Lawrence North Wildcats (Indianapolis, IN)

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12/11/05

December 11, 2005


LAWRENCE NORTH 89, Fort WAYNE SNIDER 45
'Cats cruise without big guy

No Greg Oden? No problem.
After playing arguably his best game of the season in Thursday's nationally televised matchup against Dayton (Ohio) Dunbar, Lawrence North's center was left with a swollen jaw and eight stitches for his effort.





As a precaution, the 7-foot senior was held out of Saturday's home game against Class 4A No. 6 Fort Wayne Snider (3-1).

With the big man out, the Wildcats showed they are far from a one-man band, defeating the Panthers 89-45 on the strength of senior guards Michael Conley and Brandon McDonald, who scored 26 and 20 points, respectively.

"Without Greg's 20 points, I was wondering where we would find some scoring," Lawrence North coach Jack Keefer said. "I know Conley had a bunch and McDonald has had two great games in a row. The whole team really stepped up."

The trio of Conley, McDonald and junior forward Damian Windham combined for 60 of the team's 89 points.

Lawrence North (6-0) stormed to a 10-0 lead as the Panthers didn't score a field goal until 41/2 minutes into the game.

Fort Wayne Snider fought back in the second quarter behind senior guard Marques Johnson. Johnson scored 11 of his team's 17 points in the quarter and narrowed the Wildcats' lead to 37-29 at halftime.

The second half started much like the first as the Wildcats opened with a 17-2 run, putting the outcome beyond any doubt.

"I thought our defense stepped up against a really good team who scored 77 points the night before," Keefer said. "Those are three of the finest shooters we'll see all year, and we just had a hand up and we found a way to stop them."

McDonald, from whom Keefer said he's been seeking a breakout performance, shot 9-of-12 from the field and was flying around the court at both ends much of the evening.

"These last two games, (McDonald) has just been an outstanding player," Keefer said. "He's a senior, and he's playing like a senior. He's been with me for four years on the varsity and these are the best two games he's put in."

With Oden out, Keefer turned to freshman big men Chris Read and Stephan VanTreese. Read, making his first career start, scored four of the Wildcats' first six points but struggled with foul trouble much of the evening. Both players, however, provided the Wildcats with valuable minutes in the middle.

"Both those freshmen are special," Keefer said. "Any other year, I'd be starting them right away. I just happen to have a big guy named Greg Oden right now. Tonight, we just had some kids step up to replace Greg and we feel better about how our young kids are coming along."

Keefer said he doesn't expect Oden, who is averaging 21.6 points, 10.6 rebounds and 3.4 blocks per game, will miss the team's next game against Arlington on Wednesday.
Fort Wayne Snider1217511--45Lawrence North16211933--89

SNIDER -- Johnson 3-5 7-10 14, Hetrick 3-12 2-2 10, Young 2-7 4-4 8, Sims 2-15 0-0 5, Sneary 1-1 2-2 4, Berghoff 1-3 0-0 3, Tapp 0-0 1-4 1, Davis 0-3 0-0 0, Chambers 0-2 0-0 0, Belt 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 12 16-22 45.

LAWRENCE NORTH -- Conley 11-19 4-5 26, McDonald 9-12 0-0 20, Windham 7-10 0-0 14, Read 3-5 0-0 6, VanTreese 1-1 2-2 4, W. Smith 1-1 1-2 4, Bibbs 1-1 0-0 3, L. Smith 1-2 0-0 3, Jones 0-1 3-4 3, Weigel 1-1 0-0 3, Thomas 1-1 0-0 2, Owen 0-2 1-2 1. Totals: 36 11-15 89.

3-point shooting -- Snider 5-20 (Hetrick 2-6, Johnson 1-1, Sims 1-9, Berghoff 1-2, Davis 0-2.); Lawrence North 6-12 (McDonald 2-3, L. Smith 1-1, Weigel 1-1, W.Smith 1-1, Bibbs 1-1, Jones 0-1, Conley 0-4.). Rebounds -- Snider 21 (Johnson 8); LN 39 (Windham 8). Assists -- Snider 9 (Johnson 3); Lawrence North 20 (Windham 6). Turnovers -- Snider 15; Lawrence North 9. Total fouls -- Snider 16; Lawrence North 16. Fouled out -- VanTreese.

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12/15/05

lawrence north 81, arlington 55

Oden, Conley quiet Golden Knights

Conley has 10 steals, Oden 9 blocks as No. 1 Wildcats win 23rd straight
game

The last time Lawrence North played Arlington, Greg Oden had one of the most impressive defensive performances in Indiana high school basketball postseason history with 18 blocked shots.

In the rematch Wednesday night, his defensive numbers weren't quite as high, but he had some help.

Senior point guard Mike Conley had a career-high 10 steals and Oden blocked nine shots as the top-ranked Wildcats beat Arlington 81-55 at Lawrence North's gymnasium.

After missing one game with stitches in his mouth and a swollen jaw, the 7-foot Oden scored 23 points and pulled down 12 rebounds in 27 minutes to finish one block from a triple-double.

