When Oak Lawn’s Henry Martinez stepped up to free-throw line Friday night, the senior forward made sure that he cleared his mind and concentrated on just one thing.

It was one word. And one word only.

“Normally, I’m not a good free-throw shooter, but during the summer, my coach told me I should always say something in my head,” Martinez said. “When I’m in a gym that is crowded, I do that and it’s like no one is even there.

“I could be in a gym that is silent and it’s the same thing. In my head, I said ‘swish.’ I just kept saying ‘swish.’”

And swish it was.

Twice.

The only two free throws Martinez attempted came with six seconds left and were the difference for the Spartans in a 68-66 South Suburban Red victory over Evergreen Park.

Martinez was a force with 20 points, nine rebounds and five blocked shots for Oak Lawn (8-0, 3-0). The home fans stormed the court after the Mustangs missed a shot at the end.

Junior guard Donte Montgomery added 18 points for the Spartans, including 16 in the first half. Junior guard Ali Farhan came off the bench to chip in with 11 points.

Keshaun Vaval led Evergreen Park (5-2, 1-2) with 22 points. Tre Dowdell added 17 points, while Billy Buchanan had 14 points, 16 rebounds and two blocked shots.

There’s a difference of opinion on how the 6-foot-5 Martinez has been playing lately.

“I haven’t had that much confidence the last couple of games,” Martinez said. “My coach told me, ‘This is your game.’

“I just didn’t have enough confidence to attack the basket that much. But my coaches inspired me to go after it.”

Oak Lawn coach Jason Rhodes, however, did not agree with Martinez on his recent performances.

“He could have fooled me,” Rhodes said. “I thought he was our best big on the floor in our win against Hillcrest last week. I guess he is pretty tough on himself.

“They didn’t have an answer for him (Friday), and he was awesome all night long.”

It appeared this showdown was going to feature two unbeaten teams as Oak Lawn raced off to a 7-0 start to the season.

But after five victories, Evergreen Park suffered a hiccup with a 71-70 loss to Oak Forest in an SSC crossover Tuesday that counts in the standings.

The Mustangs trailed 44-30 at halftime before mounting a comeback that saw them take the lead with 3:18 left in the game.

Despite missing Corey Lee, who fouled out in the middle of the final quarter, and Jack Dempsey, who suffered a leg injury in the quarter, the Spartans were still pulled off the win.

Farhan, though, sparked the team throughout when Lee was in foul trouble. He was wearing a new set of Jordan Tatum 1 Pure Money shoes he was given for reaching $2,500 in a team fundraiser, which will help the Spartans buy a new shooting machine.

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“It must have been the new shoes that helped me get into double digits for the first time,” Farhan said. “I knew Corey was in foul trouble and I had to be ready coming off the bench.

“I played my hardest. I tried to do anything I could.”

Martinez, who said he has dedicated his life to basketball since fourth grade, is also looking for a college to show interest in him.

He showed his toughness Friday after taking a shot to the face and receiving a bloody nose in the first quarter. He sat out for a minute.

“I was trying to get a rebound and I guess the kid hit me in the nose,” Martinez said. “But I told my coach, ‘Put me back in.’

“I wanted to play.’’

Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.