By Joe Snyder
Serra High’s boys’ basketball team entered last Friday’s non-league rivalry at Leuzinger High in Lawndale fresh off winning the Calvary Baptist Cougar Classic a week earlier in La Verne.
The Cavaliers, who came into the game with a five-game winning streak, showed their lack of experience as the Olympians dominated throughout nearly the entire game in a 72-49 rout.
Leuzinger, which improved to 4-6 overall against mostly a very rigorous preseason schedule, started out with a 23-13 first quarter lead that ballooned to 42-20 by halftime. The Olympians led by as many as 30 points (54-24) late in the third period before clearing the bench and coasting to an easy victory.
Serra, which fell to 6-6 in preseason play, was led by Dylan Wasson with 12 points, followed by Drew Carter with 11 and Chinemeren Anyikwa, a returning third-year starting forward, with 10.
Dylan Curry led Leuzinger with a game-high 20 points. Aiden McIntyre and Jace James added 16 and 13 points, in order.
The Cavaliers have three non-league games this week. They were at Whittier High last Tuesday; and will be at Firebaugh in Lynwood today at 7 p.m. Serra will face Capistrano Valley Christian in a showcase at St. Anthony High in Long Beach Saturday at 5:30 p.m.
After the past several seasons in the highly-competitive Del Rey League, Serra, along with league and South Bay rival Bishop Montgomery, moved to the Camino Real League with Rosemead Bosco Tech, La Puente Bishop Amat and southeast Los Angeles Verbum Dei Jesuit.
The Cavaliers hope to have their gym, currently undergoing repairs, ready for their CRL and home opener against Bosco Tech on Jan. 2 at 7 p.m.
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GHS starts league play with 2 losses
Gardena High’s boys’ basketball team showed its lack of experience with a pair of lopsided losses to host Narbonne and visiting San Pedro last week.
At Narbonne in Harbor City on Dec. 10, the Panthers were dominated by the Gauchos 80-44. At Gardena last Friday, the Panthers continued to struggle in their 74-47 loss to the Pirates.
Gardena is expected to play in a pair of tournaments throughout the Christmas break before resuming league action at home against Wilmington Banning on Jan. 14 at 4:30 p.m.
Last Friday, Narbonne, which improved to 2-0 in Marine play, crushed host Banning 72-29.
In a non-league game last Saturday at Flintridge Prep in La Canada-Flintridge, North Torrance improved to 9-3 with a 57-42 win.
The Saxons played a non-league game at Verbum Dei-Jesuit High in southeast Los Angeles last Monday and hosted Bellflower on Wednesday. North faces Santa Paula in a showcase at Cal Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks Saturday at 7 p.m.
West Torrance improved to 6-6 with a 68-50 home win over Verbum Dei Jesuit on Saturday.
Jacob Reyes led the Warriors with 28 points, followed by Bea Heineman with 13.
North figures to be in a close battle with the three other Torrance schools, West, South and Torrance in the Pioneer League. The Saxons already won back-to-back Pioneer crowns.
Carson lost a non-league game to John Burroughs High from Burbank 47-45. Joshua Dixon led the Colts with 22 points, five rebounds and four steals, and Mikki Williams contributed 15 points and nine rebounds.
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North outlasts South to remain unbeaten
North Torrance High’s girls’ basketball team improved its undefeated record to 9-0 by outlasting cross town rival South Torrance 54-52 in a non-league game last Friday at North.
Leila Fitzgerald led the Lady Saxons’ balanced attack with 10 points and seven rebounds. Shaya Tokeshi had 10 points, four rebounds, four assists and four steals. Parker Britto contributed eight points and 14 rebounds.
On Thursday, North rolled over host Cerritos 65-40. On Dec. 9, the host Saxons downed East L.A. Garfield 55-33.
North put its unbeaten record on line against at always tough Palos Verdes last Tuesday. The Saxons host Cypress High today at 7 p.m.
Gardena is off to a 1-7 start including 0-2 in the Marine League. In the league opener at Narbonne on Dec. 10, the Lady Panthers were stifled by the Gauchos 44-20. At Gardena last Friday, the Panthers fell short of San Pedro 44-43.
The Panthers’ only win was in a tournament over John Glenn High of Norwalk 53-13 on Dec. 5.
Gardena also lost a non-league game at home to Cerritos Gahr 40-34 last Thursday.
The Panthers host Centennial High from Compton in a non-league game on Dec. 20 at 1 p.m. Gardena faces Marine foe San Pedro to start the Bernstein Tournament Monday at 11:30 a.m. in Hollywood.
West Torrance High captured the Silver Division of the Mark Keppel Tournament with a 65-51 victory over Birmingham from Lake Balboa last Saturday in Alhambra.
Kati Moore sparked the Lady Warriors with 22 points and 10 rebounds.
Asami Tom was the tournament’s Most Valuable Player, and Moore and Ella Soohoo were on the all-tournament team.
