Morgan Park torches Bogan after power outage delay

Bogan coach Arthur Goodwin was one of the first people over to help Morgan Park’s Aaron Leftridge while he was sitting on the court, bleeding from the nose after a collision late in the game on Tuesday.

Bogan’s gym on the southwest side is hot and loud and stuffy, so Goodwin went over to open a window to let some air in for Leftridge. He accidentally turned off the gym lights. When he tried to switch them back on the circuit breaker blew. That left the Bogan gym dark for 15 minutes. Both teams left the gym and went back into their locker rooms.

All of this happened right after Bogan’s Bryce Barnes scored and was fouled. Bogan led by three and Barnes was at the free-throw line. He missed the free throw after the break and then things really got wild.

Morgan Park guard Charlie Moore drained an NBA-length three-pointer off an assist from Marcus “Bright Lights” LoVett with 10 seconds to play. Then LoVett stole the ball on the inbounds play and drained a jumper right before the buzzer to give the Mustangs a miraculous 75-73 win over the host Bengals.

“I saw I may have been able to steal it,” LoVett said. “And I knew I would only have a couple of seconds to get (a shot) off.”

Goodwin had no sympathy for Barnes shooting the free throw cold.

“It’s basketball,” Goodwin said. “I don’t care if it’s 20 minutes. They got lucky. Morgan Park didn’t beat us, we beat ourselves.”

LoVett scored 25 points and Moore finished with 29 and four assists. LoVett guarded Bogan star Luwane Pipkins for most of the game.

“I had to,” LoVett said. “I tried to guard him as best I could.”

Pipkins scored 21 and James Jones added 18 points and seven rebounds for the No. 9 Bengals (14-5, 4-3 Red-South).

“The thing about Bogan is they will find a way to let you back in the game,” Irvin said.

Antonio Thomas, Bogan’s starting center, is suspended for a violation of team rules. Goodwin said he may return this season. Barnes finished with 12 points and Tom Johnson added nine.

“I wanted to play with the lights off,” Morgan Park coach Nick Irvin said. “I teach my players to play in dark alleys.”

Jamal Burton scored eight and grabbed a game-high eight rebounds for No. 6 Morgan Park (12-5, 5-2). LoVett and Moore combined to score all 22 of the Mustangs’ fourth quarter points.

“Charlie is big time,” Irvin said. “He’s the best point guard in the class. He deserves some respect.”

Bogan hasn’t had the season it expected so far, but it could face Morgan Park two more times, in the city and state playoffs.

LoVett’s recruitment continues to heat up. Assistant coaches from Florida State, Georgia Tech and Pitt were in attendance. He’s also considering Illinois, St. John’s, Tennessee, Iowa and DePaul.

“There’s probably going to be more coming,” LoVett said. “I’m just taking it one day at a time.”