Prospect, LaTulip handle Buffalo Grove

Mike LaTulip had to play his way into Prospect's starting lineup.

If Friday's Mid-Suburban East boys basketball opener is any indication, LaTulip will be staying in the Knights' pregame introductions.

The sophomore guard scored a game-high 20 points and had 5 assists in his first varsity start as defending MSL champion Prospect (4-0, 1-0) held off every threat in a 64-60 victory over visiting Buffalo Grove (3-2, 0-1) at Jean Walker Field House.

"I told him to stay confident and to treat it just like practice," said LaTulip's senior brother Joe, who had 17 points and hit four 3-pointers. "He's so confident and he's come such a long way from even a year ago at this time."

Mike LaTulip came off the bench and averaged 11.3 points in three victories at the St. Patrick tournament.

"We told him with the talent he has, he had to earn it and he earned it at Pat's," said Prospect coach John Camardella. "You could see automatically what he adds to our team."

LaTulip had 10 points at halftime and one of his assists was a perfect lob to Nsenzi Salasini for a dunk. But he also made a series of big plays to help Prospect extend a 43-37 lead to 55-42 with 4:56 to play.

He buried a 3-pointer at the end of the third off a feed from Jack Redding (13 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists). He then found his brother for a 3 and hit 6-7 senior Jake Suckow (8 points, 9 rebounds) for a layup.

"Coming off the bench I really got the same amount of minutes," LaTulip said. "Starting isn't really that big of a deal to me.

"I was excited when I heard the news but it's about the team and getting that first MSL win."

And the 18th in a row in the East for the Knights as they overcame 25 turnovers and the usual gritty effort by BG.

The Bison wouldn't go away quietly even though senior guard Kevin Mulligan (12 points, 7 rebounds) fouled out with 3:08 to play.

Mike Cornely had 14 points and 8 rebounds and John Angotti added 11 points. But Redding helped hold BG scoring leader and long-range threat Nick Prus to 9 points of his 16.3 average on 4-for-17 shooting from the field and 1-for-10 on 3s.

Jeff Zabrin added 8 points off the bench but BG shot just 35.3 percent from the field and went 10-for-20 on free throws.

"The kids did everything I and the coaching staff asked of them tonight," said BG coach Ryan O'Connor. "We played as hard as we could but it just wasn't good enough to get it done."