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King Lets It Get Away In OT

Tribune photo by JASON BEHNKEN

Chicago North Lawndale Terry Johnson, #10, is fouled by King High School's Chauncey Day, #20, during the 2nd half.

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By SCOTT PURKS

Tribune Correspondent

Published: December 27, 2008

TAMPA - The line between frustration and elation was as slim as Friday's final overtime score: Chicago North Lawndale Charter 59, Tampa King 55.

The game - one of eight played in Friday's first round of the Tampa Hoops Classic at Jefferson and Plant high schools - marked the first time King has lost this season. And as King coach Sam Lanier pointed out, it was the first time the Lions have allowed more than 48 points in a game.

That fact led Lanier to more frustration, because King (6-1) would have won 50-48 if not for a 10-foot Lawndale jumper with two seconds remaining to send the game to overtime.

"I have to say that, once again, we played great defense," Lanier said. "I can't fault our effort on the defensive end, especially when you consider Lawndale, ranked No. 1 in Chicago, was averaging about 80 points a game."

Lanier said that what most disturbed him was "too many turnovers and too many missed free throws."

King made only 10 of 18 from the free-throw line, including a miss with 14 seconds left in regulation. If King would have made that free throw, Lawndale (4-0) probably would have had to make a 3-pointer on its final possession to win.

"Free throws," Lanier said, shaking his head, "are definitely something we're going to work on."

The good news, he said, is that King should improve from the experience.

"We haven't faced a team with that much speed," he said. "It was something we had to adjust to, and sometimes Lawndale's speed caused us problems."

Nonetheless, the Lions had the upper hand through most of the game, leading 27-19 at the half and 42-35 after three quarters.

In fact, it wasn't until there was less than 4 minutes remaining that Lawndale took its first lead since the first quarter when it went up 46-44 on a 3-pointer.

Within the next minute, however, King took back the lead on a couple of nice inside plays by Toarlyn Fitzpatrick, who had a game-high 20 points.

King, like the other 16 teams in the tournament, will play again today, though in a loser's bracket game with no hope of making a run at the tournament title. The tournament champion must win all four of its games.

"No question we let one get away today," Lanier said. "No question about that."

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