There was more than just crosstown bragging rights on the line Friday night for Oak Lawn senior Davion Lawrence.
The 6-foot-5 center was matched up against Richards star forward Deven Jiles, who also happens to be his cousin.
“I’ve looked forward to this game since the start of the season,” Lawrence said. “Him and I have been playing against each other since we were little.
“The whole time we’ve been playing basketball, we’ve been going against each other. So, I was really excited for this one.”
Lawrence got the better of his cousin and led the Spartans to a huge South Suburban Red win, putting together a monster game with 31 points and 10 rebounds as visiting Oak Lawn held on for a 51-50 victory over the Bulldogs.
Johnny McGowan added six points and seven rebounds for Oak Lawn (15-4, 7-1), while Isaiah Thompson pulled down 11 rebounds.
Lavell Nash scored 13 points and Greg Miller had 12 for Richards (10-9, 4-5).
“It means a lot,” Lawrence said. “This is the biggest rivalry in Oak Lawn. It means so much to me. Me and my team went out there and battled to the last horn.”
The Spartans needed to fight to the final whistle as the Bulldogs rallied from a 13-point deficit in the third quarter and briefly led.
Nash scored on a putback for Richards with 20 seconds left to force a 49-49 tie, but Lawrence was fouled on the other end and hit both free throws.
In the closing seconds, Richards’ Santiago Rios caught the Spartans off guard on a baseline inbound pass, bouncing it off the back of a defender and catching it himself, then drawing a foul.
Rios made the first free throw but missed the second and Samuel Cain’s attempt at the buzzer rimmed out after an offensive rebound.
The win gives the Spartans, who have not won a conference championship in over 35 years, a four-game lead atop the SSC Red with five games to go.
“We have these alumni meetings every year and everyone is asking, ‘When are you going to do it? When are you going to do it?'” Oak Lawn coach Jason Rhodes said of winning the SSC Red title. “We’ve been the bridesmaid a few too many times.
“This was a big one to take a commanding lead. We still have some big games and some formidable opponents left.”
Lawrence led the way Friday.
“In my opinion, he’s one of the best big men in Illinois,” McGowan said. “Just to see him grow means a lot. He’s put in the time and he deserves to be here. It’s great seeing him do it because he’s one of my best friends.”
Last season, Oak Lawn’s loss to Richards cost the Spartans the conference championship. McGowan has not forgotten.
“Every night I’ve gone to sleep since that game, I’ve thought about it,” McGowan said. “So, this means more than you could imagine. I know everyone on that team. We go way back, so it just means more.”
Jiles and Ladarius Kelley each had eight points for Richards, but Lawrence got Jiles in foul trouble and limited his time on the court.
Oak Lawn led 34-21 midway through the third quarter, but the Bulldogs battled back behind Nash, who hit two 3-pointers and three free throws late in the third.
“We had our chances at the end,” Richards coach Kyle Rathbun said. “When you miss seven free throws, it’s tough. We missed a few big ones in the fourth quarter.
“Effort-wise, there’s nothing to complain about. We played really hard.”
Steve Millar is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
