Prospect rolls over Niles North in Wheeling opener

So far, so good for Prospect.

The Knights wasted little time in setting the tone in their opening game Monday morning against Niles North in Wheeling's 32nd annual Wildcat Hardwood Classic.

Prospect (8-1) entered the second quarter with a 20-9 advantage, then extended a 12-point halftime lead to 22 points entering the final quarter before cruising to a commanding 70-44 victory.

Prospect has won its opening game at Wheeling the past two seasons before losing the next three.

The Knights are hoping to change that pattern this year, starting today when they face defending champion Naperville Central (7-3) at 3:45 p.m. Niles North (3-6) will face Carmel (5-7) today at 10:30 a.m.

"We've always won this game and from then on we'd lose out," said Prospect coach John Camardella. "It's haunting, we're hoping to make adjustments this year."

The Knights did not have to make too many adjustments on Monday as they jumped out to an 11-2 advantage in the opening three minutes.

Senior Jack Redding led the Knights with a team-high 16 points and 5 rebounds. Senior Joe LaTulip (12 points) and senior Nsenzi Salasini (11 points, 12 rebounds) aided the balanced attack.

"We knew with it being an early game we had to come out with our offense," said Redding. "Right away we always want to get a lead, then we can play our type of ball and not theirs."

Redding hit down low, giving the Knights a 17-point advantage midway through the second quarter, but Niles North hit three 3-pointers in the final minute of the half to narrow the deficit to 37-25.

Niles North shot a dismal 20 percent (8-for-39) in the opening half, but first-year coach and Rolling Meadows grad Glenn Olson was ecstatic to be down only 12 points.

"The ball didn't go through the hole very often for us early," added Olson, "I felt great about only being down 12 points."

But that feeling didn't last long as Prospect embarked on a 14-4 run to begin the third quarter for a commanding 51-29 lead.

Senior Marlon Senior paced the Vikings with a game-high 19 points with senior Duane Williams chipping in 8 points.

Now the Knights are hoping to break their streak of second-game slides.

"Just take it one game at a time, one play at a time," added Redding, "We definitely want to be playing for the championship on Saturday."