Crenshaw High School’s Marco Bailey (0) launches a shot over the outstretched arm of Long Beach Poly’s Alexis Moore during Tuesday’s Southern Regional first-round playoff game. Poly defeated the Cougars, 87-62. (Photo by Rob Helfman)
Story Created:
Mar 10, 2010 at 2:23 PM PST
Story Updated:
Mar 11, 2010 at 1:30 PM PST
Pointing to the 1997 state championship banner on the gym wall, Crenshaw High School boys basketball coach Ed Waters indicated that’s the level he wants to return the program.
That was the last of the record eight State Division I championships the Cougars won under legendary coach Willie West, who retired three years ago.
Waters, in his third season at the helm, feels he has them headed in the right direction, Tuesday’s 87-62 loss to Long Beach Poly in the first round of the Southern Regional playoffs notwithstanding.
The Cougars have won the past two Coliseum League titles and qualified for the regionals for the first time since 1997.
“Now we’ve set a standard and laid the groundwork for the program,” Waters said. “I’m really happy with what we accomplished. I told our seniors I appreciated them for laying that groundwork. Reynaul (Baker) and Deuce (Zaid) were with me from the start.”
Crenshaw (21-5), which had been idle for more than a week after losing in the City Section semifinals, stayed close for a half, then ran into a buzzsaw in the third quarter when the visiting Jackrabbits (27-4) went on a 12-0 run to turn the game into a rout.
Junior guard Alex Carmon, who had 25 points and eight rebounds, hit a 3-pointer and scored on a layup and putback during the run. Baker’s two free throws with 1:45 left in the third quarter ended the drought for Crenshaw.
The taller Poly team, featuring 6-foot-8 Ryan Anderson (11 points, nine rebounds), 6-6 Roschon Prince and 6-5 Shelton Boykin, outrebounded the Cougars, 41-24. Prince had 17 points and seven rebounds and Boykin collected 11 points and six rebounds.
Crenshaw forward Darnell Taylor, giving up several inches to this group, had 16 points and six rebounds. Emmett Duval had 13 points.
Freshman guard Isaac Hamilton had 12 points, but Baker was limited to 10 and Zaid to seven.
Westchester 77, Colony 42
Fresh off winning the City Section Division I title, second-seeded Westchester routed Colony, 77-42 in a Division I opener.
Jordin Mayes scored 19 points and Dwayne Polee had 18 as the Comets (28-3) coasted into a Thursday regional semifinal against Santa Monica (25-7). Kareem Jamar added 13 points.
Evan Brooks led Colony (24-8) with 15 points.
Leuzinger 91, Washington Prep 72
Despite losing leading scorer and rebounder Amir Garrett to an ankle injury in the third quarter, Leuzinger rolled to a 91-72 victory over Washington Prep.
Aqeel Quinn picked up the slack by scoring 31 points, 18 in the third quarter, as the Olympians improved to 25-7.
Leuzinger now plays at City runner-up Taft (25-5) Thursday in what serves as a rematch of their Westchester Classic semifinal in December. Taft won that meeting, 60-59.
Division II
Compton 67, S.J. Memorial 63
Compton (19-14) held off San Joaquin Memorial, 67-63 to advance to the semifinals Thursday at San Diego Hoover (27-6).
Division III
Centennial 79, El Camino Real 67
The third-seeded Apaches (26-6) raced past El Camino Real, 79-67 and into the semifinals Thursday. Centennial hosts Orange Lutheran.
Orange Lutheran (24-8) defeated Alemany to advance.
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