Singular mindset helps Szuba, Prospect past Wheeling

The Prospect boys basketball team forced Wheeling to play a game of one-and-done Friday night in Mid-Suburban East action.

Posting a superior, relentless performance on the glass, the Knights rarely let the Wildcats get a second shot in a 62-38 Prospect victory at Wheeling.

Six-foot-6 senior Matt Szuba was a rebounding beast for the Knights, finishing with 14 boards in the win. Szuba also had 15 points and 5 assists in a monster all-around effort.

"We care about rebounding most of all," said Szuba. "When we let a team get offensive rebounds, it looks bad for us, and it's a momentum-killer. Me, Zell (Grant Zellmer), Ritchie (Michael Ritchie), basically the whole team, we take pride in our rebounding."

"Matt does this night after night, game after game, and hopefully he'll keep doing it," said Prospect coach John Camardella. "He's a captain and he always finds a way."

Szuba grabbed 6 of his boards in the first quarter. Prospect raced out to a 13-6 lead after one, while Wheeling hurt itself with poor shooting.

Wheeling missed seven 3-point shots in the first eight minutes alone, and the home team finished just 7-for-26 from 3-point land for the game.

Prospect, on the other hand was on fire, especially senior guard Frankie Mack.

Mack hit five 3s and finished with a game-high 20 points.

"Frankie shot the ball very well tonight," said Camardella. "The whole team did, and we needed that against a team (Wheeling) that plays a very difficult 1-3-1 defense."

A 3 from Ritchie gave the Knights their first double-digit lead at 20-9 midway through the second quarter, and Wheeling couldn't get any closer the rest of the game.

Ritchie erased any doubt as to who the winners would be right off the bat after halftime.

First, the senior stole the ball from Wheeling at halfcourt and fed Szuba for a layup.

Then Ritchie got another steal moments later. And this time, Ritchie finished himself, driving in for an uncontested layup to extend the Knights lead to 29-13, and Wheeling couldn't come close to catching up.

A layup by Antonio Gardner pushed the advantage to 20 points early in the fourth quarter, and the visitors just kept extending the advantage right until the final buzzer.

Jalen Dennis led Wheeling with 15 poiints, while David Swedura scored 10 for Prospect.

Ritchie pitched in with 5 points and 5 rebounds.

"Very unselfish play tonight," said Camardella, "by the whole team, from the top down."

And despite the superior performance on the offensive end, Szuba reminded not to forget about the Knights effort on "D."

"Our defensive coordinator preaches defense day in and day out," said Szuba. "We try to hold teams to zero points a quarter. That's our goal and that's how important defense is to us."