PEORIA%uFFFDAnother weekend, another state high school basketball championship for the Public League. Saturday at Carver Arena, North Lawndale College Prep, a West Side charter school, captured the llinois High School Association boy’s basketball Class 2-
The victory by the Phoenix came just a week after two other Public League schools, Marshall and Whitney Young, won the girl’s 3-A and 4-A championships in downstate Normal. “This just goes to show you that the best high school basketball in the state of Illinois is definitely played by the Chicago Public League,” said Public League sports coordinator Calvin Davis.
“Three state championships in just one week are just outstanding.” The Public League will be hoping for another title when the Class 3-A boys finals are played Friday at Carver Arena. Simeon and Marshall played for a berth in the 3-A finals when they played in the Super Sectionals Tuesday night. The 2-A championship for North Lawndale was the first title in any sport for the school, which was playing in the Public League for the first time this season.
They had reached the finals of the old Class A state tournament the last two years but had come up short each time. “I think being here before really helped us this time,” North Lawndale head coach Lewis Thorpe said. “We were determined not to come away without the championship this time.” Leading North Lawndale to the 2- A title was 6-11 sophomore center Paul Bunch.
Playing the best game of his young career, Bunch had 18 points, 11 rebounds and three blocked shots for the Phoenix. “I always knew I had it in me,” Bunch said. “I just picked this game to come out.” Bunch and his North Lawndale teammates dedicated the championship to Laquisha Reed, as classmate at North Lawndale who died recently of a blood infection. “I know she would have been there cheering us on,” Bunch said.
Thorpe had told Bunch before the game that he would have to play his best. “I told him he had to play his best in this game if we were going to bring home the title and he did just that,” Thorpe said of Bunch. Joining Bunch in leading the Phoenix to the win was guard Zilijan Jones with 16 points and Jonathan Mills who had seven points and 11 rebounds.
Jones scored eight of his 16 points in the fourth quarter as the Phoenix denied the Rams any hopes of a late comeback. North Lawndale jumped out to an early lead over Peoria Manual. After building a 32-23-halftime lead, they coasted to an easy win.
Thorpe said it was a tough season for his team in more ways than one. “So many things have happened to us with injuries, ineligible players and everything else,” Thorpe said. “That just shows you how special these kids are.”
North Lawndale had reached the championship game with a 47-44 win over Pinckneyville in the semifinals March 7. … St. Anne High School of St. Anne, Ill. captured the Class 1-A title with a 67-61 victory over Nikomas. Jonathan Mills of North Lawndale, Matthew Humphrey of Hales Franciscan and DeMarkus Isom-Jones of Englewood were named to the Associated Press Class 2-A all state team. Also selected to the first team were Paris Gulley of Peoria Manual and Kyle Cassity of Pinckneyville. Nicholas Waddell of Englewood was a second team selection.
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The Marshall high school boy’s basketball team captured the Public League title this season while the girl’s team won the state Class 3-A title. Thursday, the school’s alumni association will host a reunion for another Commando champion hoop squad, the 1958 boy’s team, that won the city and state title and featured the legendary George Wilson. For more information on reunion call Willie Box at 708-534-3634.
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The 2008 Public League Indoor Track and Field Meet will be held Sunday at the University of Chicago Henry Crown Fieldhouse. Girl’s events will get underway at 10:15 a.m. with the boy’s events taking place at 4:30 p.m.
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