Boys’ basketball: Narbonne shows it’s going to be a team to reckon with

Hold off on making reservations for the City Section Division I championship basketball game between Fairfax and Westchester come March.

Yes, those are the two favorites to reach the final, but Narbonne showed Saturday night in a 62-54 loss to Westchester that someone is going to have to play very well to eliminate the Gauchos (3-3).

It was the first game back for four players who helped the football team win a state title. And once their legs started to function better in the second half, the Gauchos took off and opened a lead on Westchester in the fourth quarter. Clearly, they haven’t practiced their free throws, but they’re only going to get better.

Narbonne already has an outstanding young coach in Anthony Hilliard, who dresses in a suit and tie, has his team full-court press and run plays. What a concept.

Football players Jamal Hicks and Daniel Brown made immediate contributions. All-City offensive tackle Alex Akingbulu started to assert himself. Linebacker Dominique Peterson will be good off the bench. Narbonne already has a rising junior shooter in Psalm Maduakor, who was sinking threes. And senior guard D’mauria Jones had 20 points.

The game will be remembered for Westchester Coach Ed Azzam setting a City Section record with his 804th coaching victory, but it also will be remembered as what Narbonne is capable of doing at full strength.

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