Novak cutting it with Prospect
Andrew Novak didn't let the most painful cut an athlete can suffer wound his determination to be a varsity basketball player for Prospect.
Novak didn't make the Knights' roster as a junior. But instead of just fading away, Novak worked to make sure he earned a spot on the team this year.
Not only did the 6-foot-3 Novak make it; he's broken out to become a key part of the Knights' (12-6, 5-2) three-game winning streak going into today's 7:30 p.m. Mid-Suburban East matchup at Elk Grove (8-13, 2-5).
"I really like playing with these guys and I didn't want to let the opportunity slip away," Novak said after scoring 7 points in last Friday's 72-45 win at Wheeling. "When I didn't make it I wanted to show people I could do it and I did."
Novak and junior Devin O'Hara have helped offset the loss of senior Jack Landwehr to a leg infection during the current streak. Novak also hit a key 3-pointer during the Knights' late comeback over Hersey and coach John Camardella lauded his defense against Glenbrook North.
"Man, did he catch on and he's been steady and consistent," Camardella said of Novak's ability to overcome missing last season. "It's special to be part of it and the guys on the team recognize it."
Novak said he was a bit shocked but sensed he wasn't up to the level of the players on last year's team that won the MSL title. He did a lot of off-season work with teammate Brad Reibel and his cousin Jonny Reibel, a two-time Daily Herald All-Area co-captain who led Hoffman Estates to the 2004 Elite Eight.
"Jonny and Brad definitely helped the most for me to get better," Novak said. "Brad and I played 1-on-1 all the time.
"He actually may have wanted me to make the team my senior year more than I did. It's a great feeling to be out there."
Rolling Meadows (12-7, 6-1) will try to rebound from its first East loss when it hosts surging Buffalo Grove (9-12, 3-4). Hersey (8-11, 4-3) tries to build off the win over Meadows when it hosts Wheeling (1-19, 1-6).
The key matchup in the West race has Schaumburg (16-5, 6-1) at Fremd (13-8, 5-2) at 7:30 p.m. today. The Saxons won the first meeting 63-47 as Christian Spandiary scored a career-high 31 points.
Barrington (13-7, 5-2) tries to stay in the hunt as it hosts Palatine (2-19, 1-6) at 7:30 p.m. and Conant (9-11, 4-3) can get back in it with some help when it visits Hoffman Estates (5-12, 0-7) at 7:30 p.m.
Close Cougars: Conant is one of those teams a higher seed would rather not see in the state tournament.
The Cougars are now 9-11 with six losses in their last seven games going into this weekend's road trips to Hoffman Estates and Deerfield. The largest margin in the losses was 5 points and five were to teams with at least 13 wins.
"We aren't light years away - and they're two really good teams," said Conant coach Tom McCormack after Saturday's 42-39 loss to Lake Park. "Defensively we've done the things we need to win games but offensively we're just not there yet.
"Hopefully we'll get there before March rolls around. I feel like we're right there."
Especially since the Cougars are allowing only 45 points a game with only two seniors seeing significant time in Sean Bourke and Josh Copher.
"Defensively the energy these guys bring is like watching one of (Bulls coach Tom) Thibodeau's teams when they're at their best," McCormack said. "We have to put it together now on the offensive end.
"We have to stay positive and believe we're going to turn the corner before the state tournament hits."
The road doesn't get any easier for Conant after this weekend with trips to Fremd, Schaumburg and St. Joseph.
Closing in on history: Mike LaTulip has tried to focus on getting Prospect back in the MSL East race rather than the chase for the school's career scoring record. The senior guard, who has been guaranteed a walk-on spot at Illinois, needs 7 points tonight at Elk Grove to pass the 1,282 by Craig Anderson (2000-03).
"I knew it was there and a couple of people were telling me I was on pace," LaTulip said. "A record like that isn't an individual record. It's a testament to my teammates and coaches putting their trust in me."
Charging down the stretch: Christian Liberty got the No. 2 seed in the six-team Class 1A regional it is hosting. North Shore Country Day received the top seed and the winner advances to the Mooseheart sectional, where state-ranked Hope Academy from Chicago will be he favorite.
Christian Liberty also hosts the inaugural Northeastern Athletic Conference tournament next weekend. Every team is guaranteed three games with the championship at 5:30 p.m. on Feb. 11.
Tip-ins: Zion-Benton has become one of the state's top programs under Don Kloth but is in danger of its first losing season since 1992-93. The Zee-Bees are 8-10 and still have two games left with Warren and face Mundelein and Grayslake Central.
New Trier (18-2, 7-0) can clinch a share of the Central Suburban South title with a win over visiting Waukegan (11-8, 6-1) tonight.
The CSL North co-leaders control their destinies with Glenbrook North (14-5, 5-2) facing Highland Park tonight, Maine West and Maine East. Niles North (15-6, 5-2), which just had a 10-game winning streak snapped, meets Maine West tonight and finishes with Maine East and Deerfield.