LaTulip assists Prospect's win at Wheeling

The sweet shooting stroke which put Mike LaTulip in range of becoming Prospect's all-time leading scorer was off the mark Friday night.

But LaTulip's passing was on target time after time at Wheeling.

So, although the individual record will have to wait after LaTulip scored 18 points, his 9 assists helped the visiting Knights record a 72-45 victory that tightened up the Mid-Suburban East boys basketball race.

"We got the win and that's most important," LaTulip said as he is now 7 points away from breaking Craig Anderson's career mark of 1,282. "Keeping this thing rolling is what we're focusing on coming off two good wins (over Hersey and Glenbrook North).

"To have games like this where you get everyone into it and feel a part of it is really a great feeling."

Especially since the third straight win by the Knights (12-6, 5-2) put them just a game out of first in the East after Rolling Meadows (12-6, 6-1) lost 70-52 to Hersey.

Junior Devin O'Hara had his second straight 15-point game as he shot 6-for-8 from the field and had 6 rebounds.

"From the beginning of the year to now I've felt a big difference," O'Hara asid. "People are being unselfish and feeding me the ball."

Brad Reibel hit all 4 of his shots for 10 points and had 3 assists as the Knights shot 56 percent (28-for-50) from the field.

Kevin Somogyi had 8 rebounds of the Knights' 33-19 edge and Andrew Novak came off the bench to score 7 points.

"This group has really grown and grown up together," Prospect coach John Camardella said of the variety of contributors.

"I've been working really hard in practice and my teammates are definitely helping me get better and getting me open shots," said Novak, who had 5 first-half points. "I credit them and owe them everything."

Wheeling (1-18, 1-6) trailed just 18-16 when Reibel and LaTulip combined on a 12-0 run. Novak found LaTulip for his only 3 in seven tries for a 37-20 lead 25 seconds before halftime.

Chris Pierro and Charlie Kirk had 10 points apiece and Wheeling scoring leader Jeremy Stephani (8 points) was just 2-for-12 from the field and 0-for-6 on 3s.

The Wildcats finished at 29.8 percent from the field (14-for-47) and 2-for-17 behind the arc.

"We got what we deserved and the way we practiced this week was exactly what we saw on the floor," said Wheeling coach John Clancy. "The prior two weeks we practiced extremely hard and the result was we beat Elk Grove and were in the ballgame against Buffalo Grove."

LaTulip missed 6 of his first 7 shots and finished 6-for-16 from the field. The area's best free-throw shooter at 90.6 percent was also an uncharacteristic 5-for-9.

But there was no disappointment as the Knights got back into the East race.

"Coming out with a win is at the top of the list," LaTulip said.