In the inaugural Paul Loggan Memorial Tournament, North Central entered the game 3-4 after a loss to Park Tudor yesterday. Hammond entered the contest 4-1 and Indiana Basketball Source's top 3A team in the state.

 

North Central started fast with threes from Joey Brown and Mike Elliott. Later in the first quarter, Leland Walker connected on back to back threes then BJ Williams and Elliott added two more triples for a 12-0 run. With the way the Panthers were shooting, it looked like North Central might run Hammond out of the gym.

 

In the second period, senior Harold Woods would not allow that. The wing scored seven of the first nine points for Hammond in the quarter and assisted on the other bucket. By the time the frame was over, Woods had scored 13 points, and Hammond led by one.

 

One of the surprises of the Indiana high school basketball season has been North Central's Shilo Jackson. He took a few feeds and finished them with dunks in the third quarter. Jackson and Elliott helped push North Central back in front after the third.

 

The fourth quarter had a hectic pace with plenty of turnovers. Woods continued to be a force going to the basket for Hammond. Reggie Abram knocked down six threes the last time I saw him, but his only three against North Central was a big one. He drilled a corner three with 4:41 to play to give Hammond a 60-58 lead. 

 

Walker started to look for his shot more in the fourth. He was fouled on a drive then made both free throws to tie the game. Hammond maintained a slight lead for the next few minutes.

 

With a minute to play, Hammond led by two and Jordan Woods had his shot attempt blocked by Jackson. BJ Williams took it the other way for North Central, but he charged.

 

After turnovers by each team, Vynce Overshaw extended Hammond's lead to three with 14 seconds left. 

 

North Central had to force a tough shot, which was off the mark, but Joey Brown put it back with two seconds to play.

 

Down one, North Central fouled Darrell Reed with 0.8 seconds. He made both free throws, and North Central's 70-foot heave rimmed off to give Hammond the 71-68 victory.

 

Woods finished with 32 points and eight rebounds; Julius Byrd had 12 points, five rebounds, and three steals before fouling out; Reggie Abram added 11 points; Reed tallied eight points, seven rebounds, and three assists; Jordan Woods had seven points, seven rebounds, and five assists.

 

Elliott led North Central with 18 points; Walker had 16 points and nine assists; Shilo Jackson finished with 12 points and ten rebounds; Joey Brown added 10 points and five rebounds.