(Shamar Avance led LN with 16 points)

 

For the last 20-plus years, Lawrence North and Bloomington South have been mentioned in the same breath for many conversations. From now on, Saturday’s game will always be mentioned in those conversations.

 

South’s JR Holmes is the state’s all-time winningest coach, and LN’s Jack Keefer is number two. Last season, South was undefeated, and Lawrence North was the top-ranked team. The state finally saw the Lawrence North-Bloomington South match-up that fans were clamoring for last year.

 

Bloomington South, the underdog in this one, threw the first haymakers. Senior Joey Bomba came out firing. He made two threes on South’s first three possession. On the possession that he didn’t make a three, Trevor Taylor did. Bomba scored 13 points to give the Panthers a 19-12 first-quarter lead.

 

To begin the second quarter, the Wildcats turned up the defensive heat. CJ Gunn made a three to close out the first period, then Shamar Avance scored the first five points of the second quarter. Lawrence North’s glue guy, Donaven McCulley, scored to cap a 10-0 lead.

 

The three-point line gave Bloomington South another boost late in the second quarter. This time is was Jalen Peck and Patrick Joyce. Those triples gave the Panthers a 27-24 halftime advantage.

 

Out of the locker room, McCulley and Avance scored for LN to give the Wildcats a 31-30 lead. Once again, Bloomington South answered from the three-point. The first three made shots in the second half for South were beyond the arc, and Bomba had two of them.

 

Taylor had a great second half for South. In the third quarter, he scored eight points to give the Panthers breathing room. Late in the third, he made a free throw to give South a 41-34 lead.

 

Lawrence North closed the frame strong as McCulley and Avance scored. McCulley, an Indiana University football recruit, always seemed to make a play when the Wildcats needed it. Another LN player like that was Kaden Beatty. The lefty opened the fourth with a three to tie the game.

 

Three minutes into the fourth, McCulley grabbed Gunn’s missed three-pointer and put it back to give LN a 44-43 lead. Bomba returned the favor as he grabbed a Taylor miss and was fouled. Bomba made both free throws to swing the lead back to South.

 

A moment later, Taylor pushed South’s lead to three with a couple of free throws. To respond, Gunn made a physical drive and finish to make it a one-point game.

 

From there, a mine and a half came off the clock with no scoring. Finally, DJ Hughes was fouled after bringing down an offensive rebound. A normally subpar free-throw shooter, Hughes made two in the clutch. On the other end, Taylor made free throws of his own, and it was South’s 49-48 lead.

 

Down one, McCulley was there again for LN. Avance found him cutting through South’s zone for an easy basket. The following possession saw Gunn make two free throws.

 

Continuing his huge second half, Taylor slashed to the basket for a score with 46 seconds left. Taylor scored 16 of his 22 points after halftime. The senior guard was not going to let South fade into the night.

 

In crunch time, Lawrence North made its free throws. For the game, the Wildcats were only 13-19, but they were 6-6 in the final 2:21. That made it tougher on South.

 

With ten seconds left, Sam Kestranek had a window for a corner three-pointer, but Gunn closed that in a hurry to get a blocked shot. Up three with 8.2 seconds left, Lawrence North fouled. Joyce made three after the foul. It was waved off.

 

Joyce made the first free throw before missing the second. The missed free throw bounced on the rim an extra time, and the rebound fell to Bomba. The South senior had an off-balanced look in the lane, but it did not go down. Lawrence North grabbed the miss and threw it to the other end as time expired.

 

Lawrence North walked away as the 54-52 winner.

 

The Wildcats will play MIC rival Carmel on April 3 for the 2021 4A boys state title.

 

Avance led LN with 16 points, three rebounds, and three assists. McCulley collected a huge 15 points and seven rebounds. Gunn and Beatty each scored nine points. Hughes finished with five points and six rebounds.

 

Taylor’s 22 points and five rebounds led South. Bomba finished with 21 points and five rebounds. He was 5-11 from the three-point range. Joyce tallied six points and three rebounds.