Phoenix rises after frustrating setback

PEORIA — Second verse same as the first.

Starting its second game in the state finals with a technical foul for a uniform violation and still fuming over its Class 3A semifinal loss in Friday, North Lawndale rebounded with an impressive 91-77 victory over Leo to capture third place Saturday at Carver Arena.

North Lawndale coach Lewis Thorpe said it was one of the toughest coaching situations of his twenty year career.

"These kids to a man were ready to pack it up and go home," Thorpe said. "Their thought was 'if they want to take it from us like this, then they can have the whole thing.'

"My job as a coach and educator was to teach these kids about life and adversity. It's not the fact that you get knocked down, it is about being knocked down and getting back up."

Thorpe said what he was most disappointed about was the timing of the IHSA's decision to penalize North Lawndale for a stripe on its uniforms.

"Colorful uniforms and lightning bolts on the sides of your shirts shouldn't have an affect on the outcome of a basketball game," he said. "They said that the uniforms we wore last year [while winning Class 2A] were too colorful."

It wasn't just the technical for the uniforms that cost North Lawndale (30-5) in its semifinal. After a team technical, a coach is not allowed to be up or utilize the coaching box

"We are used to Coach walking up and down the side lines yelling and telling us where to be and what to do," all-state forward Jonathan Mills said. "We kept looking over at the sideline and we lost our focus."

After Thorpe had a meeting with the team, there was a players only meeting.

"We are a brotherhood," senior point guard Zilijan Jones said. "As much as we wanted to get away from this place, we wanted people to see the real North Lawndale."

John Taylor scored 17, Mills 16 (with 14 rebounds), junior Jermaine Winfield 15 and Terry Johnson 11. For Leo (27-6), Isaac Smith scored 17, James Pointer 16 and Darrin Johnson 14.

"Making it down here was not our intention," Winfield said. "Winning the championship was what we came for. We'll be back to get what they took." "I learned to never take anything for granted," Taylor said. "Last year I got a championship, but I didn't get a chance to enjoy state finals. This year I still didn't get that chance."