Bishop Montgomery Just 1 Shy of Upset in El Segundo

Bishop Montgomery devised a game plan to offset Crescenta Valley’s quick play-making guard and compensate for a front line that was clearly taller and stronger than what the Knights had. And it almost worked.

However, instead of posting the upset, Bishop Montgomery fell to Crescenta Valley, 31-30, in the championship game of the El Segundo Kiwanis Basketball Classic.

The Knights had a chance to win, but Michael Wright’s last-second shot rolled off the rim.

Raffie Eskandarian led all scorers with 17 points, while Matt Kutrell paced the Knights with 5.

Crescenta Valley led by one with Eskandarian at the line. But he missed the shot and Wright rebounded, dribbled all the way down court and laid up a shot that hung on the rim before falling off.

The Knights led, 16-14, at intermission in a game that initially was dominated by defense and turnovers.

Bishop Montgomery came out using a full-court press on defense and a slow-down, ball-control offense that confused Crescenta Valley. The Falcons also converted only 4 of 10 charity attempts.

Leuzinger 75, Quartz Hill 65--The Olympians, paced by three players in double figures, mounted a late charge that propelled them to a third-place finish in the Kiwanis Classic.

Leuzinger trailed until the final period when, the Olympians broke open a close game with a 15-3 run to move ahead, 70-58, with a little more than two minutes remaining.

Al Kiilehua (14 points) led the fourth-quarter charge by scoring Leuzinger’s first 5 points, all on offensive rebounds. Mac Williams finished with 18 points, and Maurice Roberts contributed 15.

Quartz Hill (1-2) was paced by Gabe Higa’s 23 points.

Glendale 80, El Segundo 63--Glendale jumped out to a big early lead, then held on to take the fifth-place trophy.

El Segundo (1-2) turned the ball over often in the first quarter, and fell behind, 21-11, at the buzzer. The Eagles trailed 44-23 at halftime.

El Segundo sliced the advantage to 11 to start the fourth period, but Glendale iced the game with clutch free-throw shooting.

Shawn Foster paced El Segundo with 17 points, while Ken Talanoa and Scott Panfil contributed 12 points apiece.