At Kennedy, Keiths Are a Team Within a Team

Maurice Keith--he’s older by nine minutes--can drive the baseline like no one John Mayberry has ever coached at Kennedy High School.

Michael Keith--he’s taller by 1 1/2 inches--drops in three-point jumpers as easily as he outrebounds taller opponents.

The Keith twins have led Kennedy into the semifinal round of the Southern Section 3-A playoffs for the first time since the school began playing varsity basketball in 1964. Kennedy (20-7) plays Rolling Hills (21-6) at 7:30 tonight at West Torrance High.

Maurice, a 6-foot 1-inch senior forward, averages 11 points a game and shoots 56% from the field. Michael, a 6-foot 2-inch senior guard, averages 13 points and 11.9 rebounds. Michael also makes 41% of his three-point tries.

“They’re like a tandem, but they also fit in with the others,” Mayberry said. “Mo can split the baseline so well. Michael has to play inside because we don’t have a player over 6-5. He’s better on defense inside.”

Maurice plays strictly inside as a power forward. Michael plays down low on defense, but often brings the ball upcourt and, more frequently, shoots from the outside.

Each Keith has his own role and style of play and that fits perfectly with Mayberry’s team-first system.

The point guard, junior Mike Pettengill, passes first and seldom shoots. The small forward, senior Wendell Lauderdale, scores, rebounds and plays defense equally well. The center, 6-5 senior Michael Williams, is the team’s tallest player. The sixth man, senior Glenn Tarlton, adds a big boost off the bench.

Lauderdale, Williams and the Keiths have played together since the sixth grade. It started at La Palma Park recreation leagues and continued for all except Michael on the Kennedy freshmen team that won the league title.

Michael moved to the junior varsity for his freshman season and made the varsity as a sophomore. Maurice joined the varsity as a junior.

He was the sixth man during summer league games and into the first few nonleague games this season. But he played so well Mayberry had no choice but to start him later in the season.

Michael could average 20 points or so, but has sacrificed a high point average to help rebound.

“I can get rebounds,” Michael said. “I know they all can score. It’s fun to bang inside.”

And bang is the correct word.

Though they are short for rebounders, the Keiths have a decided weight advantage. Each weighs more than 200 pounds and their bulky stature allows them to gain position on taller opponents. Kennedy, with the Keiths muscling others out of the way, has routinely outrebounded taller teams.

“Usually we play better when there’s a big guy down there (playing against us),” Maurice said.

But this season has not been without its problems.

Kennedy limped through a tough nonleague schedule with a 3-6 record. The low point was a 57-49 loss to Santa Clara in the Orange tournament. The Fighting Irish missed 19 free throws in the game, their last before Garden Grove League play began.

But Kennedy righted itself, won the league title with a 13-1 record and tied a school record for victories in a season with 20.

Since that January loss to Santa Clara, Kennedy has won 16 of 17 games. The only loss was a last-second, 75-74 defeat to Bolsa Grande.

“We had our goals before the season started,” Michael said.

“We wanted to go 14-0 in league, but we got upset,” Maurice said.

Added Michael: “We want to go all the way.”

KENNEDY vs. ROLLING HILLS

RECORDS--Kennedy (20-7), Rolling Hills (21-6).

SITE--West Torrance High School.

KENNEDY UPDATE--The Fighting Irish have won 16 of their last 17 games and are coming off a 58-55 upset of top-seeded Saddleback in the quarterfinals. Senior guard Michael Keith, Kennedy’s leading scorer with 13 points a game, has 24 and 25 points in his last two games. Twin brother Maurice, a senior forward, adds 11 points a game. Wendell Lauderdale, a senior forward, is the third key player and Kennedy’s best defender. Kennedy is making its first appearance in the semifinals.

ROLLING HILLS UPDATE--The Titans are led by John Hardy, a junior center averaging 23.5 points and 9.5 rebounds a game. Hardy had 32 points in the Titans’ 69-66 victory over Los Alamitos Friday night. Rolling Hills is trying for a return to the championship game. Last season, the Titans lost to Saugus, 66-53. The Titans are 9-2 in the playoffs in eight seasons with Cliff Warren as coach.

KEY TO THE GAME--Rebounding is key. Hardy proved to be overpowering beyond his 6-feet 4-inches against Los Alamitos. Kennedy was able to contain the inside game of Saddleback’s Malru and Gylan Dottin in the quarterfinals. The team that controls the inside will win.

CONSENSUS--A tossup. Neither has an advantage in height, though Kennedy, which likes to fast break, is quicker. Kennedy also has more experienced players, including four of five senior starters. Rolling Hills graduated all five starters from last season’s finalists.