By Joe Snyder
Serra High’s boys’ basketball team rallied from a five-point deficit in the final minute to eliminate Leuzinger High from Lawndale 69-66 in the second round of the CIF-Southern Section Division IIIAA playoffs last Friday at Serra.
The Cavaliers met a familiar opponent that they defeated 66-50 in the third-place game of the Serra-Dwan Hurt Memorial Classic on Dec. 23 but found the Ocean League champion Olympians a much different and tougher team on Friday.
Serra started with an 18-17 lead over Leuzinger after the first quarter but saw the Olympians outscore the Cavaliers 20-13 in the second quarter for a 37-31 halftime lead.
Leuzinger, which ended its season at 19-10 overall after going unbeaten at 10-0 in league, led by as many as 12 points (45-33) in the third period and still led by six (54-48) after the quarter.
The Olympians led 66-61 when Malachi Knight scored with 1:05 left in the game before senior forward Jeremiah Wilson took over. He scored a three-point basket with 49.6 seconds remaining. After holding Leuzinger without a basket, Wilson was fouled on a three-point attempt giving him three free throws. He made all three to give Serra a 67-66 lead, then he put the exclamation mark on the Olympians with a game-ending dunk.
Wilson scored eight of his 16 points in just the 49.6-second period. Maxime Adams led Serra, which is 18-12 overall after finishing fourth at 4-6 in the very highly competitive Del Rey League, with a game-high 28 points, followed by Kaleb Kearse with 20.
Darrien Henry and Knight shared Leuzinger’s high scoring honors with 18 points apiece. Joshua Garland added 16 points for the Olympians.
The win moved Serra into the quarterfinals at Arcadia High last Tuesday. Arcadia advanced by edging Fullerton Troy 62-61 in Friday’s second round game. If the Cavaliers win, they move to the semifinals against either Ventura St. Bonaventure or Valley View High of Moreno Valley at a site to be determined Friday at 7 p.m.
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Gardena girls breeze past Sun Valley Magnet in City Div. IV playoff action
Gardena High’s girls’ basketball team began the CIF-Los Angeles City Section Division IV playoffs as the top seed after finishing third, behind champion San Pedro and runner-up Carson, in the Marine League and began by crushing Sun Valley Magnet 51-8 in the second round last Saturday at Gardena.
Despite the easy victory, head coach Traci McNeal was not happy with the way the Lady Panthers played, especially on offense. “Our offense is a problem,” McNeal said. “We need work there. I was not impressed. We want to see improvement.”
The Lady Panthers, who improved to 17-10 after going 6-4 in Marine play, had very little trouble with the Seraphs in taking leads of 15-3 after the first quarter, 31-5 at halftime and 39-8 after three periods before shutting out Sun Valley in the fourth quarter, while scoring 12 points. It is the second time, this season, that Gardena held an opponent to single digits, doing it last month in league against Long Beach Rancho Dominguez Prep in a 41-3 win.
Senior India Cage led the Panthers with 16 points. Junior Lauren Tobia-Williams added 10 points and sophomore Isabella Sanchez chipped in eight.
Sophomore Ashley Carias led the Seraphs with three points.
Gardena moves to the quarterfinals at home against Diego Rivera High on Wednesday. Diego Rivera rolled over University Park New Designs 34-16 in their playoff game last Saturday. If the Panthers win, they will host either Dr. Maya Angelou or Van Nuys Grant in the semifinals Saturday at 7 p.m. The Panthers had a first round bye last Thursday.
Serra High’s girls’ basketball team saw its season come to an end with a 48-42 loss to host Oakwood Academy in the first round last Thursday in North Hollywood.
Kaueia Snelson led the Lady Cavaliers (13-14 overall and 6-6 in the Camino Real League) with 16 points. Kali Carter contributed 11 points and 12 rebounds; Kayeah Holmes finished with eight points and nine rebounds and Rachelle Thompson gathered 11 rebounds.
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North girls’ basketball avenges loss to Leuzinger High in playoff victory
After a first round bye in the CIF-Southern Section Division I playoffs, North Torrance High’s girls’ basketball team was pitted against a Leuzinger team that defeated the Lady Saxons in the Redondo Battle of the Beach Classic in November.
The Lady Saxons, however, were without three starters and with those players back, they proved that they were a much better team in last Friday’s second round game against the Ocean League champion Olympians in a 76-62 victory.
North, which came off running away with the Pioneer League title at 10-0 with nearly all blowout wins over its opponents, raced past Leuzinger with leads of 22-13 after the first quarter, 41-26 at halftime and 70-51 after three quarters before coasting to their 25th victory against five losses overall.
The Saxons had four players score in double figures led by junior Keini Santiago and senior Bailey Enonoto with 19 points apiece. Junior Sage Misumi added 12 points and senior Kathryn Eguchi chipped in 10 points.
Leuzinger was led by senior Madison Watts with a game-high 26 points.
North entered Wednesday’s quarterfinal at home against Santiago High from Corona seeking a win and awaiting a possible semifinal against Bay League champion Redondo on Saturday at 7 p.m. at either North or Redondo. The Lady Sea Hawks won their second-round game over host Portola 66-50 Saturday in Irvine. Redondo visited Harvard-Westlake in Studio City Wednesday. The Saxons entered the playoffs seeded No. 6, while the Sea Hawks are seventh. Redondo (24-5 overall and 10-0 in league) is led by the Zimmerman sisters in senior Ella and sophomore Abby.
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Serra, Torrance, North get high players honors
A good number of local high school football teams made the all-CIF Southern Section football teams, released last week.
Serra, which finished second in the Mission League behind Chatsworth Sierra Canyon, landed three players on the Division II squad. They included running back Cincere Rhaney, wide receiver Zacharyus Williams and linebacker Noa Keohaloa. All are seniors. Rhaney rushed for more than 2,000 yards and will be headed to San Diego State University in the fall. Williams had more than 1,000 yards in receptions. He signed at University of Utah. The Oregon-bound Keohaloa made numerous key tackles. All led the Cavaliers to a 9-4 record and the semifinals of the Division II playoffs before losing to Anaheim Servite. Servite lost the championship game to Mission Viejo, which went on to win the CIF-State Division IAA crown.
North landed two players on the Division VIII team including freshman sensation wide receiver Kingston Anetema and defensive lineman J.D. Noa. The Saxons won the Pioneer League but lost in the first round of the playoffs to eventual finalist Charter Oak from Covina in a 21-14 overtime game. Charter Oak lost the championship game to Jurupa Hills.
CIF-Southern Section Division X champion Torrance had senior running back Ryan Young as Offensive Player or the Year and junior defensive back Jake Silverman as top Defensive Player.
The Tartars had four other players make all-CIF in senior defensive back David Johnson, junior offensive lineman Anthony Rerey, senior defensive end Makaiv Sanders and senior Anthony Bushmeyer.
It was Torrance’s first ever CIF football title in its 106-year history. The Tartars finished in a tie for second place with Lawndale in Pioneer action.
