City Basketball Playoffs : Carson Advances; Fairfax, Crenshaw, San Pedro Win

Anthony January scored 28 points to lead fourth-ranked Carson High School to a 60-55 win over No. 8-rated Palisades in a City 4-A first-round game Friday night at Carson.

The Colts advanced to next Wednesday’s quarterfinals against Fairfax with a 17-6 record. Palisades ended its season at 14-8.

Fairfax (19-4) handled Washington (12-10), 80-60, in another 4-A game as Sean Higgins scored a game-high 32 points and Chris Mills added 26.

Elsewhere, top-ranked Crenshaw (19-2) got 30 points from Stephen Thompson, 23 from Ronald Caldwell and 19 from Dion Brown to beat Dorsey, 98-76. Lafayette Dorsey led Dorsey (11-12) with 33 points.

Cleveland, coming off a 58-56 loss to Kennedy in the regular-season finale, defeated Gardena, 87-58, behind Trevor Wilson’s 34 points.

“That loss made us hungrier,” Cavalier Coach Bob Braswell said. “It made us realize that we’re not invincible and can be beaten if we don’t play well.”

Kennedy, meanwhile, lost to Manual Arts at home, 55-48.

Marine League champion San Pedro came back from a seven-point deficit at the start of the third quarter to defeat El Camino Real, 74-72.

Senior guard Damon Whitsitt led the Pirates (15-6) with 33 points, hitting 14 of 18 shots and all five attempts from the free-throw line.

At Fremont, forward Brian Jones came off the bench to score 26 points, and center Russel Gilson had 24 to lead the Pathfinders (15-7) past Banning, 97-66. Marshall Lineberger had 23 for the Pilots (5-13).

3-A DIVISION--Despite 42 points from guard Keith Billingslea, Van Nuys upset South Gate, 67-61, at South Gate.

Pat Meyer scored 28 to lead the Wolves (12-4) into the next round against Birmingham. South Gate finished 17-6.

Birmingham (12-10) got a quadruple-double from Keith Owens with 14 points, 10 assists, 10 blocked shots and 10 rebounds in a 53-51 win over Venice.

Venice, which got 21 points from Benny Carrasco, ended at 14-8.

Eric Hardemion hit a 15-foot jumper with four seconds remaining in the game to lift University past Eagle Rock, 63-61, at University.

Derek Drain had 22 points and 16 rebounds, and Craig Pryor added 18 points to lead the Warriors (15-7). Eagle Rock finished 14-7.

At North Hollywood, San Fernando (11-8) outscored the Huskies, 12-5, in overtime to win, 62-55. Reggie Prince scored 22, and Shelton Boykin added 20 to lead the Tigers.