King coach Culumber Ball repeatedly told his team before playing North Lawndale to disregard their record because they were a much better team than it indicated.
The Jaguars did not take heed and Phoenix responded with a 66-59 upset victory in the first round of the Public League playoffs at King.
The Jaguars led after each of the first three quarters and held a 26-20 halftime lead. The Phoenix (12-12) rallied with tenacious defense to force 13 turnovers in the third quarter while cutting the lead to 41-40.
Fred Simms scored two consecutive baskets to ignite North Lawndale’s 10-2 run at the beginning of the fourth quarter. The Phoenix used to the run to climb out to a 50-43 lead with 4:30 remaining in the game.
King wouldn’t get any closer than five points throughout the remainder of the game.
Simms led all scorers with 21 points, scoring 17 in the second half. He also grabbed ten rebounds. Simms helped to close the game out down the stretch by sinking four consecutive free throws.
North Lawndale coach Louis Thorpe said this was a total team victory with Simms leading the way.
“Simms came up big for us in the second half,” North Lawndale coach Lewis Thorpe said.
Thorpe also singled out two players that came off the bench and played pivotal roles — Brandon Marshall, who had nine points and nine steals and Wendell Anderson who had seven points, five rebounds and six steals — along with Montrell Brown, who registered 16 points and 12 rebounds.
Simms said his teammates and coaches kept encouraging him after a very shaky first half. “My team had my back,” Simms said. “I couldn’t do anything in the first half and they continued to encourage me. I’m glad I came through.”
Coach Ball said the game was no surprise. “They are who I thought they were,” Ball said. “They are a tough, hardnose, [gritty], never-quit West Side team. We did not respond to their tenacity and lost a game we should have won.”
Jessie Young led King (16-7) with 16 points and Jabari Antwine finished with 13.
