Waukegan senior Carson Newsome received an honorary basketball prior to Wednesday’s home game against Lake Forest.
It was a way to recognize the 6-foot-5 guard for reaching 1,000 points in his career earlier this season.
“That was pretty cool,” Newsome said.
Newsome kept up the scoring against the Scouts. He finished with a team-high 16 points in the Bulldogs’ 55-47 North Suburban victory.
“We had great walk-throughs, college-type walk-throughs, and we came into this game prepared,” Newsome said.
Newsome scored 11 points in the third quarter for Waukegan (18-8, 10-4).
“What he’s done this second semester, and particularly in February, he has really committed to both ends of the floor,” Bulldogs coach Ron Ashlaw said. “It has made a difference in the success we’ve had recently. He is willing and eager to commit to the defensive end.
“He’s played good defense for us throughout the season, but he’s committed to it possession after possession and it’s made us all better.”
Sophomore Bryant Brown scored 13 points for Waukegan. Senior DeShawn Davidson added nine. The Bulldogs, who have won four straight, honored their eight seniors before the game.
“(Davidson is) playing lights out,” Ashlaw said. “And all our seniors are helping, like Deandre White, who didn’t play a lot of minutes, but was an incredible teammate day after day. He won the NSL sportsmanship award. He’s our best teammate, by far.”
Justin McMahon scored 17 points to lead Lake Forest (11-15, 7-7). Reed Thomas had eight.
“We got going a little too fast at times and they turned us over,” Lake Forest coach Phil LaScala said. “They got us going out of control and they did a good job of getting us out of our tempo. That was a huge key, them getting some easy run-outs.”
Waukegan led 21-17 at halftime. Newsome scored the first point of the third quarter, a free throw, to get on a roll. He finished the quarter by making an acrobatic shot while getting fouled.
“Newsome is a nice player — he can do some things,” LaScala said. “He hit a couple of step-backs that were some big-time shots.”
The Bulldogs extended their lead to 40-28 early in the fourth quarter. Lake Forest got within 51-47 late, but Waukegan made four free throws in the final 30 seconds to hold on for the victory.
“Our arrows are pointed up,” Ashlaw said. “We have a lot we can still improve on. What I’m most proud of is how we’ve really internalized what it is what we are trying to do collectively.
“It’s not just, ‘Do this because coach told me.’ We’re processing it and internalizing it.”
Twitter @lamondpope
