My View/Your View: Lawrence North's Losses Could be Other's Gains

Some thisa and thata as we look down the road to the start of the 2009-10 Indiana high school basketball season, with practice starting for girls on Oct. 26 and for boys on Nov. 9:

• If you’re like me and are an avid basketball fan, then you are probably wondering what the impact will be with the losses of 6-foot-9 Dominique Ferguson and 6-7 Justin Martin, who left Lawrence North High School to attend college prep boarding schools?

Consider this: The Wildcats could not win a state championship last season with them in the lineup, and I’m guessing it’ll be hard to win one his year without them.

Ferguson is a tremendous talent. He reminded me a lot of former NBA Chicago Bulls great Scottie Pippen. Dom was a slashing driver in the lane and had a knack for rolling the ball off his fingertips above the net. He also handled the ball on the dribble quite well against pressure defense from the guard position. Martin was an excellent outside shooter, especially from 3-point range, and it’s possible his absence will be felt the most.

Ferguson was the top-rated player in Hoosier land by some scouting services that rate players. Based on that, one might think he would have been the front-runner for Indiana’s Mr. Basketball title.

North Central’s Terone Johnson, who has committed to play at Purdue University, and Fort Wayne Luers’ 6-6 Deshaun Thomas, who has led Luers to back-to-back 2A state titles, would rank as my early favorites to wear that No. 1 jersey.

I think that the 6-2 Johnson, explosive off the dribble and a terrific 3-point shooter, is the best player pound for pound. Still, North Central must win a tough Class 4A sectional this season to enhance Johnson’s chances. With the improved play of D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera, who was a fabulous freshman in 2008, you have to like North Central’s chances.

Luers, meanwhile, has won two straight 2A state titles. Certainly another championship would add to the Thomas' credentials.

Meanwhile, getting back to Ferguson and Martin, one opposing coach told me, “Both are great athletes, but Lawrence North will find someone to replace them. They always seem to find a way.’’

Well, we can only wait and see if this time is one of those times.

• The Ben Davis High School girls basketball program, which should be solid for a few more years to come, got a boost in the arm before the start of school this year that should help add to the Giants' success. Yep, in my humble opinion, naming Joe Lentz as the Northwest side school’s junior varsity girls coach is like hitting the jackpot or snatching the brass ring. Lentz, though fired as Center Grove’s varsity coach in February for whatever reason, is a very good basketball coach, who had a solid record in his 15 seasons at Center Grove.

I mean, look at his record: 256 wins, 90 losses. Are you kidding me, Center Grove! What’s up with that? Ben Davis posted an Indiana high school girls basketball record of 30 wins in an unbeaten season that produced the Class 4A state championship, and earned the team and coach Stan Benge national honors. The team, you’ll recall, was named No. 1 by USA Today and Benge, of course, was selected national high school girls Coach of the Year.

• Here aremy early predictions for the Class 4A titles. Look for the Ben Davis girls to repeat and the North Central boys to win the school’s first boys basketball title since 1999.

Yeah, I know, I really went out on the limb, eh?

Still, a little Lady Luck will be needed. That Arlington Sectional will be an oh-so-difficult field for the Panthers to claw their way through.

As to some other girls teams, I don’t think Heritage Christian, which graduated three four-year starters, will have enough talent to make it five state titles in a row. I’m not saying the Eagles can’t, I just don’t think it’s a likely scenario. Five in a row? That’s asking a lot. This could be the year that Oak Hill, which has lost in the final game each of the past two seasons, finally cuts down the nets.

Mark Morrow is an online columnist for VYPE High School Sports Magazine, Central Indiana. He can be reached at mediamarko@sbcglobal.net or by leaving a comment.