Prospect snaps Rolling Meadows’ 35-game MSL East streak

Drew Terpins and Cole Chapman along with their Prospect teammates knocked Rolling Meadows off its perch in the Mid-Suburban East Thursday.

Terpins knocked down a key basket at the end of regulation to send the game into overtime and Chapman had five points in the extra period as Prospect stunned Rolling Meadows 50-45 in Rolling Meadows.

The win moved Prospect (15-5, 4-1) into a tie with Meadows atop the MSL East this season. Meadows won an earlier matchup between the teams at Prospect.

Thursday’s game also broke the Mustangs’ string of 35 consecutive MSL East wins dating back to Feb. 21, 2020. In addition, it was Prospect’s first win over Rolling Meadows since Jan. 11, 2019.

“It is a great rivalry,” Prospect coach Brad Rathe said. “It feels real good to get one of those with this neighborhood type atmosphere. I am just so proud of the way we were focused for all 36 minutes. We just were. We didn't lose a beat.”

Rolling Meadows (14-5, 4-1) had fought back from a six-point deficit at the new of the third quarter to lead 43-41 on a free throw by Gavin Escobedo with 15.7 seconds left to play.

Terpins, who had just missed a turnaround jumper on the Knights’ previous possession, found redemption. The senior knocked down an almost identical shot in the paint to tie the game with seven seconds left to help send it into overtime.

“I spend a lot of time in the weight room and that sets me apart from most guys,” said Terpins, who finished with 14 points, including six in the fourth quarter.

“I just use that to my advantage. When I do that spin move I know guys are going to collapse on me. I just look for my shot first. Then when teammates cut off it, it opens up for them for layups.”

In overtime, Chapman, who had not scored a point but had five rebounds, went after a missed three-pointer. During the scramble for the rebound, Meadows’ Ian Melitic, who had brought the Mustangs back from a six-point deficit by scoring 12 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter, was called for his fifth foul.

Chapman would convert one free throw to put Prospect up 44-43.

Meadows would have a chance to regain the lead and the momentum. But the Mustangs missed a pair of free throws just 27 seconds later. Meadows missed four of its last six free throws after converting 10-of-12 prior to that.

Chapman made Meadows pay for the the final two misses. The junior got a layup off a pass from Terpins. He would then can a pair of free throws to put the Knights up 48-43 with 1:22 left in overtime and Meadows would get no closer than three from there.

“I respect Miletic a lot,” said Chapman, who scored all five of his points in overtime.

“I was just trying to get rebounds and go at him and get him out of the game. I just had to chip in when I could.”

Meadows had trailed most of the game. Prospect’s Frankie Poshnjari and Aidan Walter did a great job of bottling up Miletic, especially in the first half when he took just two shots.

But Miletic found a way to break free. He drove to the basket and went to the line. He also nailed a pair of beautiful pull-up jumpers to get the Mustangs back into the game.

“Streaks are made to be broken,” Rolling Meadows coach Kevin Katovich said. “We talk about one game at a time. They did a real good job of taking us out of stuff and they were super physical with us.”

Escobedo had 13 points for the Mustangs while Lazar Lazarevic had 7 points.

Jerry Drucker chipped in 11 points for Prospect while Poshnjari and Ryan Lifton each had 7 points.