By Joe Snyder
Serra High’s boys’ basketball team finished third in its own Dwan Hurt Memorial Holiday Classic with a 66-50 win over Lawndale Leuzinger on Dec. 23.
Narbonne transfer Maximo Adams sparked the Cavaliers with 21 points and 12 rebounds. Kayleb Kearse added 19 points and C.J. Aniyikwa chipped in nine.
Serra had an impressive first three games of its own Dwan Hurt Memorial Boys’ Basketball Classic but finally ran into a brick wall as it fell short of Rolling Hills Prep from San Pedro 62-57 in the championship semifinals last Friday.
The first half was mostly a see-saw battle with the Huskies, who are 10-1 overall, grabbing a slim 12-10 first quarter lead. The Cavaliers managed to have a few leads but Rolling Hills Prep took advantage of its three-point shooting that included about a 30-foot near half court shot by Kaviki Suiter shortly before the halftime buzzer to give the Huskies a 30-24 lead.
Rolling Hills Prep continued to lead although it was 32-30 on Kearse’s basket early in the third quarter. From there the Huskies went on a 16-0 run to build a 48-30 advantage late in the period, which proved to be the difference in the game.
Down 48-34 after three quarters, the Cavaliers (who fell to 8-4) caught fire as they closed the gap to four (61-57) behind eight straight points by Kearse, along with three of his five three-pointers from Chinemesen Anyikiva.
That was as close as Serra could get as a free throw by Gio Tulifa sealed the game for Rolling Hills Prep.
Serra began the tournament with a 76-48 win over Franklin on Dec. 19, On Dec. 20, the Cavaliers outlasted Overland High from Colorado 74-70, then routed Hamilton 77-48 last Thursday.
Last week, Serra played in the Damien Classic in San Dimas where it began with a 67-64 loss to Skyridge on Dec. 26 before edging San Marin High 63-62 a day later. Both Cavaliers’ opponents are from Northern California
Gardena was in the San Pedro Pirate Shootout where it began on Dec. 19 by routing St. Monica Academy from Montrose 72-43. A day later, the Panthers defeated Eagle Rock 56-48 before falling in overtime to Rolling Hills Estates Peninsula 65-60. Gardena ended up fourth in the tournament after falling to South Torrance 53-37 on Dec. 23.
The Panthers are currently playing in the San Fernando Valley Classic where it opened against West L.A. University last Tuesday.
North Torrance split its four games in the St. Francis Tournament last week in La Canada-Flintridge. The Saxons opened with a 46-44 loss to Shalhavet on Dec. 26. On Dec. 27 and 28, in order, North bounced back to blow out Burbank 57-32 then outlasted Pasadena Blair 84-78 in overtime. In the consolation final, the Saxons lost another overtime game to Santa Monica 65-61.
A week earlier, North improved its Pioneer League record to 4-0 after home blowout wins over cross town rival South Torrance 68-42 on Dec. 19 and 81-44 against Lawndale on Dec. 21.
North visited Palos Verdes in a non-league game on Wednesday. The Saxons, then, travel to Steele Canyon in the San Diego area for another non-league contest on Friday at 4:30 p.m. before resuming Pioneer League at West Torrance on Jan. 12.
