Shareef O'Neal helps Crossroads hold off Brentwood, 54-50

Column: Shareef O’Neal helps Crossroads hold off Brentwood, 54-50

Ira Lee, Shareef O’Neal lead 54-50 victory

Columnist

Jan. 6, 2017 9:55 PM PT

There were more than 900 fans packed into the sold-out gymnasium at Santa Monica Crossroads on Friday night for a rivalry basketball game against Brentwood. Sitting in the first row of the bleachers with his own portable stadium seat was Shaquille O’Neal, who stretched out his size 22 shoes to watch his 6-foot-10 son, Shareef, make a return to the court after being sidelined with a broken finger.

It wasn’t just the presence of the O’Neals that created excitement. Ira Lee, a 6-8 senior who signed with Arizona, made his season debut for Crossroads after off-season shoulder surgery and moving back to Los Angeles. Having O’Neal and Lee finally together could produce Crossroads’ best team since the Baron Davis days.

In the second quarter, each got a dunk off a lob pass and each made a three-pointer. Lee finished with 15 points and 15 rebounds. O’Neal had 11 points. Crossroads held off a feisty Brentwood team, 54-50.

“It feels good to be back,” Lee said.

Lee played last season at Chatsworth Sierra Canyon and Prolific Prep in Northern California. O’Neal played at Windward. They came to Crossroads after the hiring of first-year Coach Chad Beeten, who moved from Las Vegas. Crossroads is 12-5 and 1-1 in the Gold Coast League. Playing a key role has been 6-5 sophomore Jacob Ray, who had 13 points and took on the leading scorer role while O’Neal and Lee got healthy.

“That’s a tough combo, but I love how my guys battled,” Brentwood Coach Ryan Bailey said.

Brentwood (11-3, 0-1) was able to rally from a 14-point deficit behind the three-point shooting of junior Charley Wadler, who made seven threes and finished with 21 points. Sophomore Braelee Albert added 16 points.

Crossroads doesn’t have a football team, so Friday’s matchup against Brentwood in a variety of sports was like their homecoming. It produced a standing-room only crowd. A cup was awarded to the school that won the most in basketball and soccer matches. Crossroads’ greatest athlete, ex-NBA and UCLA guard Davis, was at the basketball game. So was former UCLA standout Toby Bailey, brother of Ryan.