Conley had 11 points and seven assists to come close to a triple-double as well as the two-time defending Class 4A state champs improved to 7-0 and won their 23rd straight game.

"They add to everything they do," said coach Jack Keefer, who got his 500th victory at Lawrence North. "If Greg was just a defensive player . . . he's becoming a complete player.

"Mike's always been a complete player, but I couldn't get him to shoot enough to score, but I think we've got that solved. He's finding his spots and his times to score and still be a point guard, and that's important."

Lawrence North and Arlington (2-3) played a pair of hotly contested games last year. Arlington won 70-60 in December. But in a sectional semifinal, Oden's 18 blocked shots paved the way for a 60-45 Lawrence North win.

"They're a great team," said Oden, whose squad opened the year ranked No. 1 in the nation by Sports Illustrated. "The blocked shots? They're a driving team. They like to go inside, and when they go in, I get a lot of blocked shots."

Oden suffered a swollen jaw and six stitches after taking a blow to the face in last Thursday's 69-54 victory over Dayton (Ohio) Dunbar at Hinkle Fieldhouse. The stitches on the outside of his mouth have been removed, but he still has some on the inside of his left jaw.

He sat out Saturday's 89-45 victory over then-4A No. 6 Fort Wayne Snider as a precaution.

"I just tried to get my breathing down because I haven't really played in a week," Oden said. "I really just tried to play at my team's level because against Fort Wayne Snider, they were at a different level."

Oden started the game with a black mouth guard, but it was knocked out on a layup early and he played the rest of the game without it.

Lawrence North opened the game in a full-court press with Oden at the point. Conley had eight of his steals in the first half and all 10 before committing his first foul with 6:08 to play in the fourth quarter and Lawrence North up 67-46.

"They were running a lot of the plays we run, and we scouted that, so I knew where the ball was going a lot of the time," Conley said. "I was fortunate to be in the right spot sometimes."

Six-foot-6 junior Cory Torrence scored 18 points to lead Arlington while all five Lawrence North starters reached double figures.

Wednesday's game attracted local television (WHMB-40), the local ESPN radio affiliate and the Chicago Tribune. Oden and company will be on a big stage again Saturday as the headline game in a 12-team shootout at Southport High School that includes a number of nationally ranked teams and players.

Lawrence North faces Proviso East from Maywood, Ill., with 6-11 center Brian Carlwell, who has signed with Illinois.

Arlington14141611--55Lawrence North24182514--81

ARLINGTON -- Smith 3-8 2-4 8, Weeden 0-4 2-2 2, Hoke 2-2 0-2 4, Torrence 6-15 6-7 18, Freeman 2-6 1-2 6, Berryhill 1-1 0-1 2, Keeylen 0-4 2-2 2, Crawford 1-2 0-0 0, Beasley 1-5 0-0 2, Jackson 0-1 0-0 0, Squires 4-7 0-0 9, Brown 0-1 0-0 0, Brewer 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 20-56 13-20 55.

LAWRENCE NORTH -- Owen 5-8 2-3 12, McDonald 5-9 0-0 11, Conley 5-11 1-1 11, Windham 6-10 0-0 12, Oden 11-13 1-1 23, Bibbs 0-1 3-4 3, Jones 1-1 0-0 2, Weigel 0-0 0-0 0, W. Smith 0-0 0-0, Thomas 1-2 1-2 3, Read 2-2 0-0 4, VanTreese 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 36-57 8-11 81.

3-point shooting -- Arlington 2-9 (Smith 0-2, Weeden 0-2, Keeylen 0-1, Squires 1-3, Freeman 1-1), Lawrence North 1-9 (Bibbs 0-1, Owen 0-2, McDonald 1-4, Conley 0-4). Rebounds -- Arlington 26 (Squires 4), Lawrence North 37 (Oden 12). Assists -- Arlington 14 (Smith 6), Lawrence North 23 (Conley 7). Turnovers -- Arlington 18, Lawrence North 16. Officials -- Rob Couch, Greg Bowman, Dale Gurgle.

Call Star reporter Jeff Rabjohns at (317) 444-6183.

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12/16/05

The Circle City Classic takes center stage at Southport High School as Greg Oden highlights a stellar field of teams. Lawrence North will take on Proviso East and their star player, Brian Carlwell.

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12/16/05

More to these showdowns than Oden vs. Carlwell



December 16, 2005 BY MICHAEL O'BRIEN Staff Reporter


It's pretty difficult to overshadow Greg Oden.

For the last two seasons, Oden, Indianapolis Lawrence North's 7-foot center, has been the consensus "best amateur player in America.''

Most scouts believe he would have been the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft when he was a junior in high school.

Oden will battle Proviso East and 6-10 Illinois-bound center Brian Carlwell on Saturday night in the Circle City Classic at Indianapolis Southport.
Lawrence North (6-0) is the top-ranked team in Indiana and No. 4 ranked team in the nation.

Oden vs. Carlwell should be interesting, but it is not the reason there will be so many Illinois residents at Southport. The matchup that has fans buzzing centers on two of the top guards in the junior class.

