South Gate retires Mata’s No. 42 jersey
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South Gate retired Lorenzo Mata’s No. 42 jersey during a ceremony at halftime of Friday night’s boys’ basketball game against Eastern League rival South East.
The former South Gate star, now a senior at UCLA, attended the game with Bruins Coach Ben Howland, who recruited him along with fellow L.A. County standouts Jordan Farmar of Taft, Josh Shipp of Fairfax and Arron Afflalo of Compton Centennial.
In 2003, Mata led the Rams to their first City Section playoff victory in 11 years and posted 25 double-doubles in 26 games. As a senior the next season, he averaged 25 points and 18 rebounds and made the Los Angeles Times’ All-Star squad. South Gate went 18-8 and finished undefeated in the Eastern League under then-coach Sal Serrano.
No doubt the Rams wish their honored alum could’ve jumped center at the start of Friday’s game. South Gate lost, 61-45, and dropped to 2-10 overall and 0-2 in league under its current coach, Lester Sanchez.
-- Steve Galluzzo, guest blogger
-- Image by Richard Hartog/Los Angeles Times