Fort Wayne South faced an uphill challenge facing Lawrence North on Saturday afternoon. Ra Kpedi made the challenge extra difficult with his play.

Senior center Ra Kpedi wasted no time dominating the paint against South Side. The Archers had no player that could match Kpedi’s size, strength and athleticism. He had a field day finishing at the rim in the first half. He scored 15 points in the first 16 minutes of the game.

Trejean Didier’s shooting kept South Side in the game during the first quarter. The smoothing shooting junior tallied 10 points in the opening stanza. South Side was able to get a few transition scores in the first quarter as well.

Lawrence North tightened its defense in the second quarter. After allowing South to score 22 in the first, Lawrence North limited the Archers to 10 points in the second period. Lawrence North’s offense did not drop off at all. Jared Hankins and Antwaan Cushingberry were knocking in three-pointers while Kpedi and Kevin Easley scored inside.

Lawrence North led 48-32 at the half.

Kpedi continued to score at will with dunks and putbacks. He scored eight points in the opening two minutes of the stretch Lawrence North’s lead to over 20 points.

South Side showed fight in the third quarter to make it an 11-point game on a couple of occasions. The Archers were down nine with under a minute to go in the third quarter before Dalen Davis scored near the end of the period.

South Side was hanging around for most of the fourth quarter until Mike Saunders Jr. and Dexter Shouse hit three-pointers then Ra Kpedi got an offensive rebound and dunk. That 8-0 run transpired in a matter of moments and put the game out of reach for South Side.

Lawrence North won 96-75. Ra Kpedi ended the game with 29 points. Antwaan Cushingberry scored 16 points. Trejean Didier led Fort Wayne South Side with 23 points.