Leo 68, North Lawndale College Prep 57, Class 2-A Sectional Semifinal at Julian on Tuesday, March 4
An outstanding first quarter was all it took to move the Leo Lions within two wins of their first state tournament appearance since 2016.
Facing North Lawndale College Prep on Tuesday in a semifinal of the IHSA Class 2-A Sectional at Julian High School, the Lions came out and buried seven of 11 first-period shots, including five three-pointers. They held the Phoenix (15-12) without a bucket for more than four minutes, committed just two turnovers and grabbed a 20-9 lead that withstood several mini-runs.
Try as it might, North Lawndale could get no closer than seven, and the Lions (23-11) finished off a 69-58 victory that sends them on to Friday’s sectional title game against the winner of Wednesday’s other semi between Dyett and Butler College Prep.
The site is to be determined on Wednesday. As postgame handshakes were being exchanged, Julian’s athletic director declared the gym floor unplayable – a cleaning agent that custodians had used left the surface as slippery as an ice rink and the players wary of their footing.
Which makes Leo’s performance that much more impressive.
“Not perfect, but not bad,” Coach Jimalle Ridley said. “We stood up to their pressure, we moved the ball and for the most part we played hard and we defended. We’ll enjoy it tonight and get ready for the next one.”
As Leo’s shooting cooled down – eight first-half three-pointers, one in the second half – the Lions compensated at the free throw line. Asa Harris was 10-for-10 at the line on his way to a game-high 23 points, and Karon Shavers was 6-for-6 while scoring 12.
As a team Leo was 21-for-29 (73 percent) at the foul line, and scored its last seven points there.
And its lone three-pointer of the second half was a big one – Ethan Jackson nailed it from the corner early in the fourth quarter after North Lawndale had crept within seven. Then Dontae Bell converted a steal into a three-point play to restore the Lions’ 13 point-lead, and they were pretty much home free.
Their defense was noteworthy as well. The Phoenix’s Arnez Jones is a 22-point scorer, but he managed just one bucket and eight points as Nate Stephens, Stephen Barze and Jamarion Upshaw took turns guarding him. Tomorion Smith led North Lawndale with 17 points and Julio Malone scored 13.
Friday’s winner will face the winner of the Peotone Sectional in the Joliet Supersectional at Joliet Central High School on Monday, March 10. The winner is on to the University of Illinois’ State Farm Center.
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