The first half left fans across the country wondering why Greg Oden is ranked the No. 1 prospect from the class of 2006. The second half left little doubt.

The 7-foot, 245-pound center scored 14 of his 16 points and took charge in the final two quarters, sparking Lawrence North High to a 56-40 win over Poplar Bluff (Mo.) High and UNC-signee Tyler Hansbrough in a nationally-televised game in Indianapolis Thursday night.

Lawrence North, a perennial power loaded with future Division-I players and located in northeast Indianapolis, pulled away down the stretch, finishing the game on a 14-0 run.

After struggling to make an early impact on offense and looking tired in the first two quarters, Oden took control. The big man, who many analysts say would be the No. 1 pick in the next NBA draft if he was eligible, finished 7-of-9 from the field. He threw down three emphatic, two-handed dunks, including a powerful alley-oop.

The highly-anticipated game was billed as showdown between Hansbrough and Oden, but the two prep stars rarely guarded one another. Oden did swat away a short jumper by Hansbrough in the first quarter.

Hansbrough, a 6-foot-9, 230-pound power forward who is ranked the No. 8 prospect from the class of 2005 by Rivals.com, finished with 16 points and produced a handful of highlights, including three dunks of his own. He played all 32 minutes.

Ben Hansbrough, Tyler’s younger brother, scored 14.

Lawrence North point guard Mike Conley, who is ranked the No. 35 prospect in the class of 2006, had eight points and delivered a key three-point play that put his team up 50-40. Conley is heavily leaning towards Wake Forest.