Fremd dumps Prospect in Camp Horseshoe Invite

Saturday, the Camp Horseshoe Invitational boys basketball triple-header made its debut on Fremd's home floor and had the Mid-Suburban League West co-leading Vikings playing host to MSL East champion Prospect in the nightcap.

Fremd coach Bob Widlowski, along with other coaches in Saturday's event such as Lake Park's Billy Pitcher, Stevenson's Pat Ambrose, Deerfield's Dan McKendrick, and Prospect's John Camardella, are among annual participants in the Rhinelander, Wis.-based camp's summer hoops clinic that was started by Jordan Shiner.

"It's a great basketball camp in the Northwoods," Widlowski said. "We've been rotating the site (of the shootout) and it's a great tradition we'd like to keep."

Thanks to an exciting finish in that third contest, it's a tradition that may very well hold as the host school held off a late Prospect rally to pick up a 56-47 win.

"When we needed to we got some stops," Widlowski said. "We executed. We slowed down and played with poise for the last two minutes."

Early on, it seemed the Vikings (18-4) were on cruise control as they built a 14-5 lead after one quarter on 6 of senior guard John Smyros' 9 points. That lead eventually grew to as much as 19 (40-21) with 7:38 left in the ballgame on a 3-pointer from junior guard Jake Schoffstall. Fellow Fremd junior Kayman Hopkins' inside hoop from older brother Bryce kept the Viking lead at 45-30 with 4:35 left.

That's when the Knights (14-10) made their late charge. Over the next two-and-a-half minutes they went on a 16-4 run that had them within 3 (49-46) on Sam Murray's third 3-pointer with 2:03 to go.

But it would be a 3-point play by Schoffstall (14 points) that calmed the waters for Fremd seven seconds later. Schoffstall, who followed up Bryce Hopkins' game-high 16 points, spoke of the timeout Widlowski called after Murray's 3.

"We came out full of energy and coach said they're going to try and stick with it - their outside game - and to just keep our composure, keep the lead and try and push it."

Murray led Prospect with 15 points followed by Ben Miller's 11 for a Knight squad that came off a come-from-behind division-clinching win the night before at Buffalo Grove.

"I was proud of our guys," Camardella said. "We were down 19 and we got it to 3. Coming off an emotional game last night, the guys coming off the bench were just great. Really proud of how they finished."

Should the Vikings go into Schaumburg Friday and avenge a December home loss against the Saxons on their home floor, another matchup with Prospect would take place in Mt. Prospect on February 20 in the MSL championship game. But the 17th-year leader of Fremd's program isn't looking beyond his next opponent.

"Schaumburg does a real nice job running their stuff and we're looking forward to the challenge going over there," Widlowski said.