Boys Basketball: North Lawndale turns back inspired Orr

Updated: December 16, 2011 10:56PM

North Lawndale turned back Orr’s valiant effort and prevailed 87-76 at home in double overtime Friday night in a Red-West matchup.

Orr played inspired basketball in the absence of its coach Lewis Adams, who was taken to the hospital complaining of chest pain and dizziness prior to them leaving school for the game.

Davonte Johnson sent the game into overtime with a free throw with 11 seconds remaining in regulation. The Spartans used an 8-2 spurt at the beginning of the first overtime to take a 67-61 lead with 2:42 remaining. Trailing 72-68 Johnson made a steal and a layup with 15 seconds remaining and tied the game with a driving layup with two seconds remaining putting the game at 72-all. Once again the Phoenix trailed 76-74 when Alonzo Singletary drove the lane for a reverse lay up that triggered an 11-0 run as North Lawndale closed out the over time. North Lawndale trailed by as many as 11 points in the first half.

Singletary and Kelvin Grayson shared team honors with 19 points each. Antoine Smith had 10 points and 16 rebounds and Johnson and Lavonte Sutton each scored nine.

North Lawndale coach Lewis Thorpe said his team learned a lot from the Crane loss.

“The game was about sticking together and composure. There were a lot of contributors in the victory. Singletary is emerging as a real team leader and Johnson is probably the most under-rated guard in our conference,” said Thorpe.

Deshawn King led all scorers with 30 points and 6-7 junior Marquese Pryor had 22 points and 26 rebounds for Orr. Orr assistant coach Phil Gibson said he spoke with Adams after the game and he is resting comfortably, but his presence was missed.

“Whenever you are without your leader, you are in trouble,“ said Gibson. “We had control of the game several times and made some costly bad decisions.”

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