Boys’ basketball: Jackson vs. Coleman is a good one
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It was supposed to be a matchup of two of the top guards in the San Fernando Valley, Lonnie Jackson of Valencia vs. Jordan Coleman of Calabasas, and Tuesday’s Chaminade tournament semifinal turned out to be just that.
Jackson had 23 points, Coleman had 22 points. Jackson made consecutive free throws with 33 seconds left, with 14.5 seconds left and with six seconds left. Coleman scored baskets with 19 seconds left and nine seconds left.
In the end, Valencia (9-2) pulled out a 68-64 victory over Calabasas (11-2) to advance to Wednesday’s 6 p.m. final against Granada Hills. It’s a rematch of last season’s final won by Granada Hills.
Coleman picked up two early fouls that knocked him out action. But it was a bloody nose he suffered with 2:53 left that proved costly. He didn’t return until there was 33 seconds remaining, and the Coyotes missed him.
Jackson struggled at times in the first three quarters but he took charge during a pressure-filled fourth quarter. His jumper from the baseline with 1:20 left gave Valencia a 62-60 lead. He was nine of 10 from the free-throw line in the fourth quarter.
Leonard Gorokhov had six three-pointers for Calabasas.
Coleman, who has signed with Hawaii, made eight of 10 free throws in the fourth quarter. UCLA assistant Coach Scott Garson was in the crowd in the first half watching Jackson, a junior.
-- Eric Sondheimer