,” that made the difference.
Fleming finished with 29 points, including 5-of-6 from 3-point range. Some of his shots were so seemingly off-balance and deep that it seemed improbable he’d even get them off, let alone make them with Prospect hands in his face all night.
“He made a lot of tough shots,” said an impressed Rathe.
Fleming never left the game. He was complemented by a terrific effort from freshman point guard Jalen Brunson (14 points), whose shooting, quickness and court awareness were keys to Stevenson’s success.
After LaTulip and Co. ate up the Patriots early on, Stevenson got more physical and focused on defense. And it showed. Prospect’s shooting percentages, especially from long range, fell off after each quarter with Stevenson gluing someone to LaTulip on and off the ball. He had 19 points on 6 field goals, but only 1 in the second half.
“I’ve always wanted to play against (LaTulip),” Fleming said. “He’s an excellent player.”
LaTulip’s backcourt mate Brad Reibel (19 points) hit an array of shots on drives and putbacks, and Devin O’Hara, Sam Frasco and Alex Thierjung chipped in off the bench as usual. But Stevenson got valuable minutes off the bench from Danny Nowak, Alex Diamond, Matt Morrissey and Justin Berkson.
The Patriots (9-1) will need more of the same tonight at 7:15 in the semifinals against a tall, talented Notre Dame team that makes it tough to get to the rim.
Prospect (5-5) will try to continue to show it’s better than its record in the fifth-place bracket against a Lake Park team that pushed favored Notre Dame to the final horn.