Facing a big day, Lawrence North turned to its big man. And he delivered, in perfect fashion.
Greg Oden didn't miss a shot from the field in the two games of the Class 4A regional March 11 at Hinkle Fieldhouse, leading the top-ranked Wildcats past their toughest challenger and within two victories of tying a pair of hallowed state records.
The 7-foot center was 12-for-12 from the field and 5-for-5 from the line for a game-high 29 points as Lawrence North survived its third meeting with No. 2 Pike, 63-57 in the title game. He added nine rebounds, five blocked shots and four assists while playing all 32 minutes.
"This is a great regional," said Greg Oden, who is headed to Ohio State along with point guard Mike Conley. "You have to be on your best game this day."
Lawrence North (27-0) pushed its winning streak to 43 games, two short of the 50-year-old state record held by Oscar Robertson-led Crispus Attucks. The Wildcats face Bloomington South (21-5) on March 18 in the semistate at Southport . Lawrence North won 60-50 Feb. 17 at Bloomington South.
The Wildcats also are trying to tie Franklin (1920-22) and Marion (1985-87) as the only teams to win three consecutive state titles.
In addition to his offense, Greg Oden anchored a defense that held Pike 28 points below its average.
"He comes to play in big games, and today was two big games," said Conley, who added 12 points, five assists and five rebounds. "I think he stepped up and led us to victory."
Junior Damian Windham had 14 points and five rebounds, and Brandon McDonald added two points and seven assists for the Wildcats, who had 21 assists on 26 baskets. Q. Owen tossed in six points.
Pike (21-4) kept getting closer to Lawrence North in the three meetings this season, losing by 13, seven and six. The final two are the closest games of the year for the Wildcats.
"We knew tonight's game, especially from Lawrence North's perspective, was the state championship," Pike coach Larry Bullington said Saturday. "There's nobody else that can touch them. Playing with five guards, we had them sweating, but the big fella, he's going to be on TV on Sundays and have a great career in the NBA."
Each of the past five years, either Pike or Lawrence North has emerged from the Hinkle Regional to play in the Class 4A state title game.
"I think this is the hardest day of basketball in the nation," Lawrence North coach Jack Keefer said. "We're expected to play two teams that are well coached, two teams that are very good, in the same day with what, three to four hours rest? To get through today was a major obstacle course."
The Wildcats, winners of 19 consecutive postseason games, haven't allowed more than 47 points this year in the playoffs.
It may have been the final game for Bullington, who announced before the season he was retiring. But he allowed after the game that he might "re-evaluate down the line."
Lawrence North scored 48 points in the paint against Pike, but the Red Devils answered by shooting 13-for-23 from 3-point range. Senior guard Reece Cheatham shot 7-for-10 from behind the arc and scored 24 points.
Pike was within 34-30 in the third quarter, but Lawrence North made a run and the Red Devils couldn't get any closer than five the rest of the way.
