Orr found itself having to regroup on Wednesday after forfeiting its last three victories due to playing an ineligible player.
The forfeits eliminated the first-place Spartans, who held the tiebreaker with Young for the Red-West title.
Orr bounced back with a 57-45 victory over visiting Urban Prep-West.
The No. 18 Spartans could only wonder what if as they closed conference play.
Orr coach Louis Adams said it was unfortunate but his concern is getting his team ready for the Class 3A state playoffs.
The Spartans defense completely shut down the Lions’ high scoring guard Jaquan Johnson — limiting him to only six points, 17 below his average. Orr also held a distinctive rebound advantage and forced 20 turnovers.
Orr took the game over in the second half as it opened up the third quarter with a 12-3 run and took a 40-29 lead late in the third quarter on a basket by freshman center Reakwon Drake.
Urban Prep-West had no answer for the Spartans in the post as three consecutive baskets by Donnell Williams and Daryl Curry gave them a 50-34 with 4:52 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Drake led Orr with a team high 19 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks. Curry added 15 points and Williams finished with 12 with eight rebounds.
Adams was especially pleased with his freshman center. “There is not a better freshman in the state of Illinois than Drake,” Adams said.
Coach Adams said he was well aware of the Lions’ high-scoring offense. “[Johnson] is the guy that makes them go. We wanted to be sure he didn’t get going because they feed off him.”
Steven Ross picked up the scoring slack for Urban Prep-West with a game-high of 21 points and David Person added 12.
Lions coach Latroy Farrow said these are the games that his team has to learn to play. “They sped us up and made us play at their tempo,” Farrow said. “This is the first time some of our young players have played in this type of tense atmosphere and it will only make us better.”
