Pope helps Prospect keep faith down stretch

Prospect's faith in senior reserve Sam Pope was rewarded in the fourth quarter of Tuesday night's nonconference boys basketball game with Lake Zurich.

Pope hit a 3-pointer and also had 3 big steals as Prospect (6-1) scored the last 8 points to pull out a 56-46 victory at Jean Walker Field House in Mount Prospect.

"My job is to bring energy," said the 6-foot-3 Pope, who finished with 5 points. "Setting screens and getting steals is kind of my job and I like to get shooters open."

Kevin Matkovic and Pope hit 3s to start the final eight minutes and put Prospect up 41-35. All of Pope's steals cam with Lake Zurich (1-7) trailing by 4 points.

"He was terrific," said Prospect coach John Camardella. "My goodness, we needed his energy tonight."

Lake Zurich, which has a brand-new starting lineup and four players coming off the football team's run to the Class 7A state semifinals, fell behind 17-7 after a quarter. But it rallied within 48-46 with 1:25 left on a steal-and-layup and a 3 by Jacob Brinlee.

"I think we took some steps in the right direction," said Lake Zurich coach John Zarr. "We had to battle all night against what I consider a good team and I think the kids showed some improvement."

Prospect also struggled in the fourth quarter of wins over Buffalo Grove and Rolling Meadows. But a drive by Joe LaTulip (15 points) at 1:12 and Mike LaTulip (18 points) hitting all 6 of his free throws in the final 42 seconds finally finished off the Bears.

Jack Redding added 7 of his 9 points in the final 5:04.

"We've talked about it but I don't think it will be a problem much more," Pope said. "All of our guys are fighters."

Colin Rathe and Mike Boyd led the Bears with 10 points apiece and Marko Grcic added 8 points and 12 rebounds.

"We got back in it and showed some improvement," said Rathe, whose brother Brad graduated from Lake Zurich in 2002 and is a Prospect assistant. "Hopefully later in the season we'll learn how to finish games and get a lead and keep it."