By Joe Snyder
Serra High’s boys’ basketball team knows how tough the Del Rey League is as it had to take on, no doubt, two of the top teams in the league in Downey St. Pius X-St. Matthias Academy and Playa del Rey St. Bernard last week.
The Cavaliers found out what it was like against two powers.
At Serra on Jan. 17, the Cavaliers fell to the Warriors 77-55. At St. Bernard, the Vikings completed their two-game sweep over Serra with a 74-67 victory.
Against Pius X-St. Matthias, Serra kept with the Warriors, who are ranked ninth in the CIF-Southern Section by MaxPreps, down by nine points (37-28) at halftime.
A big third quarter and early fourth, though, saw the Warriors race away from the Cavaliers. After outscoring Serra 24-13 in the third period for a 20-point lead (61-41), Pius X-St. Matthias stretched its lead to as many as 30 points before clearing the bench.
The Warriors, who are 16-5 overall and 6-0 in Del Rey action, were led by forwards Tyrone Riley and Douglas Langford who combined for 42 points. Riley led with a game-high 22 points, followed by Langford with 20.
Each had several spectacular dunks in the contest.
Kaden Seeley led Serra (2-4 in league) with 20 points, followed by Maximo Adams with nine.
Pius X-St. Matthias is head coached by Donte Archie, a former Serra High player. He graduated from Serra in 2008.
The Cavaliers also kept pace with St. Bernard, but could not get over the hump, especially against sophomore Trez Ariza, (son of former National Basketball Association player, including one time with the Los Angeles Lakers) Trevor Ariza, with 29 points.
Adams led Serra with 23 points, followed by Seeley with 18.
After visiting rival Bishop Montgomery in Torrance on Wednesday, Serra will host St. Paul High from Santa Fe Springs Friday at 7 p.m. The Cavaliers host Long Beach St. Anthony next Monday and close league in another bitter contest at St. Pius X-St. Matthias Academy next Wednesday.
Gardena lost its first Marine League game to host Rancho Dominguez Prep 53-48 last Friday in Long Beach. At Gardena on Jan. 17, the Panthers had little trouble with Wilmington Banning 69-32.
After hosting Carson on Wednesday, Gardena is at home against Narbonne Friday at 4:30 p.m. The Panthers visit San Pedro next Wednesday at the same time.
North Torrance saw itself fall back into second place, behind leader El Segundo Wiseburn-Da Vinci, in the Pioneer League after being upset by El Segundo 74-69 in overtime on Jan. 17 at North. The Saxons rebounded with a 61-43 win over host Torrance last Friday.
The Saxons started fast in taking a 23-4 first quarter lead against the Tartars. They led by as many as 25 points.
North visited another cross-town rival, South Torrance, last Monday and Lawndale on Wednesday. The Saxons are at Wiseburn-Da Vinci seeking to avenge an earlier league loss (also in overtime) next Tuesday and close Pioneer play at home against West Torrance next Wednesday.
Both league games start at 7 p.m.
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GHS Girls’ Basketball
Lady Panthers roll over Banning, Rancho Dom.
Gardena High’s girls’ basketball team remained in second place, one game behind leader San Pedro, in the Marine League with easy home wins over Wilmington Banning and Long Beach Rancho Dominguez Prep last week.
On Jan. 17, the Lady Panthers downed the Pilots 36-22. Last Friday, Gardena buried the Lobos 41-3. The Panthers are 5-1 in league. The Pirates, who downed Gardena 62-30 on Jan. 12 at San Pedro, is 6-0.
Against Rancho Dominguez, the Panthers gave up three points in the first quarter and shut out the Lobos throughout the rest of the game.
Gardena took a 22-3 first quarter, added 19 more points in the second and third periods before a scoreless running time fourth quarter.
GHShad three players score more points than the entire Rancho Dominguez team, including leader India Summers with 14 points. Lauren Tobin-Williams added 10 points and Sanahya Hubbard chipped in nine.
Against Banning, Williams sparked the Panthers with 12 points and five rebounds. Hubbard contributed nine points.
After visiting Carson on Wednesday, Gardena travels to Narbonne today at 4:30 p.m. The Panthers, then, host San Pedro next Wednesday before closing Marine play at home against Banning on Feb. 2. Both games also begin at 4:30 p.m.
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Prep Girls’ Basketball Roundup
Lady Cavs struggle with 3 losses
Being moved down to the Camino Real League after a winless effort in the highly prestigious Del Rey League last season, Serra High’s girls’ basketball team were hoping for better things.
Unfortunately, the Lady Cavaliers had a rough week that also saw their CRL record fall to 3-5. In a Martin Luther King, Jr. non-league game at Serra, the Cavaliers were routed by Brentwood 64-25. Serra, then, returned to league on Jan. 16 but lost at home to Montebello Cantwell-Sacred Heart 46-36.
Last Thursday at Serra, Santa Monica St. Monica handed the Cavaliers a 46-24 defeat.
Kahla Holmes led Serra with six points in its loss to the Mariners.
Against the CSHM, the Cavaliers were led by Kaicia Snelson with 11 points and eight rebounds. Jadah Foster and Carter each chipped in eight points.
Kaila Carter led Serra with eight points and 11 rebounds against Brentwood.
Serra played at Mary Star of the Sea in San Pedro last Tuesday. The Cavaliers host Lakewood St. Joseph tonight at 7 p.m. Serra will be at Bishop Amat in La Puente next Tuesday at 6 p.m. before closing league action at Bishop Conaty-Loretto in Los Angeles next Thursday at 5 p.m. The Lady Cavaliers are still seeking a spot in the CIF-Southern Section Division IVAA playoffs.
North Torrance is still unbeaten at 6-0 in the Pioneer League after easy wins over visiting El Segundo 67-11 on Jan. 17 and host Torrance 68-33 last Friday.
After visiting rival South Torrance last Monday, North was at Lawndale on Wednesday. The Lady Saxons visit Wiseburn-Da Vinci in El Segundo next Tuesday and close Pioneer play at home against West Torrance next Thursday. Both games start at 5:30 p.m.
