By Joe Snyder
Gardena High’s boys’ basketball team enjoyed success over the past few seasons but appear to be in a rebuilding season with a 4-5 start.
Last week, the Panthers played in the Bellflower Tournament and lost three of four games. On Dec. 2, Gardena began with a 59-54 loss to Cerritos Gahr. A day later, the Panthers were stifled by Irvine Beckman 58-35.
Last Thursday, Gardena picked up its only tournament victory over Environmental Charter High, which has four campuses, including one in Gardena that is located across from El Camino College, 83-38. The others are in Lawndale and Inglewood. In a tournament final on Saturday, Gardena fell short of Whittier 51-48.
Against Environmental Charter, the Tigers briefly hung in with the Panthers trailing by only two points midway in the first quarter before Gardena steadily pulled away for a 28-15 lead after the period. The Panthers would stretch that lead by 19 (47-28) by halftime. The second half saw Gardena finish off the Tigers outscoring them 36-10.
Willie Denham and Joshua Edwards shared the Panthers’ top scoring honors with 16 points apiece. Nathan Stygers added 14 points.
Environmental was led by Jordan Crathers with 11 points and Ayshmin Thomas with 10.
Gardena has good senior leadership with returning starters Denham and Elijah Perkins and brings back last year’s key reserve Edwards but lack of depth and offense are concerns for this year’s Panther squad. Gardena also lost expected returning starter Dwayne Boston, who transferred to Inglewood.
“Our seniors are doing mostly outstanding,” said Gardena assistant coach Issac Green, who was acting head coach for the Panthers’ game against the Tigers after head mentor Ernie Carr was ejected in Gardena’s contest against Beckman on Dec. 3. “Our offense is making a lot of mistakes; mental mistakes. We’ll get better as the season goes on.”
Last Saturday, Gardena lost to Whitter, despite a game-high 23 points by Denham. Edwards chipped in 14 points but the rest of the squad mustered only 11 points.
The Panthers host Legacy Christian Academy from Santa Clarita next Thursday at 4:30 p.m.
Winning the tournament in a run away was Manhattan Beach Mira Costa, which routed Lakewood 76-36 on Saturday. The Mustangs are 10-0 and currently top ranked in California by MaxPreps, ahead of second ranked rival Redondo (6-0 after blowout wins over Oak Park 97-39, West Hills Chaminade 93-57, and Corona Centennial 85-44) in its Ryse Williams Memorial Take Flight-Pacific Shores Showcase last week.
Serra played one game in the Redondo Ryse Williams Take Flight-Pacific Shores Showcase on Dec. 2 and slipped past Mary Star of the Sea High from San Pedro 50-46.
The Cavaliers (4-2) were led by C.J. Chinemerem with 19 points and eight rebounds. Daniel Roberson contributed 12 points, all on three-point baskets.
Serra will face Lynwood in the Pro-Am League Showcase Saturday at 1 p.m. at Dominguez High in Compton. The Cavaliers’ next game will be in their own Serra-Dwan Hurt Memorial Classic against Taft from Woodland Hills on Dec. 20 at 7 p.m.
North Torrance played three games including its first in the Bellflower Invitational on Dec. 2 where it rolled over Verbum Dei-Jesuit High from southeast Los Angeles 77-50. The Saxons played two non-league games where they were blown out by a very good St. Pius X-St. Matthias Academy team 94-44 last Thursday in Downey and came back home to rout Alhambra 79-42.
The Saxons have a stiff non-league game at home against CIF-L.A. City Section power Westchester Saturday at 5 p.m. The Comets were coached for 42 seasons (1979-2021) by now North assistant Ed Azzam. North is 4-4 overall. Westchester is led by Playa del Rey St. Bernard transfer Tarz Ariza, son of former National Basketball Association and Westchester High star Trevor Ariza, who was part of the Los Angeles Lakers 2008-09 National Basketball Association championship team.
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Special team miscues cost Narbonne
Narbonne High’s football team, which came off the CIF-Los Angeles City Section Open Division championship with an impressive 75-31 win over Marine League rival San Pedro on Nov. 29 at El Camino College, saw its season come to an end by falling to host Pacifica High 37-20 in the Southern California Regional Division IIAA Bowl Championship Game last Friday in Oxnard.
The Gauchos showed one of their few weaknesses, special teams, which made numerous mistakes in the loss to Pacifica, the CIF-Southern Section Division IV champion.
Pacifica raced to a 20-7 halftime lead but Narbonne scored on its first two possessions of the second half to tie the game at 20. The Gauchos, who finished their season at 7-7 that was loaded with forfeit wins and losses, had a point after touchdown attempt blocked and that opened the gates for Pacifica which scored the game’s final 17 points.
Narbonne was also plagued with two blocked punts, including one that went into the end zone where Pacifica’s Anthony Macias recovered for a touchdown as it grabbed the lead for good.
The Gauchos, earlier, tied the game when senior running back Mark Iheanachor scored on a 5-yard run.
Pacifica padded its lead to 34-20 late in the third quarter on a 7-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Dominic Duran to wide receiver Issaiah Dillon. Duran completed 16 of 29 passes for 199 yards and two TD’s. Kicker Isaac Magana added a fourth period field goal to finish off Narbonne. Magana was successful on all three field goal attempts.
Junior quarterback Jeden O’ Neal completed 13 of 26 passes for 135 yards and one touchdown for the Gauchos.
Narbonne, which has four forfeit league wins due to the Marine’s other four teams, Gardena, Wilmington Banning, Carson and San Pedro, boycotting the league games, and three forfeit non-league losses due to use of ineligible players. The Gauchos are suspended from postseason play next season.
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Lady Cavs top Loretto
Serra High’s girls’ basketball team began the Santa Fe League in a winning fashion by blowing out host Bishop Conaty-Loretto 65-9 last Thursday in Los Angeles.
Kali Carter led the Lady Cavaliers with 16 points and four rebounds. Marijah Lewis added 12 points, five steals and four rebounds.
Saniaya Johnson chipped in 10 points.
Serra hosted Bishop Amat from La Puente last Tuesday and begin a tournament (name not available) next Wednesday against Banning High from Wilmington.
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Galaxy captures Sixth MLS Cup
Two Saturdays ago at the Dignity Health Sports Center in Carson, the Los Angeles Galaxy captured its sixth Major League Soccer Cup by holding off the surprising New York Red Bulls 2-1.
The Galaxy got off to a quick start behind goals by Joseph Paintul and Dejan Jovelis in only the first 13 minutes of the match. The Red Bulls, seeded seventh in the playoffs, cut L.A.’s lead to 2-1 on a goal by Sean Nealis in the 28th minute.
It was the first Major League Soccer Cup title by the Galaxy since 2014 but sixth overall. Most of their previous championships were the teams led by legendary players Landon Donahue and British star David Beckham.
The Galaxy was coached by former L.A. star player Greg Vanney, who won his second MLS Cup ever, the other being a few years back with the Toronto Football Club.
