STATWATCH : Cleveland Tries to Stop One Streak, Extend Another Against Fairfax

Fairfax, which visits Cleveland tonight in a key Valley League game today, has been the bearer of bad news for Cleveland in each of Bob Braswell’s three seasons as coach.

In Braswell’s first season, Fairfax won two of three games. Last season, Fairfax defeated Cleveland four times--the Cavaliers’ only losses--including an 86-58 whipping in the City Section 4-A Division final. Fairfax defeated Cleveland in a Valley League game Dec. 15 for its sixth win in a row over the Cavaliers.

Fairfax is the only team to defeat Cleveland on the Cavaliers’ home court during Braswell’s tenure, doing it twice.

Both teams are riding hot streaks. Cleveland (13-3, 5-1 in league play) has won nine in a row since losing to Fairfax, 78-69. Fairfax (13-3, 7-0) has rebounded from its only three losses--in holiday tournaments in Hawaii and Arkansas-- with five consecutive wins.

Shooting: After shooting 49% from the free-throw line in its first 14 games, St. Genevieve broke out of its season-long slump in an 81-67 victory over Salesian on Friday, making 28 of 36 attempts. . . . With 26 points on 13-of-18 shooting Friday, Taft off-guard Quincy Watts raised his field-goal percentage to 60% (149 for 247).

Offense: For the second season in a row, Granada Hills scored more than 100 points against Monroe. Granada Hills, which scored 105 in a game last season, crushed the Vikings, 101-66, Friday. Four Highlanders--Alvin Brown (30 points), Jamal Brantley (16), John Johnson (13) and Joey Rosas (11)--scored in double figures. . . . Montclair Prep rang up some big numbers in its 102-97 victory at Marshall Fundamental last Friday. Three players scored at least 20 points as the Mounties shot 60.3% from the field (35 of 58) and 69.6% (32 of 46) from the free-throw line. Craig Handschu, who is averaging 26.2 points a game, scored a career-high 39 points, making 13 of 25 field-goal attempts and 13 of 18 free throws.

Simi Valley has won six Marmonte League games by an average margin of 27.8 points. In league games not involving Simi Valley, the average margin of victory has been 5.8 points. . . . Calabasas had five players score in double-figures for the first time since Bill Bellatty began coaching the Coyotes in 1982. Calabasas beat Santa Paula, 80-64, and shot better from three-point range (7 of 15) than the free-throw line (7 of 17). . . . In Friday’s Liberty League game, Holy Martyrs held Oakwood junior forward Mitchell Butler, who went into the game averaging 33.4 points a game, to 13 points, his lowest output since his freshman season.

All-around: Taft point guard Dedan Thomas was a triple threat in two games last week. Thomas, a 5-11 junior, scored 47 points on 18-of-25 shooting, had 21 assists, 6 steals and turned the ball over only 4 times. Despite his efforts, Taft lost to Cleveland and Fairfax.

Streaks: Monroe has lost seven consecutive games. Canoga Park has lost four in a row and 10 of its past 11.