The Lincoln Park High School Lions boys varsity team had its home opener on Mar. 3, against North Lawndale in another down-to-the-wire affair. This time it was the visiting North Lawndale Pheonix that would edge the home team for a 61-58 victory.
No opening game jitters in this one. Both teams came out running and scoring. Lincoln Park jumped out to a 23-12 first quarter lead largely by senior center Sincere Malone controlling the boards.
Lincoln Park lead 42-35 at the half.
North Lawndale battled back in the second half eventually taking a 57-56 lead with 4:24 left in the fourth quarter.
“In the second half, we ran into a little foul trouble with our big fellow [senior center Sincere Malone] in the first half,” said new Lincoln Park head coach Antwon Jennings.
“We adjusted. We went from playing man-to-man to zone, just trying to give them a different look,” Jennings added. “We were just out of position. [North Lawndale’s] second chance shots killed us.”
Even after losing its lead the Lions battled the Phoenix in back-and-forth action late in the fourth.
Lincoln Park was in position to tie several times late in the game only done three in the last minute. The Lions had two open looks to tie late but two three pointers missed. A turned over by Lincoln Park with 15 seconds remaining sealed the victory for North Lawndale.
When asked what he told his players after missing two shots to tie, Jennings said, “Keep shooting the ball. I feel like I’ve got two of the best shooters in the City in Chris [Hammonds] and Julio [Montes].
“I told Julio I will live with him taking those shots. You gotta take ‘em,” Jennings added. “I wouldn’t do it any different.”
Final was North Lawndale 61, Lincoln Park 58.
This is something of a disappointing 0-2 start to the season for Lincoln Park who had a blowout loss to Whitney Young on Feb. 26. Antwon Jennings comes to Lincoln Park this year from the staff of Morgan Park under legendary coach Nick Irvin. Coach Jennings spent years under Coach Irvin including Morgan Park’s two 3A state championships.
Nevertheless, the future is bright for the Lions who take on archrival Lane Tech on Friday, March 5, at Lane.
