Mishawaka Marian (6-1) traveled to Indianapolis to face a surging Lawrence Central team. The Bears entered on a five-game winning streak.

 

The game began at a slow pace as both defenses were playing well. Marian's senior wing Ky'Rell Franklin slashed to the basket for a couple of buckets. He's a lanky six-foot-four with a quick first step. 

 

After Marian grabbed the lead early in the second quarter, Lawrence Central went on a 10-2 run with Jacob Franklin knocking down two threes in the spurt. Greg Jenkins and Josh Mickens were also key for the Bears during the run. Ky'Rell Franklin was able to split the defense for another driving score to end the half for Marian.

 

Out of the locker room, Lawrence Central started the second half with five straight points. Jenkins looked for his shot more in the third quarter for LC. Down 11, Marian received a boost from Mitchell Menting and Dareon Thornton before Deaglan Sullivan's and-1 had the Knights within two midway through the third. 

 

To finish the third period, Lawrence Central answered with buckets from Mickens and Jenkins to get breathing room.

 

Early in the final quarter, Menting and Sullivan keyed a Marian 7-0 to take the lead back. Throughout the quarter, Ky'Rell Franklin's defense was huge. He finished the game with six steals. It seems like he was getting a deflection on every possession in the fourth. 

 

Before the fourth period, Marian's Richard Brooks was 0-7 from the field and had two points. He changed the course of the game with his play in the final three minutes. First, he drilled a three-pointer from the top of the key like he had been making shots all game. That gave Marian a 43-42 lead. On the next possession, he responded to an LC bucket by scoring in the lane. 

 

With under two minutes to play, Jenkins tied the game for Lawrence Central. Marian worked the clock before Brooks nailed a contested 17-foot shot from the right baseline with 10 seconds remaining.

 

Down two, Lawrence Central stepped out of bounds while pushing the ball up the court. After a quick foul, Sullivan missed the front end of the bonus. Lawrence Central called a time out.

 

Going the entire court, Jenkins reached to the paint but did not get a shot off before the buzzer. With that, Marian won 50-48.

 

Sullivan led Marian with 14 points, nine rebounds, and six assists; Ky'Rell Franklin finished with 10 points and six steals; Brooks ended with nine points; Mitchell Menting added eight.

 

Mickens led LC with 13 points and six rebounds; Jenkins tallied 11 points, eight rebounds, four assists, and two steals; Jacob Franklin had nine points; Demariz Merriweather had four points and seven rebounds.