PREP BASKETBALL ROUNDUP : Comets Keep It Close, But Crenshaw Prevails, 88-83

When you’re the No. 1 high school basketball team in the nation, it’s easy to draw a crowd.

Three major league baseball players, a college basketball coach and an ex-Laker were among the fans who packed Westchester High’s gym Thursday to watch the Comets play Crenshaw, holder of USA Today’s top rating, in a Central League finale.

Westchester entertained the star-studded audience by putting up a fight for awhile, but like all the others, the Comets weren’t able to hang with Crenshaw for an entire game.

The Cougars used their superior depth and height to draw away in the fourth quarter for an 88-83 victory and finish the regular season with a 22-0 record. They will open the L.A City 4-A playoffs next Friday as the top seed.

“We kept on making mental mistakes early,” said Crenshaw assistant coach Joe Weakley. “This is a rivalry. In order to get things settled down, the air had to clear.”

Crenshaw (10-0 in league) cleared Westchester (18-5, 6-4) out of the way behind the play of forward John Staggers and center Cornelius Holden down the stretch. Staggers, who signed early with Washington, scored 6 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter and Holden, a Louisville recruit, had 4 of his 17 points in the final period.

Holden’s last two baskets were dunks that delighted a crowd that included UCLA Coach Walt Hazzard, whose son plays for Crenshaw, former Laker forward Mitch Kupchak and baseball major leaguers Eric Davis, Chris Brown and Darryl Strawberry. Brown and Strawberry are both Crenshaw graduates.

Westchester Coach Ed Azzam felt there was also too much Crenshaw influence on the court. He said the referees allowed the game to get out of hand.

“I’m tired of playing Crenshaw with Crenshaw officials,” he said. “This happens every single time we play Crenshaw. The officials won’t make a call.”

The referees did make their share of calls against Crenshaw, however. Doug Meekins (12 points) and Staggers both fouled out in the fourth quarter.

Azzam’s frustration was understandable. The lead changed 16 times before Crenshaw pulled quarter when the clock kept running after play was stopped. Although the referees were alerted to the mistake, no time was added.

“We lost 40 seconds off the clock,” Azzam complained. “I don’t know why (the referees) didn’t put the time back on. They don’t talk to me.”

There were also two apparent blunders concerning the score. Westchester got two extra points midway through the fourth quarter and Crenshaw mysteriously had a point taken away late in the game.

Westchester finished league play in second place, avoiding a tie with Dorsey when the Dons lost to Washington, 69-65, Thursday.

Comet forward Zan Mason led all scorers with 25 points, but he scored only 4 in the fourth quarter. Swing man Michael Brown added 19 points and point guard Sam Crawford had 17 for Westchester.

A three-point shot by Crawford at the first-half buzzer gave the Comets a 46-45 lead, but Crenshaw asserted itself in the opening minutes of the third quarter on three straight baskets by Holden to go ahead, 51-49.

Westchester took its last lead, 62-61, late in the third quarter on a drive through the key by guard Scott Crawford.

Manual Arts 103, San Pedro 56--Manual capped a 10-0 Marine League record by putting away San Pedro in the league finale at home. The Toilers led, 47-27, at half time and coasted after that. Willie Sanchez scored 20 points for San Pedro, which finished at 6-4 in the league, tied with Carson for second place. The Pirates are 9-10 overall. Manual is 19-2.

El Segundo 74, Miraleste 67--The visiting Marauders played tough for a half, leading 35-31 at intermission, but El Segundo took control with a 23-9 third quarter and hung on. El Segundo finished 7-3 in the Pioneer League to clinch a playoff spot and is 12-10 overall. Junior Shawn Foster had 18 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists for the winners. Heath Jones had 16 points and 12 rebounds and Joe Montanez had 13 points, 7 of them in the third quarter. Miraleste finished 1-9 and 5-16. Mike Booth led the Marauders with 25 points.

Inglewood 77, Beverly Hills 69--Junior forward Harold Minor exploded for 47 points to keep the Sentinels in the running for a playoff spot at 6-4 in the Ocean League. Hawthorne, 5-4 in the league, needs to beat Mira Costa to tie Inglewood for third place and force a playoff.

Morningside 71, Centennial 41--Morningside clinched at least second place in the Pioneer League and put the pressure on Leuzinger to win tonight at Redondo to clinch the title. The Monarchs finished at 8-2 in the league and 16-8 overall. Leuzinger goes into tonight’s game at 8-1. Centennial finished at 1-9.

GIRLS

Hawthorne 36, Mira Costa 31--In an Ocean League game at Mira Costa, Kim Bly scored 20 points to pace Hawthorne to its seventh league win against three losses. Hawthorne pulled away from a 21-21 half-time tie. Dee Toombs scored 10 points for Mira Costa, which fell to 3-7.

Inglewood 52, Beverly Hills 36--The Lady Sentinels tied Hawthorne for second place in the Ocean League with the victory at home. Inglewood and Hawthorne finished league play at 7-3. Inglewood improved to 13-8 overall as Rhonda Jackson scored 17 points and Charlotte Griffin added 14.