No Ayo, No Problem
Friday afternoon Morgan Park (25-6) knocked off Springfield Lanphier (28-4), 60-53.
Both teams entered the fourth with realistic aspirations of victory. Clearly neither team was accustomed to losing basketball games. Morgan Park clasped tightly to their small lead and handled the spirited Lanphier Lion extended pressure.
Though they forced 19 turnovers, Lanphier could not make baskets around the rim. Lion leaders Yaakeema Rose (22 minutes) and Cardell McGee (25 minutes) fought foul trouble, each missing huge chunks of the game.
MVP : Lenell Henry — Morgan Park (2017)
Lenell Henry was a big part of Lanphier shooting 27% for the opening half. Henry did not score in the second half, but he hauled in nine rebounds of his team’s 50 total rebounds. His defense around the rim was instrumental. Lanphier missed 53 shots and Henry was at least near most of those attempts.
Play of the Game : Karl Wright III — Lanphier (2019)
Midway through the third quarter, Karl Wright III made his first bucket of the day. It was so much more than two points. Wright III smashed on the head of Lenell Henry, Morgan Park’s foreboding 6-foot-9 center. Wright III blocked Morgan Park’s next attempt. Without this ovation-inducing jam, the game could easily have ballooned out of control.
Best Offensive Performance : Lenell Henry -Morgan Park (2017)
Lenell Henry was the only consistent scorer in the opening half. Neither team relied upon a single threat. Lanphier lacked the competency of Yakeema Rose (foul trouble) and didn’t get as much as they would have liked out of Cardell McGee (foul trouble). Henry’s early dominance in the lane helped Morgan Park compensate for Dosunmu’s absence.
Best Defensive Performance : Will Boles – Springfield Lanphier (2017)
Will Boles blocked the Morgan Park big, Lenell Henry in first quarter. Most of his impact was felt on the defensive glass. He either collected the rebound or bodied up the relentless Morgan Park crashers, helping Lanphier guards recover the miss.
Best Intangibles : Cam Irvin — Morgan Park (2017)
Morgan Park was missing their star, Ayo Dosunmu, making leadership a significant concern. Filling that vacuum was Cam Irvin. He finished with just six points in 22 minutes, but Cam’s steadiness provided the needed calm. Several times in the second half, Lanphier’s pressure had Watson and Morgan Park guards sped up. With a turnover likely, Watson and teammates routinely found Irvin. The senior caught the passes and just took a beat. The brief breather enabled the Mustangs to re-dedicate to the task of winning.
Best Guy off the Bench : Marcus Watson — Morgan Park (2020)
It took some time to settle in, but Marcus Watson provided some sharp passes into the teeth of the defense. When Lanphier committed to the full-court press it rattled the young buck a touch. Once Morgan Park grabbed a lead Still, he was needed as Ayo missed most of the game with left ankle injury. Morgan Park likes to play fast and without Watson’s dribbling ability their style would have suffered dramatically. Watson got an instrumental fourth quarter steal and also a nice offensive rebound with a putback.
Best Under the Radar Performance : Lamond Johnson — Morgan Park (2019)
Lamond Johnson scored four early second-half points for the Morgan Park. With his help, Morgan Park opened up a four-point halftime lead. The subtle stretch impacted the tone of the entire game. Morgan Park played pretty well with the lead, squashing emotional bursts from Lanphier.
Best Underclassmen : WG Nimari Burnett — Morgan Park (2020)
Many young players on Morgan Park are destined for high school dominance. This should have been wrapped up by 2018 guard Ayo Dosunmu, but he didn’t play much (4 minutes). Nimari Burnett knocked down two three-pointers and only turned the ball over one time. He provided flashes of brilliance. Those points meant so much. With his length and shooting touch the sky is the limit.
Best Project to Watch : F Karl Wright III — Lanphier (2019)
Mustangs Marcus Watson and Nimari Burnett are clearly impact players at the high school level, likely beyond. Karl Wright III showed glimpses of greatness too. In nine minutes, the sophomore scored that emphatic dunk and hauled down three offensive rebounds. Look for him to emerge in the coming months.
Best Takeaway : Morgan Park is more than one superstar. This wasn’t really in question, but Ayo sitting allowed Head Coach Nick Irvin to play several youngsters in critical minutes. Young men like Lamond Johnson, Nimari Burnett, and Marcus Watson really planted their feet on big stage and impacted the game.