City Playoffs : Carson Could Use Big Help Tonight
What Coach Richard Masson of Carson High wouldn’t do for a 6-foot 10-inch center right now.
Masson could use one because at 7:30 tonight, his team, with no starter over 6-6, will play at Fairfax in the City 4-A quarterfinals against probably the best front line in the City.
Before the season started, Masson had such a center, Clifford Allen, which made the Colts a favorite to challenge Crenshaw’s domination of the 4-A. But Allen’s continuing troubles with the law prevented him from ever playing a game for Carson and eventually he ended up at El Paso de Robles, a juvenile detention center near San Luis Obispo.
Carson went on to a 16-6 season even without Allen, tying for first place in the Marine League with San Pedro. And Friday, the Colts went up against Palisades, a much taller team, in the first round of the playoffs. Carson’s full-court pressure and zone defense, along with 28 points from center Anthony January, resulted in a 60-55 victory.
“Our front line doesn’t match up with too many people,” Masson said. “We don’t have a lot of height.”
January, at 6-6, is the tallest of the Colts, and along with him on the front line are forwards standing 6-3 and 6-2. Their job will be to stop 6-8 Sean Higgins, 6-6 J.D. Green, and 6-6 Chris Mills, a trio that has led Fairfax to a 19-4 record and a tie with Cleveland for the Valley League title.
“We have to use our quickness,” Masson said. “We will use a full-court press and a zone once they get past the (mid-court) line.
“And we can’t let (Higgins) get 30 points.”
Stopping Higgins has been the priority of every Fairfax opponent, and rarely has it been successful. Higgins, a junior, was the player of the year last season as he led Fairfax to the 3-A title. The Lions were rewarded for their success by a promotion to the 4-A, and Higgins has been up to the challenge, averaging almost 24 points a game.
Carson’s uphill struggle may be a little steeper than anticipated, since guard John Howell, who Masson described as the team’s best outside shooter, is questionable for the game because of strep throat.
The quarterfinal round of the City girls’ playoffs will be played tonight. Top-ranked Granada Hills Kennedy, which had a bye in the first round of the 4-A playoffs, will play host to Fremont at 7:30 p.m.
The second round of Southern Section girls’ playoffs will also be played tonight, with all five divisions in action. Pasadena Muir, 26-0 and ranked No. 1 in the nation by USA Today, will play at Upland (15-10) at 7:30 in the 4-A division.