Whitney Young’s Dolphins grabbed the state 4A championship, bringing tears to Michael Jordan’s eyes, while North Lawndale was undone in its try for a third straight 3A championship by a determined Champaign Centennial team and a controversial
Whitney Young’s Dolphins grabbed the state 4A championship, bringing tears to Michael Jordan’s eyes, while North Lawndale was undone in its try for a third straight 3A championship by a determined Champaign Centennial team and a controversial technical foul for a uniform violation.
Marcus Jordan’s game-high 19 points carried Whitney Young past Waukegan 69-66 Saturday night at Carver Arena.
As Jordan and his teammates celebrated on the court after the final buzzer, father Michael Jordan stood quietly, clapping his hands with tears in his eyes.
“Crying?” the NBA legend said in response to a reporter’s question. “I’m not crying. Not for me, anyway.”
The younger Jordan was key down the stretch, hitting four of four free throws in the final three minutes to seal the victory.
Junior guards Jereme Richmond and Quan Conner led Waukegan with 17 points each. Richmond also grabbed a game-high nine rebounds.
Whitney Young led by as many as 17 points late in the first half. It was the first state championship for the Dolphins.
North Lawndale, ranked second in the state in the final Associated Press regular season poll, started their 3A semi-final against Champaign Centennial game with a technical foul for a uniform violation. An official with the Illinois High School Athletics Association said the stripe on the Phoenix’s home uniform was too long.
Junior forward Rayvonte Rice and senior guard James Kinney led Champaign (31-1) with 22 points apiece. Rice also led the team in rebounds with 10.
None of Rice’s points were more important than the two he put in after grabbing an offensive rebound with two seconds left in the game.
Senior forward Jonathan Mills led North Lawndale with 16 points and 15 rebounds.
In the 3A championship game, Rice had 21 points, including the two winning free throws in the waning seconds, to lead Champaign 61- 59 over Oswego.
It was Champaign’s first state crown.
“I blanched at bit at the number one ranking,” Champaign coach Tim Lavin said. “But in the end, we made it happen. I’m thrilled. What a great couple of games.”
The two teams were tied at 59 with 15 seconds left when Oswego’s Jordan Mitchell attempted a long pass in an effort to find an open man for a last-second shot. But Rice snagged the pass and dribbled the length of the floor, only to be fouled with six seconds left. He made both free throws for the win.
Senior guard James Kinney scored 18 points for Champaign. Oswego was led by junior forward Andrew Ziemnik and Mitchell, both of whom scored 22 points.
In the 4A consolation game, Harvey Thornton senior forward Richie Thompson scored 18 points to power his team to a 73-52 win over Carpentersville Dundee-Crown.
The Wildcats lost to Whitney Young 59-54 in Friday’s semifinals.
In Oswego’s win over Leo High School, Oswego senior guard Jordan Mitchell’s 3- pointer at the buzzer led his team to a 56-55 win.
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In top photo: Young celebrates its Class 4A Championship Saturday night in Peoria.
In middle photo: Jonathan Mills of North Lawndale hangs his head in defeat as Champaign Centennial upset them in the semifinal game to play in the championship game.
In bottom photo: After losing to Oswego in the semifinals Friday night, Leo didn’t have the get up and go, and fell to North Lawndale Prep in the consolation game.
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