For Crenshaw, New Cast, the Same Result

Crenshaw High has 13 players who were new to the boys’ basketball program this season, but Friday night at the Sports Arena, the Cougars got the same old result.

Led by Alastair Faux, Crenshaw defeated Westchester, 87-70, to win its fifth consecutive City Section 4-A title.

It is the 16th overall City Section championship for the Cougars, who have been to the City finals 22 times. Crenshaw also has had unprecedented success in the state finals, going 7-0 in state title games.

Crenshaw Coach Willie West, who has coached the Cougars for 27 years, said there was nothing ordinary about the latest title.

“This one was special in that it was number five in a row,” he said. “To do it with different players--well, it’s not like the NBA. We graduated 14 kids last year.”

Faux (pronounced Fox), who hopes to attend Minnesota next year, scored 29 points. He had plenty of help, including 14 points from Kevin Bradley.

It was a game of big leads for Crenshaw, but the Cougars had to withstand a strong fourth-quarter push by Westchester.

The Cougars led several times by as many as 16 points and were ahead, 63-48, after three quarters. But Westchester’s Jermery Turner scored eight points--six on free throws--while trying to bring the Comets (24-6) back into the game. With Turner and Albert Miller’s extra efforts, they pulled to within eight points with 3:24 left to play.

But Bradley made four free throws as Crenshaw went on a 10-2 run to effectively finish the game.

“I think with that size of a lead, we were going to make sure we could preserve it,” West said. “They have some great players, so it was no surprise [that they made a run].”

Turner finished with 19 points, Billy Knight and Miller added 14 apiece for Westchester.

Perhaps the most surprising thing is how well Westchester hung in the game in the first half. Not surprisingly, it was a free-wheeling, closely contested opening five minutes. Leading, 11-10, with just under five minutes left in the first quarter, Crenshaw went on a 10-3 run to close the quarter.

It didn’t get much better for Westchester, which fell behind by as many as 12 and trailed, 40-29, at halftime.

The bounces off the boards were also Crenshaw’s.

It was frustrating enough for Westchester when Crenshaw grabbed four offensive rebounds on one series--but when Westchester’s Tony Bland inadvertently tipped in the ball for Crenshaw, it was downright disgusting for the Comets.

Both teams will advance to the state tournament; pairings will be announced Sunday.

Santa Monica Crossroads 50, Santa Ana Calvary 40--Santa Monica Crossroads High point guard Baron Davis proved Friday night that he is talented enough to stop time.

The threat of Davis convinced Santa Ana Calvary Chapel Coach Craig Falconer to let Crossroads hold the ball for nearly five minutes of the fourth quarter, despite trailing by three points.

But when the break was over, a refreshed Davis scored 11 points in the final three minutes to lead Crossroads to a 50-41 victory in the Southern Section Division IV-A final at UC Irvine’s Bren Center.

Crossroads improved to 27-3 in winning its second consecutive divisional championship. Calvary Chapel fell to 24-5.

Falconer set his team in a 2-3 zone defense in the fourth quarter and stood around while Davis held the ball near halfcourt.

The crowd of 3,975 seemed more frustrated than the players. Boos sounded throughout the arena, calling for Davis to dribble the ball and start the offense. All they received from Davis was a smile and a couple of nods to friends in the stands.

“It didn’t bother us at all,” said Davis, who finished with 23 points. “It was a good time to rest and say hello to my girlfriend in the crowd. We knew they’d have to come out and play defense eventually.”

Santa Fe Springs St. Paul 64, Twentynine Palms 57--Wes Wilcox scored 17 points to lead four players in double figures and the Swordsmen captured the Division IV-AA title.

St. Paul, an at-large entry, improved to 17-13 and won its first basketball title.

St. Paul began the second half with a 10-4 run to open up a 41-28 lead. Twentynine Palms cut it to 55-53 with 1:06 remaining on a three-point basket by Pablo Nadalini. Wilcox made four consecutive free throws to give the Swordsmen breathing room.

Nadalini and Antwain Clark scored 13 points each for the Wildcats (22-6).

GIRLS’ BASKETBALL

Danielle Rainey’s offense and her teammates’ strong defensive pressure led Crenshaw High to a 73-53 victory over Harbor City Narbonne in the City Section Division 4-A girls’ championship game Friday night in front of an estimated 2,500 at the Sports Arena.

Rainey scored 28 points in 25 minutes and teammate Naila Moseley scored 11 points, grabbed five rebounds and had five steals to lead the Cougars (23-3).

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Today’s Games

* City Section Division 3-A

Bell vs. Franklin at Cal State L.A., 3 p.m.

* Southern Section Division I-AA

LB Poly vs. A.B. Miller at Pond of Anaheim, 6:45 p.m.

* Southern Section Division I-A

Mater Dei vs. Etiwanda at Pond, 8:30 p.m.

* Southern Section Division II-AA

Woodbridge vs. Villa Park at Pond, 2:45 p.m.

* Southern Section Division II-A

Artesia vs. Dominguez at Pond, 1 p.m.

* Southern Section Division III-AA

West Valley vs. Cathedral City at Pond, 11:15 a.m.

* Southern Section Division V-A

Pilgrim vs. Pacific Hills at Pond, 9:30 a.m.