Ten Best: North Central vs. Lawrence North
North Central started and finished strong in its sectional final against Lawrence North. It opened the game on a 9-1 run, and then outscored the Wildcats 8-0 to start the fourth quarter en route to a 58-50 victory Saturday night.…
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Continue ReadingNorth Central started and finished strong in its sectional final against Lawrence North. It opened the game on a 9-1 run, and then outscored the Wildcats 8-0 to start the fourth quarter en route to a 58-50 victory Saturday night.
MVP: Kris Wilkes (North Central)
The UCLA commit didn’t start strong, but the second half he took control. Wilkes began to penetrate into the lane in the second half here he either finished it himself or found a cutting teammate for the assist. Wilkes didn’t attempt a single 3-pointer in the second half because of this focus and he dominated the stat line with 21 points, seven rebounds, four assists, three blocks and a steal.
Play of the Game: Kris Wilkes and Mateo Rivera (North Central)
With 4:50 left in the game and a 51-44 lead, North Central had the ball out-of-bounds beneath its basket. It ran a well-designed play as Rivera cut to the basket and Wilkes hit him in stride for an easy layup. This gave the Panthers a 9-point lead and with how its defense was playing, made the game seem out of reach for Lawrence North.
Best Offensive Performance: Mateo Rivera (North Central)
The senior guard finished with 11 points, but they were critical points and came on 5-for-9 shooting. With North Central struggling in the second quarter and down by nine points, Rivera scored seven straight for the Panthers to get them back into the game. He then scored his next four points in the fourth quarter to push the lead and put the game away.
Best Defensive Performance: Emmanuel Little (North Central)
This should go to the entire North Central zone defense, but Little manned it down low to make it work and got 13 rebounds and two blocks as a part of it. He constantly battled with Lawrence North’s Ra Kpedi and kept the holes in the zone from being exploited. The 2-3 zone in the second half, and especially the fourth quarter, were the difference in the game and Manual was a key part of that.
Best Intangibles: Antwaan Cushingberry (Lawrence North)
The junior guard just does a lot of great things. He’s extremely quick and knows how to find the ball. He finished the game with seven points, six rebounds, six assists and a steal, along with just one turnover as he handled the ball for the Lawrence North offense. His presence and ability to find teammates when driving was key in helping the Wildcats stay in the game.
Best Guy Off the Bench: Caleb Pack (North Central)
The Panthers relied heavily on its starting five, but it dealt with some early foul trouble to Rivera and Pack played a solid game in his 17 minutes. He finished 2-for-4 from 3-point range for six points and two rebounds and an assist. His ability to come in and hit a critical three that tied the game in the second quarter to finish off a Panthers 12-3 run was big.
Best Underclassman: Mike Saunders (Lawrence North)
The freshman didn’t shoot well from 3-point range, but he did a lot of good things beyond his distance shooting. He finished with seven points, two rebounds and three assists and was 3-for-5 from inside the arc. He also routinely helped Lawrence North break through the North Central press with mature ball handling and court vision to find the open man when he the trap came for him.
Best Under-the-Radar Performance: Davon Bradley (North Central)
The junior from North Central did a lot of good things in this game. He finished with seven points on 2-for-2 shooting and made 3-for-4 from the foul line. He also added four rebounds and four assists for his team. He was a steadying presence and found his teammates in good spots. He also set up a massive Kris Wilkes dunk with a beautiful drive and dish as Wilkes cut into the basket.
Best Player College Coaches Should Track: DJ Johnson (North Central)
The junior guard showed a lot to like with his game, especially as he became critical, along with Bradley, when Rivera dealt with his early foul trouble. He isn’t afraid to take his shot, and while it didn’t fall down consistently in this game, he has the ability to get hot and make them. He finished with seven points, three rebounds and then one a piece with a steal, block and assist. He finds his way into the right spots and with the potential offensive ability, he could be someone who would make an impact with the right program.
Best Storyline Moving Forward: North Central won its second consecutive sectional championship and now they head to regionals hoping to take it a step further. Last year, the Panthers lost in the opening round and will have to beat Ben Davis for the third time this season if they are to advance. Earlier in the year, North Central beat Ben Davis by 11 points twice within one week in January. It’ll need to do so again for its season to continue. This team has been thinking state championship the past two years and will have to take down a strong team once again to keep that thought alive.