(Greg Jenkins came up clutch again for LC - Photo by Albert Aguirre/MaxPreps)

 

In a wild fourth quarter, Lawrence Central senior Greg Jenkins found daylight at the top of the key for the game-winning three-pointer against Crispus Attucks as time expired. The swings of the final minute summed up the game between two tough teams.

 

To begin the game, Lawrence Central senior guard Dameriz Merriweather made an immediate impact as he was attacking the basket off the dribble and a force on the offensive glass. Despite being only 6’ tall, Merriweather grabbed five offensive rebounds in the first quarter. In the second quarter, he continued to lead LC, but it was at the free-throw line. He went 9-11 from the line in the first half.

 

Attucks sophomore Jalen Hooks thrived in transition with three dunks in the first half. He helped Attucks get its offense on track in the second quarter. The Tigers were chipping away at their deficit, but Attucks kept fouling Lawrence Central. The Bears shot 23 free throws in the first half and made 20 of them.

 

One reason why Lawrence Central led 42-34 at the half was the scoreless Isaiah Stafford for Attucks. The athletic guard was 0-5 from the field. He missed his first shot of the second half before getting on the board. Stafford started to roll after that. He scored 10 points in the period as Attucks stormed back.

 

Attucks held LC to nine points in the third quarter.

 

For most of the fourth, Attucks held a two-possession lead. Donavon Barnett buried a left-corner three-pointer to push the Attucks lead to 69-63. Seconds later, LC’s Brandyn Barrett hit a three of his own. Then Lawrence Central forced back-to-back turnovers which Jenkins finished each time. 30 seconds late, Jenkins made two free throws to put Lawrence Central up 72-71.

 

Attucks is never a team to be hesitant, and James Smith attacked the basket immediately. Once he drove to the paint, Lawrence Central was called for a blocking foul. With 33.5 seconds, Smith made both free throws to put Attucks back in front, 73-72.

 

Down one, the Bears put the ball in Jenkins’ hands. He was able to probe the defense and find a wide-open Jacob Franklin for a three. Franklin drilled it to give LC the 75-73 lead. Franklin was huge in the fourth with eight of his 12 points in the quarter.

 

Again, Attucks wasted no time getting the ball up the floor, and again Smith was fouled. With 5.4 seconds remaining, Smith converted both free throws to tie the game.

 

Lawrence Central in-bounded the ball to Jenkins in the backcourt. Attucks pressured him well, and it looked like the Tigers had him cut off at the mid-court line. That wasn’t the case, and Jenkins found space to split two defenders and sprint to the top of the key for a wide-open look. The senior splashed the shot at the buzzer for the Lawrence Central win.

 

Dameriz Merriweather led LC with 25 points, 11 rebounds, four assists, and four steals. Jenkins finished with 19 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and two steals.

 

In the loss, Jalen Hooks led Attucks with 15 points, eight rebounds, three assists, and three steals. Isaiah Stafford had 15 points as well. Donavon Barnett tallied 15 points and eight rebounds.

 

Lawrence Central is now 2-3. Attucks drops to 6-1.

 

Lawrence Central (78) – Greg Jenkins 19 points (6-14 FG, 1-2 3FG, 6-6 FT), 7rebs, 4asts, 3turns, 2stls; Dameriz Merriweather 25 points (6-16 FG, 1-1 3FG, 12-15 FT), 11rebs, 4asts, 1turn, 4stls; Brandyn Barrett 11 points, 4rebs, 2turns, 1stl; Josh Mickens 4 points, 5 rebs, 4turns, 3blks, 2stls; Kamari Jones 3 points, 1rebs, 2turns; William Watts, 2 points, 4stls; Jacob Franklin 12 points, 1rebs, 3stls; Gene Hooten 2points, 3turns

 

Crispus Attucks (75) – Jaylen Carson 6pts, 10rebs, 2asts, 5turns, 2blks; Isaiah Stafford 15 points (6-15 FG, 0-3 3FG, 3-4 FT), 3rebs, 1ast, 2turns, 1stl; James Smith 9pts, 1reb, 4turns, 1stl; Jalen Hooks 15 points (7-13 FG, 1-1 3FG, 0-1 FT), 8rebs, 3asts, 4turns, 1blk, 3stls; Donavon Barnett 15 points (6-12 FG, 1-1 3FG, 2-4 FT), 8rebs, 1turn, 2stls; Kevin Mimms 6pts, 1reb; Qu’Shawn Ware 2pts, 3rebs, 2asts, 1turn, 1stl; Willie Mays 2pts, 1turn