Boys’ basketball: LACES in a tight spot in Western League

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

It’s the equivalent of Biola playing basketball in the Pacific 10 Conference.

The Los Angeles Center for Enriched Studies is a scrappy little team that finds itself playing among the giants of the Western League, which means it has to compete against City Section powers Westchester and Fairfax.

‘We have to play two nationally ranked teams four times a season,’ LACES Coach Ernest Baskerville said. ‘You’re looking at league saying realistically that looks like four ‘L’s.’ It’s tough.’

The Unicorns did not have one player who came up to Fairfax center Renardo Sidney’s shoulders last week during a 92-37 home loss. The 6-foot-11 Sidney scored 39 points amid a dazzling array of post moves and outside shooting.

Sidney also was a force on defense, blocking several shots and altering many more.

‘My point guard, Sean Butler, is really good,’ Baskerville said. ‘It’s tough when he gets past the guards and then there’s that big tree to swat everything away.’

Baskerville wasn’t thrilled that Sidney and Fairfax star swingman Solomon Hill were still in the game in the fourth quarter, when the Lions built a lead that topped 50 points and necessitated the use of a running clock. That was a fate LACES had avoided during an 81-43 loss to Westchester in December.

There is an upside to playing such a demanding schedule.

LACES (11-9, 0-3) is typically one of the top teams in the City Section’s small-school playoff division. The Unicorns reached the championship game in each of the last two years, losing to View Park each time.

‘It’s good experience for them because it gets us ready for the playoffs,’ Baskerville said.

--Ben Bolch