Boys Basketball

December 29, 2006

Lane Stomps Ridgewood

Lane 63

Ridgewood 56

The first round of most holiday basketball tournaments usually do not produce close games. Lane Tech's first game of the Luther North Holiday Tournament was an exception as Lane Tech beat Ridgewood 63-56 in the first round of the 42nd annual Luther North Boys Basketball Holiday Classic.

Lane Tech played the game without forward/center Cameron Hill who according to Lane head coach Leroy Jarka: "sat out due to academic reasons ...but he will return back to play after the holidays." This means, Lane will be without the services of Hill during the remainder of the Luther North Holiday Tournament.

Ridgewood of Norridge jumped to a 15-10 lead at the end of the first quarter and a 27-25 halftime lead. Ridgewood first half lead was fueled by 5 of 6 team 3 point shooting in the first half. Ridgewood guard Mike Alongi hit three three pointers in teh first half to spark Ridgewood. However, in the second half, Lane stepped it up on both sides of the court. In the the third quarter Lane out scored Ridgewood 21-8 to take a 46-39 lead going into the 4th quarter. Lane iced the game on a Lalo Bellamy tip in with 3:40 remaining to put Lane comfortably ahead 57-45. Ridgewood could not properly withstand the Lane Tech full court press which caused numerous turnovers and the offensive attack by Lane's Shelton Jackson.

Lane was led by Shelton Jackson's 21 points. Ridgewood's Raf Lizak scored 17 points to lead the Rebels.

Lane plays Stagg in the second round on Friday, December 28 at 6:30pm. Pre-Tournament favorite and Luther North Holiday Tournament defending champion Stagg easily got by St. Benedict in their first round game as they started out the game on a 20-0 and cruised from there. Stagg is now 8-3 with their only losses  were a 4 point loss to Richards, a 4 point overtime loss to Senn in the championship game of the Stagg Thanksgiving tournament, and a 10 point loss to basketball power Proviso West.

 Lane Tech in action vs. Ridgewood