SOUTHPORT- Keion Brooks Jr. transferred from Fort Wayne North to La Lumiere to play against the best competition as often as possible. He’s one of the best players in the country and its critical that he’s pushed by great competition. Playing at a prep school allows that to happen more often than not.
He and his teammates rolled into Southport Gymnasium on Saturday night to holler at Center Grove and Trayce Jackson-Davis, the recent Indiana signee. There was hype for weeks because they’re so highly ranked. When the smoke cleared La Lumiere walked out of the joint with a 62-48 win.
Not 24 hours after getting the brakes blown off of them at Pike by 40 points Center Grove showed up to the Tip off Classic with a new sense of urgency. Maybe they were looking past the Red Devils and just didn’t see that bus coming? However, they weren’t about to get ran over two nights in a row.
They came right out of the ride doing work as they jumped on top of the Lakers 10-6. La Lumiere seemed confused getting out of the car because they just couldn’t get into a rhythm in the first quarter. Trayce Jackson-Davis set the tone early on both the offensive and defense ends of the floor.
However, La Lumiere opened the 2nd quarter on an 8-0 run to change the momentum. Shots started falling as they were off to the races. Keon Brooks had 12 of La Lumiere’s 23 points at the half as they were all knotted up 23-23.
Big Momma must have gone into both locker rooms at the break and went off because they both came out ready to run and gun. It was 42-39 La Lumiere at the end of the third quarter!!! That’s NUTS!!! A 19 point third quarter by the Lakers seemed to take Center Grove’s confidence away from them.
La Lumiere went on an 8-0 run and never looked back. They continued to pound the rock inside to Isaiah Stewart because he was way too much for boyz to handle down the stretch. He finished with 22 points. While they were trying to find answers for Stewart, Keion Brooks Jr. was giving them the blues from the perimeter as well as lighting them up from inside. He finished with a smooth 22 points as well.
Trayce Jackson-Davis dropped off 18 in a losing effort but he held his own against the two headed monster from La Lumiere. Stop me when I start lyin’!