Roundup : Crossroads Hammers Whitney Again, 74-46

Whitney High School of Cerritos was routed again Saturday--mismatched, overwhelmed and left to wonder what other indignities must befall the Southern Section Small Schools basketball champion other than a yearly thrashing by Santa Monica Crossroads.

Crossroads, the two-time Southern Section 1-A champion, beat Whitney, 74-46, Saturday at the Sports Arena to win the Division III Southern Regional and a berth in the state final. For the Wildcats, solace may be found in the 28-point losing deficit--down from a 34-point loss, 94-60, in last year’s regional.

Whitney was never in the game. It trailed, 10-0, and was able to once shave the deficit to 19-13 in the second quarter before Crossroads (24-5) put on a 13-5 spurt to make it 32-18.

“Their quickness, size . . . a combination of both are just too much,” said Whitney Coach Bruce Carlisle, who announced at the beginning of the season that this would be his last year as basketball coach.

Seniors David Wolfe (19 points, 13 rebounds) and Chris Brown (17 points, 6 assists) led a Crossroads attack that shot 72.7% from the field in the second half and 62.2% for the game. Whitney (25-3) shot 31% in the first half and less than 40% for the game.

“I think we’re on line to peak for the state,” Crossroads Coach David Benezra said. “We’re tired . . . it’s an emotional kind of tired for us, though. We have a week now to rest and prepare.”