Boys Basketball: North Lawndale rides fast start to win

Updated: January 9, 2012 2:46PM

Julius Thompson was frustrated by the way North Lawndale was starting games.

“We’ve been very slow and sluggish at the beginning, and we wanted to be aggressive and come out and be ready to take the lead,” the senior guard said.

Thompson hit two three-pointers in the first quarter and teammate Antwon Singleton picked up his lead by scoring a game-high 18 points as North Lawndale ran past T.F. South 62-48 at the Bob Hambric Shootout at T.F. North in Calumet City Sunday.

After scoring eight points in the first quarter, Thompson finished with 11 points to support Singleton, who hit a three-pointer in scoring five points in the opening quarter. Behind the play of the two guards, the Phoenix (9-4) jumped out to a 17-2 lead.

“We were looking for opportunities to score, either off the press or missed baskets,” Singleton said. North Lawndale doubled the score, 34-17, at the break.

Behind the play of guard Kenny Doss (13 points), the Rebels fought back, pulling within eight points in the third quarter. Singleton drilled a three-pointer from the left wing. Thompson drilled a three-pointer from the right baseline at the third-quarter buzzer to restore the lead to 47-35.

“I was very pleased and happy with the way we fought back,” T.F. South coach John O‘Rourke said. “I wasn’t happy that we allowed them so many runouts. We’re just not the kind of team that can allow to get into that kind of hole to start the game.”

Sophomore forward Keith Mack scored seven of his nine points in the fourth quarter for the Phoenix. Kyle Odom also contributed nine for North Lawndale.

Robert Ryan added 11 points for the Rebels (9-6). “We just didn’t match their full-court pressure and intensity at the start of the game,” Doss said.

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