Chris Lawrence Scores Career High 21 Points in Roadrunner Loss

According to his mother, Darlene, Chris Lawrence battled an illness all of Christmas vacation.

Indeed, at times, the senior forward looked winded on the court. However, he stayed out of foul trouble and ended up scoring 21 points. Unfortunately for Loma Linda Academy, his heroics could not overcome the visiting Ontario Christian Knights having three players in double figures in a 72-54 loss for the home team.

The Roadrunners jumped to a 13-6 first quarter lead as Nick Dalida came off the bench with seven points, including a three-pointer. The Knights looked sluggish as they missed myriads of shots and allowed four steals during a six minute scoring drought. Kevin Ross scored all six of the Knights' points in the quarter.

Ontario Christian reasserted itself in the second period led by Ross with seven points. Although the rest of the team didn't score a field goal until half way through the period, the Knights were 6 of 8 from the foul line including a technical foul called when an LLA player entered the game with a jersey number that differed from what was entered in the official score book. Keith Stewart picked up his second foul limiting his effectiveness the rest of the game. At the half, Ontario Christian had eked out a 26-23 lead.

The Knights kept charging in the third period as Ross continued to get penetration down the lane. Brandon Zuidema benefitted from Ross passes getting seven points mostly from short jumpers in the lane. Chris Lawrence led LLA with six points, but the lead had grown to 46-35 at the end of the period.

The final period gradually turned into a street ball game as the Knights ran past the Roadrunners. Cameron Levise and Zuidema each had 9 points as both coaches left their starters in despite the differential climbing to 20 points. Chris Lawrence led LLA with seven points and Dante Thomson had a spectacular strip leading to a breakaway layup.

The Knights relied on Ross (25 points), Zuidema (20 points) and Levise (16 points) for 61 of their 72 points.

Thomson finished the game with 13 points, six steals, three assists and no turnovers.

Chris Lawrence finished with 21 points and eight rebounds. He had spurts of tremendous effort with numerous drives from the baseline and reverse layups. 
"I haven't had a game like that since junior high," Lawrence said when informed about his stats at the end of the game.

"That is the kind of game we knew Chris can play when he is determined," said Assistant Coach Todd Ewing. This came from a player whose mother intends to take him to Urgent Care tomorrow for his flu.

LLA (4-6, 1-2) may get a chance to find out what Chris can do when he is healthier on Thursday, Jan. 5 at Calvary Murrieta.