(Jake Davis from earlier in the season)

 

In the sectional final between Cathedral and Lawrence North, the Fighting Irish ran the gauntlet that is Sectional 10.

 

Cathedral used three-point shooting to grab an early lead as Xavier Booker, Jaxon Edwards, and Tayshawn Comer opened the game with triples. Cathedral took an 11-4 lead when Comer dumped a pass to Jake Davis for a layup.

 

Indiana University signee CJ Gunn answered with a three-pointer on the other end. He scored seven first-quarter points after scoring 26 in the first half against Warren Central on Friday night.

 

Turnovers bothered Cathedral in the opening quarter. Averaging 14 per game for the season, the Fighting Irish turned it over six times in the first period against Lawrence North. There were a few travels and throwaways in that mix, but Lawrence North’s defense also rushed Cathedral enough to force the errors as well.

 

After being tied at 15 going to the second, Davis knocked in a three-pointer to put Cathedral up. That opened the flood gates for Davis. He nailed three three-pointers in the second stanza, and Comer created most of the Cathedral looks in the quarter. The Eastern Kentucky-bound guard tallied six first-half assists.

 

Lawrence North could not get a shot to drop in the second period. The Cathedral defense also started to play the passing lanes a bit more for Booker and Edwards run-out baskets. In the first half, the Wildcats were just 9-29 from the field.

 

Cathedral led 32-21 at the break.

 

Jaron Tibbs made his presence felt for Cathedral in the third quarter. He collected nine points and five rebounds in the third period alone, and the junior wing helped Cathedral maintain a comfortable lead throughout the frame.

 

Lawrence North senior Omar Cooper Jr. provides consistent toughness for the Wildcats, but he drew his fourth foul in the third. That put Lawrence North in a difficult position as Cathedral already had a size advantage inside.

 

Cathedral took a 46-36 lead to the fourth, and Lawrence North could only cut it to nine points a few times in the final quarter. However, Booker, Tibbs, Edwards, and Davis kept scoring efficiently at the rim and three-point line to keep Lawrence North at bay.

 

Gunn scored 12 second-half points, but he could never find a rhythm as he had on Friday night. He finished the game with 22 points on 8-22 shooting.

 

Cathedral cruised to the 63-49 victory to capture its first sectional title since 2013. The Fighting Irish play Terre Haute North in the second morning game at Southport High School on Saturday.

 

Lawrence North finishes its season at a surprising 17-7. Outside of Gunn, there were not a lot of expectations for this Wildcat group, but Jack Keefer’s squad played well all season.

 

Davis scored 16 points and grabbed six rebounds in the win, while Booker added 15 points and nine rebounds. Tibbs notched another double-double with 13 points and 15 rebounds. Comer collected seven points, eight assists, and three steals, while Edwards tallied eight points, four rebounds, and three assists.

 

Gunn led LN with 22. He also had seven rebounds and two steals. Cooper tallied seven points, eight rebounds, and two blocks before fouling out. MaCoyion Brown added nine points and three assists. Danny Royster battled inside for six points and ten rebounds. Miles Good dished out four assists off the bench.