No. 2 Simeon and Derrick Rose, the top recruiting target of Illinois coach Bruce Weber, will face Indianapolis North Central's Eric Gordon, Bruce Weber's top recruit and possibly the Illini's best recruit in 20 years.

"On a national level, Gordon is ranked higher than Dee Brown was,'' Roy Schmidt of Illinois Prep Bulls-Eye Report said. "You have to go back to either Jamie Brandon or Marcus Liberty to find an Illinois recruit with this national reputation.

"This is reaping the benefit of the Final Four. I would say it's a bigger get than anyone Bill Self brought in.''

Rose and Gordon are friends. After committing to Illinois, Gordon said convincing Rose to join him at Illinois was his "No. 1 priority.''
North Central (3-1) is ranked fifth in Indiana.

"We'll be going in blind, just like we did against Oak Hill,'' Simeon coach Robert Smith said. "The difference is that we've played three games now. [Gordon] can play from what I hear, and I know they lost to Indianapolis Pike.''

The Proviso East-Lawrence North matchup also will feature a guard showdown.

Lawrence North guard Mike Conley, an Ohio State recruit, is one of the top guards in the senior class and an excellent defender. He will have his hands full with the Pirates' Jacob Pullen, who seems to play well in Proviso's most important games and will be looking to prove himself on the national stage. mobrien@suntimes.com

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12/18/05

lawrence north 72, proviso east 59

Oden answers the challenge
Wildcats' 7-footer dominates Illinois signee with 31 points, 16 rebounds

Another center barked about challenging Greg Oden. Another center went home humbled.

Lawrence North's 7-footer dominated his latest antagonist, 6-11 Brian Carlwell, an Illinois recruit from perennial power Proviso East in the Chicago suburbs.

The reigning national high school Player of the Year scored 31 points to go with 16 rebounds and four blocked shots in a matchup of future Big Ten centers. Carlwell, ranked No. 40 in the senior class, had nine points, eight rebounds and one block as Lawrence North won the marquee matchup 72-59 in the Challenge of Champions Showcase.

Earlier in the week, Carlwell boasted to the Illinois media he was faster and more athletic than Oden, headed to Ohio State. The Lawrence North coaches posted the quotes on Oden's locker.

"I had to read it," said Oden, who shot 13-for-19 from the field, including hitting his developing hook shot. "They highlighted it for everybody to see. But I really didn't worry about it. I just wanted to come out and play a good game and get a win."

Approximately 6,500 fans filled most of Southport High School's gym for the final two games of the 12-team event, including large groups of orange-clad Illinois fans and Illini coach Bruce Weber.

Proviso East (6-2), ranked No. 6 among Illinois large schools, played to take away Oden's jumper, and Class 4A No. 1 Lawrence North (7-0) countered with lobs inside. Oden powered past defenders at times, and when they played behind him, he often used his quickness to spin around them for dunks.

"It was a great challenge," said Oden, who limped off the court and was out briefly in the first quarter after getting tangled up under the basket. "What I'm looking at now, when I think about him, is that I'm going to see him for the next four years because he's going to Illinois."

At the end of the third quarter, Lawrence North led 59-42. Carlwell had five points and five rebounds. Oden had 24 and 11.

"He dominated," said Lawrence North point guard Mike Conley, who added 14 points and 11 assists. "I don't know if anybody can stop him. I don't know why anybody would say they're faster than he is or anything because that just motivates him even more."

"He did everything they said he was going to do," Carlwell said. "It wasn't anything different. I have to continue to get better. If I don't, then this will happen again next time I play him."

Call Star reporter Jeff Rabjohns at (317) 444-6183.
Proviso East16161017--59Lawrence North20211813--72

Proviso East-- Jones 1-3 0-0 2, Fuqua 6-16 1-4 14, Carlwell 4-10 1-4 9, Pullen 8-17 5-6 26, Stanback 1-7 0-0 2, Brown 0-0 0-0 0, Ross 1-3 0-0 2, Ankum 0-0 0-0 0, Woods 2-7 0-0 4. Totals: 23-63 7-14 59.

Lawrence North -- Owen 1-1 2-5 4, Windham 4-11 0-0 8, Oden 13-19 5-8 31, McDonald 5-9 0-0 13, Conley 5-11 3-5 14, Thomas 0-1 0-0 0, Read 1-2 0-0 2, Van Treese 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 29-54 10-18 72.

3-point shooting--Proviso East 6-18 (Fuqua 1-4, Pullen 5-10, Stanback 0-3, Ross 0-1); Lawrence North 4-9 (McDonald 3-5, Conley 1-3, Thomas 0-1).
Rebounds-- Proviso East 32 (Carlwell 8); Lawrence North 41 (Oden 16).

Turnovers--Proviso East 11; Lawrence North 13. Assists--Proviso East 12 (Pullen 5); Lawrence North 15 (Conley 11). Total fouls-- Proviso East 18; Lawrence North 16. Officials--Pat Strong, Mike Ward, Darren Wright.

Star reporter Kristen Leigh Porter contributed to this story.

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Originally Posted by bucknuts44820

"What I'm looking at now, when I think about him, is that I'm going to see him for the next four years because he's going to Illinois."

We could only wish