Prep Basketball Playoffs : 3-A Semifinals : Kennedy Prevails in 3 Overtimes

In a game that went from embarrassing to bewildering, Kennedy High School overcame a 23-point halftime deficit and went on to stun Rolling Hills, 83-80, in three overtimes Tuesday night at West Torrance High.

The unlikely win means Kennedy (21-7) will vie for the Southern Section’s 3-A division boys’ basketball championship at 11:30 a.m. Saturday in the Los Angeles Sports Arena against the winner of tonight’s Tustin-Palos Verdes game.

Michael Keith made a three-point shot with 1:11 remaining in the third overtime period, and his twin brother, Maurice, stole the ensuing inbounds pass and made a three-point play only seconds later to give the Irish the semifinal victory in front of 1,800 fans.

Rolling Hills (21-7) appeared to be headed for its second straight championship-game appearance when it opened a 42-19 halftime lead. A combination of some fine shooting by Rolling Hills and the inept play of Kennedy resulted in the lopsided score.

Kennedy made only 8 of 31 shots in the first half while Rolling Hills piled up the points with five three-point shots and the inside play of center John Hardy, who had 14 points at the intermission.

“I told the team at halftime that they were being outhustled, outplayed and outshot,” said John Mayberry, Kennedy coach. “That first half was the biggest nightmare of my life.

“We came out a little flat. We were too relaxed. We got here way too early and couldn’t get started. So I told the players we were going to a man defense and to go get them.”

Kennedy managed to trim the deficit to 15 points by the end of the third quarter and then turned it on in the fourth quarter. The Irish outscored the Titans, 15-1, and trailed by just one point, 57-56, after guard Michael Pettingill scored on a driving layup against four defenders.

Rolling Hills Coach Cliff Warren tried to kill Kennedy’s momentum by calling three timeouts in the fourth quarter, but the Irish were rolling. Afterward, Warren looked like a guy who had just been told his dog had been run over.

“All of a sudden we started sputtering,” Warren said. “We’re young, and their defense took control. I don’t think we relaxed; they just took us out of our game.

“I’ve been involved in a few wild games in my life, and this one probably rates right up there on the top with the wildest games I’ve coached.”

Rolling Hills did manage to regain its composure long enough to gain a six-point lead, 64-58, with 1:32 left. But the Irish were far from finished and finally sent the game to overtime when Michael Keith scored on a three-point shot with 57 seconds left in regulation.

Kennedy took a four-point lead, but two consecutive drives down the baseline for baskets by Rolling Hills’ Mark Tesar sent the game into another three-minute period.

Sophomore Jim Barker saved Kennedy in the second overtime when he scored on a three-point shot with two seconds left to tie the score, 74-74.

Afterwards, Mayberry had tears in his eyes as he slumped to both knees at midcourt and looked up to the heavens.

“This was the weirdest game in the history of our school,” he said. “I told the players that if we could just cut their lead to 15 points going into the last quarter we had a chance. Amazing, truly amazing.”