Lincoln Park’s second-floor health club is so small that the followers within the first row have the ideas of their toes inbounds. The shut quarters make it one of many loudest basketball experiences within the metropolis. It’s sizzling and intense and uncomfortable for opposing groups.
Or at the very least it’s speculated to be. Young’s DJ Steward, a Duke recruit, thought it was enjoyable.
“This is my first time coming to Lincoln Park and playing in this gym,” Steward stated. “I’ve never experienced anything like this, it was really fun. I just went out there and had a great time, pulled out the W and snapped the streak.”
Steward scored 21 factors and grabbed 5 rebounds to steer the No. 5 Dolphins to a 56-50 win in opposition to No. 10 Lincoln Park.
The Lions had crushed Young in convention the final two years and had been using excessive after an enormous win at Orr earlier within the week.
“We did a really good job of containing those jump shot shooters,” Dolphins coach Tyrone Slaughter stated. “When they are at home they really are electric when they are making shots.”
Young (4-2, 4-0 Red-North/West) by no means trailed. Sangolay Njie, a 6-Eight senior, offered the Dolphins with a serious presence within the submit. He scored six factors, grabbed a game-high eight rebounds and defended Lincoln Park’s 6-8 Romelle Howard.
“That’s my guy, I played AAU with him so I knew how to play him,” Njie stated. “We just had to pay attention to detail. He turns over his right shoulder a lot so I just defended that and tried to shut him down.”
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Howard had eight factors and 7 rebounds. Junior guard Ismail Habib led the Lions (7-2, 3-1) with 18 factors and Julio Montes added 10.
“Ismail and Julio are really great players, they are young,” Steward stated. “They are going to be really good next year. They will have a good chance to win a championship next year.”
Senior Tyler Beard scored 13 and grabbed 4 rebounds for younger and junior Jaeshon Thomas, a switch from Aurora Christian, helped Young begin sizzling by scoring eight within the first quarter.
“We really had to come out aggressive,” Njie stated. “We knew that environment was going to be hasty so we had to come out tenacious. We were ready to rebound and defend and ready to get grimy.”
Howard picked up a technical foul within the second quarter with Lincoln Park trailing 25-22. It resulted in a six-point possession for Young.
“I knew when it happened it was going to be big,” Gordon stated. “I simply told Romelle in a game like this we can’t give points away. We need every point we can get. He understood. He’s a passionate guy just competing.”
Young will head to Myrtle Beach and Florida for its subsequent a number of video games. The Dolphins don’t play once more within the space till a house sport in opposition to Westinghouse on January 8.
Lincoln Park seemingly isn’t on board with Steward’s assertion that it’ll compete for titles subsequent yr. The Lions turned some heads with their win at Orr this week.
“We feel great with where we are at now,” Gordon stated. “We have one of the best defenses in the state when it comes down to guarding straight man to man. That is what is going to win championships for us.”