By Joe Snyder
Gardena High’s basketball team had an early start to Marine League play but made it worth while with a 74-59 win over host Carson on Nov. 29.
The Panthers carried a 33-28 halftime lead but proceeded to outscore the Colts 18-5 in the third quarter for a 51-33 bulge, then began the fourth period with a 13-3 run to build their lead to 28 (64-36) with about 5:30 left in the game. As Gardena head coach Ernie Carr began to clear the bench, things began to get a little scary as the Colts let loose for a 19-0 run to cut the Panthers’ lead to nine (64-55) with about 1:30 remaining. Carr was finally able to insert his starters as the Panthers made key baskets and free throws to finish off Carson.
“We substituted too much,” Carr said. “We played good.”
Gardena, which improved to 4-2 overall, was led by junior Dwayne Boston with 18 points. Junior guard Willie Denham added 15 points and junior forward Algah Perkins chipped in 10.
Leading all scorers for the Colts was senior Ezekiel Harry with 25 points. Carson fell to 3-5 overall after its fourth consecutive loss. The Panthers won their third straight game.
Gardena is currently playing in the Bellflower Tournament where it opened against South Torrance last Monday. The Panthers played El Toro High on Wednesday. Gardena resumes the classic through Saturday before resuming league at home against Long Beach Rancho Dominguez Prep on Dec. 15 at 4:30 p.m.
Serra played two non-league games in the Capital Christian Challenge Classic on Friday and Saturday in Sacramento but lost both games to see its record fall to 3-3. On Friday, the Cavaliers fell to San Ramon Valley, one of the top teams in Northern California, 90-71. On Saturday, Serra lost in overtime to host Capital Christian 93-83.
Against Capital Christian, the Cavaliers held a 39-34 halftime lead but, in the see-saw battle, trailed by three (60-57) after three quarters. After outscoring Capital 20-17 in the fourth period to tie the game at 77 after regulation, sending the game into overtime, Capital proceeded to finish off Serra with a 16-6 overtime period.
The Cavaliers visited Crenshaw last Tuesday and have their first home game against Providence High from Burbank tonight at 7:30 p.m. Serra begins its Dwan Hurt Classic against Franklin from Los Angeles-Highland Park on Dec. 20 at 6 p.m.
North Torrance split its two non-league games last week. At St. Pius X-St. Matthias Academy in Downey on Nov. 29, the Saxons were routed 83-51. Last Saturday at North, the Saxons rebounded to defeat San Pedro 54-41.
North is currently playing in the Bellflower Tournament where it opened against the host team last Monday. The Saxons visit Westchester in a non-league game Saturday at 5:30 p.m. North begins the Pioneer League at El Segundo next Wednesday at 7 p.m.
_______________________
Torrance Tartars end run with regional bowl loss to Ramona
Torrance High’s amazing season finally came to an end as it fell short of Ramona High from Riverside 21-16 in the Southern California Regional Division VAA Championship Bowl Game last Friday at Zamperini Field.
The Tartars, who ended their season at 10-5 after finishing in a tie for second place with Lawndale in the Pioneer League but won their first ever CIF-Southern Section title with a Division X championship victory over host West Covina 23-7 on Nov. 25, carried a 13-7 halftime lead shortly after junior receiver Jake Silverman caught a 15-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Connor Silverman.
Torrance, however, committed some critical turnovers in the second half as the Rams cashed on them. Ramona, the CIF-Southern Section Division XI champion, took a 14-13 lead on a TD run by Sincere Tolbort in the third quarter, then increased it to 21-13 when quarterback Jeremiah Acosta scored on an 18-yard keeper early in the fourth period. That score came two plays after the Tartars fumbled away the ball.
The Tartars had a shot at tying the game and sending it to overtime after Silverman recovered a Ram fumble and returned the ball to the Ramona 20-yard line. Torrance appeared to have the ball down to the Ram 2-yard line but the officials ruled Sherring’s 18-yard throw to Ryan Young out of bounds. On fourth down with about six minutes to go in the game, Torrance had to settle for a field goal.
Young rushed for 148 yards, 122 of those in the first half.
Ramona moves to the CIF-State Division VAA Championship Bowl Game against Northern California champion Pleasant Valley at El Camino College Friday at 8 p.m.
In the Division VA, Wilmington Banning moved to the state championship with a 41-21 victory over La Jolla Country Day from San Diego last Saturday at Banning. The Pilots, who are 9-5 overall after going 1-3 in the Marine League but ended up winning the CIF-Los Angeles City Division I championship with a 35-28 win over Crenshaw on Nov. 24 at Birmingham High in Lake Balboa, will face unbeaten Woodland Christian (14-0) in the championship on Saturday at 3 p.m. at El Camino College.
__________________
ECC wins state men’s soccer title
El Camino College’s men’s soccer team captured its fifth ever California State championship by shutting out Cuyamaca College from El Cajon 4-0 last Sunday at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut.
For the Warriors, it was the first state crown since 1992.
Through this season, ECC has been on a roll ending the season with a 24-1 record that saw the team shut out its final seven opponents, including all playoff opponents.
El Camino’s offense proved dominant on Cuyamaca, especially in the first half where it built a 3-0 lead. The onslaught began in the 15th minute when Charlie Cazares scored his first of two goals. It came after a free kick where he hit the ball past Cuyamaca goalkeeper Marin Lafon from about 20 meters out.
In the 23rd minute, Shingo Nakano scored off a rebound from a blocked shot where he scored from in front of the goal.
Just five minutes later, Franco De Luna scored on a penalty kick as the Warriors took a 3-0 halftime lead.
Cazares scored ECC’s final goal off a free kick with about 12 minutes left in the match and the Warriors finished off Cuyamaca getting ready for the post-game celebration.
In the semifinals against Evergreen Valley College from San Jose, El Camino recorded a 4-0 win.
Leading 1-0 at halftime, the Warriors blew the game open with three second half goals. Marvin Gamez, who was the tournament’s Most Valuable Player, led ECC with three goals and Nakano added one. Diego Garcia and Justin Ramirez each had one assist.
Gamez scored eight goals in the five playoff matches and finished the season with a school record 28 goals, breaking the previous record of 26 set in 1978 by John Britton.
ECC is head coached by Mike Jacobson.
