Prep Basketball SOUTHERN SECTION BOYS : Crossroads Ends Lutheran’s Title Hopes

L.A. Lutheran’s hopes of defending its Southern Section 1-A basketball title were dashed by Crossroads 83-68 Wednesday night at St. Monica’s High in Santa Monica.

Marc Rudolph led the way for the Roadrunners (16-8) with 32 points, including five baskets in a four minute span beginning with two minutes left in the first half.

Lutheran had fought back from a nine-point deficit to make it 29-28 when Rudolph hit his next five shots in a row, all from at least 14 feet out.

Keith Davis, who scored 20 points, added two baskets in the streak that stretched the Crossroads’ lead to 43-30.

“We tried about four different people on (Rudolph), but we couldn’t deny him the ball,” Lutheran Coach Gordon Bredow said.

The Lions made a 13-4 run at the end of the third quarter to make it 55-51. Dondre Bausley scored Lutheran’s last 11 points of the quarter. The 6-0 senior finished with 22 points and 18 rebounds.

Crossroads’ lead dwindled to three at the start of the fourth period, but the Roadrunners then scored six straight points and Lutheran never pulled within seven points the rest of the way. Crossroads hit all nine of its shots from the field in the last quarter.

The Roadrunners, co-champions of the Delphic League, will play at Santa Ynez, the Tri-Valley League champion, Friday night. Crossroads was seeded second in its league because co-champion Faith Baptist outscored the Roadrunners in head-to-head competition.

Lutheran, the third place team in the Alpha League, finished the season at 14-10.