The Lawrence Central-Lawrence North game is special every year. It's always played on a Wednesday which means it is the only game in town. The rivalry brings a packed crowd no matter the talent on the rosters. The gym was filled by the third quarter of the junior varsity game.

Early on, it looked like Lawrence North might use its talent advantage to run away with the game. The Wildcats led 14-6 midway through the opening period. They continued to control the game throughout the quarter.

Lawrence Central senior guard KJ Davis buried a three-pointer to finish the first period. That shot started an 11-0 run for the Bearcats. Lawrence Central dominated the period to the tune of 16-5. Junior guard Donyell Meredith scored eight points in the stanza after not getting on the scoreboard in the first quarter. Meredith, Davis and sophomore Wesley Jordan accounted for 23 of Lawrence Central’s 30 first half points.

After the dance teams of each school got the student sections hyped at halftime, LC continued to play well early in the second half. Central’s lead stretched seven points with just under six minutes left in the third. Sophomore Dexter Shouse sparked a 14-0 run for Lawrence North. He scored seven points in the run and had a couple of steals as well.

Speaking of steals, Lawrence North definitely turned up its defensive pressure in the second half. Lawrence Central committed nine turnovers in the third quarter which aided the Lawrence North comeback.

“Our coach [Jack Keefer] was hard on us in the locker room,” Kevin Easley Jr. said of the halftime adjustments. “Me and Cush [Antwaan Cushingberry] are the two leaders this year, so we were just like we have to get these young guys to pick it up. They follow whatever we do.”

The fourth quarter was more of the same for Lawrence North. Freshman Mike Saunders Jr. stepped up in the final period. He scored 10 of his 11 points in the fourth. It was similar to the way that he broke out against Park Tudor in the opener. He had three big baskets in the final period of that game.

“He’s going to be a big-time player,” Easley said of Saunders.” If he just gets that first half mentality, he’s just so young. He’s 14 years old. He just turned 14, but he is a great player. I’ve never seen a freshman come in the fourth quarter and do what he has been doing.”

The freshman doesn’t know why the fourth quarter has become his time to shine so far this year.

“I try to be more aggressive in the first half, but for some reason, I’m not taking a lot of shots,” said Saunders. “Then, for some reason, when I get to the fourth quarter it just snaps and I know my team needs me in order to win.”

Kevin Easley was steady for LN in the second half. He scored five points in the third and six in the fourth. He was active on the defensive end as well. I, unofficially, recorded three blocks and four steals for Easley in the game.

Donyell Meredith and Wesley Jordan combined for 28 points on 11-16 shooting. The rest of the team scored 28 on 9-32 from the field. Poor shooting and turnovers sealed the fate of Lawrence Central on Wednesday evening.

Lawrence North moved to 3-0 with the 74-56 victory while Lawrence Central dropped to 1-2 on the young season.

LC (56) – Daveon Bell 8 points (3-10 FG, 2-3 3FG), 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 turnovers, 2 steals, Donyell Meredith 14 points (5-9 FG, 3-6 3FG, 1-2 FT), 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 turnovers, Wesley Jordan 14 points (6-7 FG, 2-2 FT), 4 rebouns, 1 turnover, 1 block, Eric Easter 2 points (1-4 FG), KJ Davis 11 points (3-14 FG, 1-7 3FG, 4-4 FT), 2 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 turnovers, 1 steal, Gary Gillard 2 points, 2 assists, 1 block, Marlon Sam 2 points, Tyler Andrew 3 points, 3 turnovers

LN (74) – Antwaan Cushingberry 14 points (5-12 FG, 2-8 3FG, 2-3 FT) 3 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 turnover, 1 steal, Dexter Shouse 11 points (4-6 FG, 1-2 3FG, 2-4 FT), 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 turnover, 2 steals, Ra Kpedi 9 points (4-7 FT, 1-4 FT), 4 rebounds, 1 turnover, 1 steal, Kevin Easley 18 points (6-13 FG, 1-5 3FG, 5-6 FT), 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 turnovers, 3 blocks, 4 steals, Mike Saunders Jr. 11 points (3-7 FG, 2-3 3FG, 3-6 FT), 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 turnover, 2 steals, Jared Hankins 5 points, 2 rebounds, 1 turnover, 1 block, Dalen Davis 4 points, Jackson Moulton 2 points, Bryce Roark-Glenn 1 assist