Prospect disrupts Elk Grove's planning
In a early season showdown at Prospect's Jean Walker Field House, Elk Grove boys basketball coach Anthony Furman had a good gameplan: Control Knights star shooter Mike LaTulip, limit Prospect's offensive touches and run good offensive plays.
On the court, it was another story.
The Knights played an almost perfect first half in trouncing the Grenadiers 63-38 in the Mid-Suburban East.
Prospect led just 9-6 with 4:31 left in the first quarter following a bucket by Elk Grove's Peter Kinsella.
What happened next Furman would like to forget.
The Knights finished the quarter with a 14-0 run to lead 23-6. Prospect (3-3, 2-0) then went on a 9-0 run in the second quarter to build a 32-6 lead with 3:35 left.
The Grenadiers (3-4, 1-1) received 2 free throws from Austin Amann (7 points) to stop an 11:12 scoring drought and trailed 32-8 at halftime.
"It seems that we were on our heels most of the game," said Furman. "Prospect won all the intangibles tonight. Rebounding, fundamentals and transition defense."
LaTulip and Matt Loebbaka led the first-quarter offensive charge that did in the Grenadiers.
LaTulip scored 8 points and Loebbaka 7 in the quarter.
LaTulip connected on 8 of 10 shots to finish with 18 points to go with 3 assists and 2 steals. Loebbaka added 5 rebounds and 2 blocks.
"Tonight we were clicking on all cylinders," said LaTulip. "We just need to keep this up. Tonight I just let the game come to me."
"I'm feeling more confidence in myself game by game," said Loebbaka. "Having the inside cutters to the basket gave us more options. We got some good passes from the guards."
Grant DePalma chipped in with 6 assists and Will Botefuhr came off the bench to score 11 points.
"Tonight Matt and Mike showed how effective they can be with and without the ball," said Prospect coach John Camardella. "What we need to do now is to work on our consistency. I was pround of tonight's effort."
John Lorenz led Elk Grove with 9 points and Sean Gordon had 8.