By Joe Snyder
Gardena High’s boys’ basketball team managed to win just one of four games in the Bellflower Tournament last week at Bellflower High.
On Dec. 1, the Panthers fell to Lawndale 84-66. A day later, Gardena was stifled by Dominguez High from Compton 59-33. Last Thursday, the Panthers bounced back to top Cerritos Valley Christian 52-49. In the 13th place finale on Saturday, Gardena lost to El Segundo 68-49.
Against El Segundo, E.J. Johnson led the Panthers with 16 points. Kaylin McCain had a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
Tate Pintess had a game-high 30 points for the Eagles, who are 3-6 overall.
After losing its first two games of the classic, Gardena, which is 3-6 overall, held off Valley Christian. Darion Hudson scored what proved to be the winning basket off a full-court assist by Johnson.
“We executed very well,” Gardena head coach Mike Martin said in its win over the Crusaders.
The Panthers began the Marine League at Narbonne High in Harbor City on Wednesday. Gardena hosts San Pedro Friday at 4:30 p.m.
“We’re very young and inexperienced,” Martin said. “We have just two returning players. A lot of our players played JV (junior varsity) last year.”
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Carson falls short in regional title game
Carson High’s football team lost in the Southern California Regional Division IIIA Championship Bowl Game to Robert F. Kennedy High from Delano 35-33 last Saturday at Carson.
The Colts, who finished their season at 9-5, had trouble holding down running back Jace Demacabatin. Demacabatin ran for 221 yards and three touchdowns to key the Thunderbirds, who won the CIF-Central Section Division III title.
Carson took a 27-14 lead in a wild first quarter before Kennedy came back to score 21 unanswered points for a 35-27 lead early in the fourth period.
The Colts attempted to rally when quarterback Chris Fields III connected with Darren Panton for a 22-yard TD pass. Carson had to go for the two-point conversion but running back Eric Mayerss was thrown for a loss.
After holding down the Thunderbirds, the Colts had one more chance but were stopped.
It was a wild first quarter as the two teams combined for 41 points. Kennedy took a 7-0 lead on the first play from scrimmage on a 9-yard scoring run from Demacabatin. The point-after-touchdown was good.
Carson bounced back to cut the Thunderbirds’ lead to 7-6 on a 9-yard touchdown run by Fields, his first of three TDs, as the extra point failed.
On their next possession, the Colts grabbed a 14-7 lead on Fields’ 18-yard scoring run and he added the two-point conversion on a run.
Then, on the pursuing kickoff, Demacabatin took the ball from the Kennedy 20-yard line and sprinted 80 yards for the score tying the game at 14.
Carson, though, came back with two touchdowns, including an 18-yard pass from Fields to Nathan Williams that gave the Colts a two-possession lead with 2:44 left in the first quarter.
Demacabatin came back with two second-period TDs on runs of one and four yards giving the Thunderbirds a 28-27 halftime lead. After a scoreless third quarter, Kennedy added its fifth touchdown by (first name unavailable) Menm for a 35-27 lead.
The Thunderbirds went on to face McClymonds High from Oakland for the championship Saturday at 11:30 a.m. at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo.
The Colts lost four of six non-league games, all to CIF-Southern Section teams, but won all four Marine League games.
They won the CIF-Los Angeles City Open Division championship with a 36-0 shutout of Crenshaw on Nov. 29 at L.A. Southwest College.
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Cavs win Calvary Baptist Tourney
Serra High’s boys’ basketball team won its fifth consecutive game by defeating Rowland High 61-46 to capture the Calvary Baptist Cougar Classic Saturday in La Verne.
The Cavaliers were led by C.J. Anyikwa with 19 points and nine rebounds and his performance led him to being named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player. Daniel Roberson added 15 points, including four three-point baskets. Danye Wasson contributed 13 points and six steals. Both made all-tournament.
Last Thursday, the Cavaliers defeated Royal High from Simi Valley 56-51.
Serra will visit Leuzinger in a non-league game Friday at 7 p.m. in Lawndale. The Cavaliers, who are 7-2 overall, have non-league games at Whittier High next Tuesday and Firebaugh in Lynwood next Thursday in 7 p.m. games. Serra, then, will face Capistrano Valley Christian in the St. Anthony Showcase on Dec. 20 at 5:30 p.m. The Cavaliers, who are having their gym floor and roof fixed, begin the Camino Real League at home against Bosco Tech on Jan. 2 at 7 p.m.
North Torrance won one of three games in the Bellflower Classic last week. On Dec. 1, the Saxons topped Gahr High from Cerritos 61-56. The Saxons, though, lost their next two games to highly regarded opponents in Downey St. Pius X-St. Matthias Academy 52-45 on Dec. 3 and Heritage Christian 51-32 last Thursday. Heritage Christian of Northridge was a CIF-Southern Section Open Division playoff team last season.
North came back with a 43-30 non-league victory over host Cathedral High Saturday in Los Angeles.
The Saxons host Flintridge Prep Saturday at 6 p.m. before visiting Verbum Dei Jesuit in southeast L.A. next Monday at 7:30 p.m. North comes home to face Bellflower next Wednesday at 7 p.m.
