The last two Mr. Basketball winners have come from Lawrence Central and North Central, but it was a cast of new faces that needed 40 minutes to settle this MIC showdown. Using a big double-double from Donyell Meredith and a hot shooting performance from sophomore Nijel Pack, Lawrence Central won this battle of attrition 88-84 in double overtime.

 

 

North Central controlled the first half, jumping out to a six-point lead after the first quarter. Senior forward Donald Lee had 12 of his 15 points in the opening 16 minutes to pace the Panthers. Their lead would grow to eight towards the end of the second quarter before a quick 6-0 spurt from Lawrence Central sent them into the locker room down just two.

 

 

Foul trouble would be a major factor in this game, particularly inside for North Central. Donald Lee would pick up his third and fourth fouls in the third quarter before fouling out with around five minutes left in the fourth. The Bears would be in the bonus for the final 10 minutes of the second half, due mostly in part to Tyler Andrew. The bruising forward was aggressive in establishing his position on the block, and the result was a parade of fouls from the North Central frontline.

 

 

The final minute of regulation was filled with action, as a Caleb Pack triple with just over 40 seconds left to cut the North Central deficit to one. On the ensuing possession, Lawrence Central turned it over, but D’Andre Davis recovered with a chase down block to save two points and regain possession after the loose ball went out off of North Central. Donyell Meredith added a pair of free throws for the Bears, but after a ragged possession and loose ball, Ty’riek Johnson would emerge with the ball and fire from just inside the halfcourt stripe. It caromed off the glass and through the net, sending the game into overtime.

 

 

In the extra frame, Lawrence Central went to work on the interior, with Wesley Jordan scoring the first five points for the Bears. North Central would not go away, storming back to tie the game and send it into the second overtime. North Central ran out of answers in the final four minutes, and Lawrence Central escaped with a hard-earned victory.

 

 

Lawrence Central  14  20  20  15  12  7  -  88

North Central         20  16  16  17  12  3  -  84

 

Lawrence Central: Nijel Pack 23 points (7/11 FGs, 4/6 3Ps, 5/5 FTs); D’Andre Davis 18 points (7/9 FGs, 1/2 3Ps, 3/5 FTs), 5 rebs; Donyell Meredith 16 points (4/10 FGs, 8/10 FTs), 17 rebs, 4 asts; Tyler Andrews 14 points; Wesley Jordan 8 points; Jaden Terry 5 points (2/5 FGs), 3 asts; Jacob LaRavia 4 points

 

North Central: Davon Bradley 24 points (8/11 FGs, 2/4 3Ps, 6/9 FTs); Caleb Pack 23 points (7/16 FGs, 4/12 3Ps, 5/7 FTs), 6 asts; Ty’Riek Johnson 18 points (5/13 FGs, 3/6 3Ps, 5/9 FTs); Donald Lee 15 points (5/13 FGs, 3/8 3Ps, 2/6 FTs), 6 rebs; Michael Rogers 2 points; Charlie Peterson 2 points