Prospect rolls over Wheeling
In amassing 195 wins, nine Mid-Suburban League East titles, three MSL conference crowns and an IHSA regional plaque since taking over the boys basketball program at Prospect 11 years ago, John Camardella likes to cite multiple factors as a key to that success.
"What we've built here (at Prospect) is through hard work, sacrifice, and most importantly a total team effort where everybody gives 110 percent in every game and every practice," Camardella said.
"It's a blessing to have everyone in our program from players to their parents in all of our levels that buy into our philosophy."
Using several of those elements that the 12th-year Knights coach spoke of, his team successfully began defending that division title as the three-time reigning MSL East champs bested Wheeling 64-35 Friday night in Mt. Prospect.
"I was real proud of how we shared the ball," Camardella said. "Our players did a nice job of responding to the challenge that Wheeling brought."
The visiting Wildcats (3-2, 0-1) came into the contest off an impressive second-place finish at last week's Northridge Prep tourney in Niles where they captured 3 of their 4 games as opposed to Prospect (2-3, 0-1) dropping 3 of 4 at the St. Viator Majowski Classic.
"Our games at Viator helped us to get ready for tonight," Knights senior guard T.J. Johannesen (12 points) said.
The home team got rolling after spotting Wheeling an early 7-2 deficit halfway through the first eight minutes of play when Johannesen hit a 3-pointer followed by another from fellow senior Sam Murray that gave Prospect the lead for good (8-7) with 2:33 remaining in the first quarter.
Two Murray charity tosses followed by a Jon Kreidler trey and a 3-point play off a steal by Jack Schneider left Prospect ahead at the end of the quarter 16-7.
The Wildcats would get no closer than 16-9 after a Solomon Hudson hoop 23 ticks into the second.
The Knights' lead would get to 31-19 at half and 50-26 after three quarters.
Kreidler, a 6-foot-4 senior swingman paced the victorious effort with a game-high 15 points that featured a trio of treys.
Daily Herald All-Area football honorees Michael Best (11 points) and Brandon Zettek (9 points) led Wheeling in scoring.
The Wildcats travel to Conant for an MSL crossover Tuesday in Hoffman Estates followed by a home tilt against Hersey next Friday.
The Knights look ahead to a three-game schedule next week where they will travel to Barrington in a rematch of last year's MSL title game that went to Prospect. A home tilt with Elk Grove (Friday) followed by a trip to Maine West (Saturday) completes the week.
"We look forward to facing three very good opponents," Camardella said. "It will be tough."