(Butler signee DJ Hughes tallied a double double on Friday night)

 

Since losing consecutive games to Perry Meridian and Carmel, Center Grove entered Friday night’s game against Lawrence North on a six-game winning streak. The Wildcats had its unbeaten season interrupted by Homestead last Saturday.

 

Early on, it was Lawrence North’s defense that took center stage. The Wildcats forced Center Grove away from the basket, and the Trojans missed their first ten shots from the field. Lawrence North’s offense was not clicking, either. Butler signee DJ Hughes overpowered the Trojans’ front line for six points, but he did not get much help. A late first-quarter spurt by Center Grove as Landin Hacker and Tyler Cerny scored gave the Trojans a 9-8 lead.

 

Opening the second period, Shane Bennett scored off the dribble to extend Center Grove’s lead to 11-8. That is when Shamar Avance started to get going. The 20-points-per-game scorer was scoreless in the first quarter. He scored a transition basket then a triple to swing the lead back to Lawrence North. He scored nine points in the frame.

 

Right before the buzzer, CJ Gunn hit a deep three-pointer. The junior guard picked up two early fouls, and his first-half production was limited. The triple gave Lawrence North a 24-21 lead at the break.

 

For the most part, the third quarter was uneventful. There was a three-minute stretch when neither team scored. Gunn broke that with a bucket to put LN up 28-23. Moments later, Tayven Jackson was able to make his first field goal. He started 0-9 from the field but made an impact as a rebounder. Cerny made a three a minute later to tie the game.

 

Early in the fourth, Avance and Gunn scored on consecutive possessions to give Center Grove a 36-31 lead. As Lawrence North took the air out of the ball on the offensive end, its defense once again shut down Center Grove. The Trojans did not make a field goal in the fourth quarter. CG was limited to four free throws.

 

With its defense leading the way, Lawrence North capped a 7-0 run to end the game with a thunderous Hughes dunk. The Wildcats moved to 15-1 with the 45-35 victory.

 

Hughes ended with 14 points and 14 rebounds; Avance added 13 points, four assists, four rebounds, and a steal; Gunn tallied 11 points and five rebounds.

 

For Center Grove, Hacker scored 13 points but only two after halftime. Jackson added seven points and 11 rebounds. Cerny scored five.

 

Center Grove grabbed ten offensive rebounds but only cashed them in for four points. The Trojans went 5-22 from the three-point line.