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MSL championship game preview: Fremd vs. Prospect

Who: Prospect Knights vs. Fremd Vikings

Where: Prospect High School

When: 7 p.m. Wednesday

Records: MSL East champion Prospect is 14-13 overall and 9-1 in the MSL East; MSL West champion Fremd is 19-4 overall and 9-1 in the MSL West

How Prospect got here: Prospect has dominated the MSL East in recent years, winning 28 straight division games before Rolling Meadows snapped that streak last week. But the Knights had already clinched the MSL East championship the week before by defeating second-place Buffalo Grove (63-54). Prospect's streak included nine straight wins at the end of division play two years ago. Then, the Knights went 10-0 last season before starting this season 9-0.

How Fremd got here: Fremd's hopes for the MSL championship game came down to the last game of division play against Schaumburg last week. Both teams entered the battle for the division title with identical 8-1 records. Fremd took to the road and outlasted Schaumburg on its own floor, 54-45 in overtime. Fremd has won the MSL West title six times in the last 11 years and the overall conference title three times in that span, including most recently the 2017 title.

Coaches: John Camardella, Prospect; Bob Widlowski, Fremd

Prospect starters: F Jon Kreidler (11.3 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 1.9 apg), F Ben Zellmer (11.1 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 2 apg), G Sam Murray (10.8 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 1 apg), G Ben Miller (6.8 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 2.4 apg), G TJ Johannesen (5.9 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 2.2 apg).

Prospect key reserves: G Jack Schneider, F Michael Slupski, G Matt Woloch.

Fremd starters: F Bryce Hopkins (14.1 ppg, 7 rpg, 2.8 apg), G Jake Schoffstall (10.5 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 1.7 apg), G John Smyros (9.7 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 2.9 apg), G Dean Ganas (9.1 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 2.0 apg), F Kayman Hopkins (7 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 2 apg).

Fremd key reserves: G Tim Carlisle, G Charlie Towns, G Max Wexley, F Matt Wingen.

Head-to-head meeting: Prospect took on Fremd about a week and a half ago as part of the Camp Horseshoe Invite, a traveling tournament that Fremd hosted this season. Fremd had a 9-point lead at the end of the first quarter and that lead eventually grew to as many as 19 points but Prospect then went on a 16-4 run late in the fourth quarter to cut its deficit to 3 points with two minutes remaining. A 3-point play by Jake Schoffstall put Fremd back in control and paved the way for the 56-47 win. Schoffstall finished with 14 points for Fremd while Bryce Hopkins had 16 points and John Smyros had 9 points. Sam Murray led Prospect with 15 points while Ben Miller added 11 points.

Skinny: On paper, this matchup may feel a bit like a battle between David and Goliath.

Fremd is on the verge of another 20-win season and is just two years removed from a trip downstate and a fourth-place finish in Class 4A.

The Vikings are widely considered one of the perennially best programs in the area and just earned the No. 2 seed in the Class 4A Waukegan sectional behind top-seeded Stevenson.

Fremd also just recently defeated Prospect in that head-to-head matchup in a traveling tournament.

But Prospect has some feathers in its cap, too.

The Knights are tough and tested. They have purposely played a brutal schedule this season. That's been the philosophy of head coach John Camardella during his entire 12-year career at the school, which is why Prospect is 100-20 in MSL East games during that span but is 108-105 in nonconference games.

Camardella schedules tough nonconference competition to have his teams battled-tested for MSL games and the IHSA playoffs.

This season, Prospect has played 12 teams on its 27-game schedule that earned a top-10 sectional seed in the IHSA playoffs. Seven of those teams are top five seeds and three (St. Viator, Evanston and Stevenson) are No. 1 seeds.

The games against the seven top five seeds were all losses for Prospect, which is a No. 6 seed in the Waukegan sectional.

"Nothing has come easy for our team this year," Camardella said. "This season has included plenty of ups and downs, and I'm most proud of how our players have maintained a solid work ethic throughout and put themselves in position to play for an MSL title."

Both Fremd and Prospect got to the MSL title game with a balanced attack.

Prospect boasts three double-figure scorers in Jon Kreidler, Ben Zellmer and Sam Murray while Fremd has two double-figure scorers in Bryce Hopkins and Jake Schoffstall. But John Smyros and Dean Ganas both average slightly more than 9 points per game.

"Prospect puts five guys on the floor that you have to guard," Fremd coach Bob Widlowski said. "They run their stuff very well offensively and are solid defensively. (Prospect) will provide an excellent atmosphere for the (MSL championship) game."

Fremd has beaten Prospect twice already in recent years in the MSL championship game.

"Fremd is a perennial power in both our league and the area and this year is no different," Camardella said. "They make the game difficult for opponents on both ends of the floor and maximize advantages when looking to score.

"Coach Widlowski is one of the best in the business and we look forward to competing against the Vikings."

Halftime show: As part of halftime festivities of the MSL championship game, players from the MSL all-conference team, as well as players of the year from each division, will be introduced.

  Prospect's Sam Murray drives past Buffalo Grove's Michael Nowakowski during their game Friday night at Prospect High School. Steve Lundy/slundy@dailyherald.com
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