Fremd extends quick start

Fremd has not been known for its quick starts in any recent season.

Until now.

The Vikings (4-0) used their veteran cast, superior height and smothering defense Friday night to topple defending Mid-Suburban West co-champ Conant 62-29 at Fremd in the West opener for both.

Yes, we said 62-29.

"We're really clicking," said forward Chris Klimek (19 points), who hit 8-of-13 from the floor. "Our big guys (Nick Pflederer, Jack Konopka, Charles Rosenberg) are playing great. Zach (Monaghan) is doing the job at the point."

Monaghan had 20 points on an array of perimeter jumpers and fastbreak layins.

"I thought we played well at both ends of the floor," said Fremd coach Bob Widlowski. "Nick Pflederer did a great job rebounding."

He was particularly proud of the defensive effort though that limited usually sharp-shooting Conant to a 9-of-43 effort from the floor, 1-of-16 on 3-pointers.

"We contested their shots," he noted, "but the key was limiting their chances," either on putbacks or even just individual possessions, 23 of which resulted in turnovers.

"We had some good looks at the basket early," said Conant coach Tom McCormack. But when they didn't fall, "That had an awful lot to do with how the rest of the game went."

It went something like this: Klimek and Monaghan got Fremd off to a fast start with their shooting, Rosenberg and Pflederer cleaned up everything around both baskets and it was 19-5 after one quarter, which closed with Monaghan hitting a 3 and Rosenberg converting a putback at the buzzer.

It didn't seem matter who the Vikings had on the floor, as everyone played and the bench contributed 11 points (Konopka 4, Quinton Brown 5 and Jeff Chappell 2).

Taylor Peterson led Conant (3-2) with 8 points and Andrew Spangler had 7. Brian Wadsworth added 6 off the bench.

For Klimek, though, who has played through hard times at Fremd in seasons past, it's very gratifying to be off to a 4-0 start.

"This feels great," said the 6-foot-4 senior forward. "We're not done."

"Most importantly," said Widlowski, "we're playing well."