IL Boys 3A semifinals: Lanphier vs North Chicago
March 15, 2012
PEORIA – In the first of four State semifinal games, it was North Chicago grabbing the victory over Lanphier (Springfield) 57-52 in Peoria, IL – on the campus of Bradley University. North Chicago did enough to defeat Springfield Lanphier on Friday afternoon at Carver Arena and advance to the Class 3A state finals Saturday afternoon at 2 pm against the winner of Hillcrest / Peoria up next.
The Lions (28-4) controlled the tempo in the first half and received a big performance from their sixth man, T.J. Davis, who sparked the team with a second quarter 13-2 run and a 45-34 lead.
Davis, who finished with 15 points, made his first six shots and accounted for 11 points, five steals and three assists in the first half.
“I came off the bench and gave my team a spark,” Davis said.
Simply put, Lanpheir was able to play their style of play, crazy and fast pace in the first half, led by the play of 5-8 guard, T.J. Davis, who has 14 points and is 6 of 7 from the field and perfect from downtown (2-2). But as stated, the second half, the Warhawks slowed the tempo and gain all of the momentum, including 25-13 advantage of second chance shots. But the Warhawks (25-6) threw several defensive zones at Lions (28-4) that kept them off guard and erased an 11-point deficit right before the half.
“They didn’t adjust very well to our zone defense,” North Chicago coach Gerald Coleman said.
The Warhawks’ limited the Lions to 2-for-12 shooting in the third and embarked on a 19-2 run for a 57-51 lead.
North Chicago were led by two understudies of Aaron Simpson, who struggled: Kevante Curry who scored 16 points and 11 boards, and Kurt Hall, who added 12 points and 16 boards. Illinois-State recruit Simpson shot 4-for-20 from the floor and finished with 14 points.
“He’s a superstar, but we have some players that can help him,” Hall said.
Simpson averages 26.3 points per game.
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[…] Both teams come in to this game a little short of playing for the Boys Class 3A title. Hillcrest lost to Peoria 60-50, and Lanphier lost to North Chicago 57-50. […]
IL Boys 3A Third Place: Lanphier vs Hillcrest « amateursports365
March 17, 2012