Outside Forces Steal the Show in Chaminade Tournament

Supporters of Valley-area basketball did not have much to cheer about at the Chaminade tournament Wednesday. Rather, it was teams from the inner city of Los Angeles that dominated the action in the quarterfinal round of the 4-day tournament.

True, Granada Hills High did advance to tonight’s semifinal round against Fairfax, a 47-42 winner in overtime against Oakland Bishop O’Dowd, but it was Manual Arts, the defending state tournament champion, that proved to be the main attraction.

Led by forwards Charlo Davis and Kent Bennett, Manual Arts overwhelmed Verbum Dei, 81-63, to remain undefeated.

Manual Arts (9-0) will meet Washington, a 90-63 winner over Simi Valley, in a semifinal game at 7:30 tonight.

Davis scored most of his game-high 24 points from outside while Bennett waged battle inside for his 15 points.

Davis scored 17 points in the first 2 quarters, hitting 6 of 6 field-goal attempts and 4 of 4 free throws.

“We struggled a little bit in the first three or four minutes of the game,” first-year Manual Arts Coach Randolph Simpson said. “But in the second quarter, we really started to play intense defense and it paid off with easy baskets.”

The Toilers forced 20 turnovers--12 in the first half--and the strong defense was primarily responsible for a 10-0 run at the start of the second period that gave Manual Arts a 32-12 lead with 6 minutes left in the half.

“Our defense keys our offense,” Simpson said. “That’s something that (former) Coach Reggie Morris always stressed and I’m the same way.”

In other quarterfinal games:

Washington 90, Simi Valley 63--The Pioneers held a 10-9 lead midway through the first quarter, but Washington reeled off an 11-3 spurt to take a 20-12 lead at the end of the first period and never looked back.

Simi Valley (5-5) narrowed the lead to 68-56 with 6:30 left, but Washington (6-4) went on a 15-3 run to put the game away.

Jeferey Delton led Washington with 21 points.

Jeff Marciano scored 17 points--including 5 3-point baskets--for Simi Valley. Teammates Dennis Cook and Steve Carnes had 13 and 12 points.

Granada Hills 103, Chaminade JV 54--Alvin Brown scored 28 points for the Highlanders. Brown scored 11 points in the first quarter when Granada Hills (7-1) took a 32-9 lead.

John Johnson (14 points), Joey Rosas (12) and Edward Thomas (10) also scored in double figures for Granada Hills.

Charlie Fei scored 16 points for Chaminade.

Fairfax 47, Bishop O’Dowd 42 (OT)--Norman Francis’ basket gave the Lions a 43-39 lead with 1:18 left in the overtime and John Woolery and Estevan Johnson each added 2 free throws for Fairfax (6-4) down the stretch.

Bart Ensley of Bishop O’Dowd made a 3-point shot with 4 seconds left in regulation to send the game into overtime.

Johnson scored a game-high 15 points and Francis added 14 for Fairfax.

Kenji Jacques scored 11 points for Bishop O’Dowd (6-3).