With a battle scene similar to an old country western movie shoot-out, the most anticipated match-up of the year would finally take place between the No.1 ranked North Lawndale Phoenix (14-3, 5-1 Public Red West) and the No. 6-ranked Whitney Young Dolphin
With a battle scene similar to an old country western movie shoot-out, the most anticipated match-up of the year would finally take place between the No.1 ranked North Lawndale Phoenix (14-3, 5-1 Public Red West) and the No. 6-ranked Whitney Young Dolphins (14-5, 7-0) in front of a packed house at Young’s gymnasium, aka “the Dolphin Dome” on the near west side.
“Man, it was so much fun to play in a game like this,” said Young 6-foot-3 junior guard Anthony Johnson. “There was so much intensity out there, and the crowds from both schools were so loud and going back and forth at one another. It felt like a state championship game.”
Johnson, who led all scorers with 25 points, would nail the clutch three-pointer that helped send the game into overtime. He credited guard Marcus Jordan for setting him up for the game-tying shot. "Marcus (nine points, seven assists) told me to spot up for a three-pointer and he would find me," Johnson said. “I went to the corner, and sure enough, Marcus found me. It felt good as soon as it left my hands.”
The assist Jordan made to Johnson that helped tie the game at 63, all with 5.8 seconds left to play in regulation, was very similar to a play his father made 12 years ago in the 1997 NBA Finals when Michael Jordan told Steve Kerr the same exact thing as he would set him up for the game-winning shot with you guessed it–5.8 seconds left to play in regulation.
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