Westchester, Crenshaw Play Tonight

Westchester High School’s basketball team knew it would have a difficult time playing as well as it was expected to this season.

The Comets were atop nearly every City preseason poll and were considered one of the country’s best teams. Returning were two of the city’s elite senior players, Sam Crawford, a 5-foot-9 point guard, and Zan Mason, 6-7 UCLA-bound center from last season’s City 4-A semifinalist.

The Comets’ expectations seemed justified when they defeated highly regarded Reseda Cleveland in their opening game, 88-72.

Westchester, however, lost three games in early-season tournaments and then were beaten twice by Los Angeles Manual Arts, the defending state champion and a Metro League rival.

Still, Coach Ed Azzam said the Comets’ hopes for City Section and state titles are feasible as they prepare to face perennial power Crenshaw in a City 4-A Division quarterfinal game at Crenshaw tonight. Westchester defeated Wilmington Banning in the first round last Friday night, 92-73.

“We are a little disappointed in not meeting the goals we’ve set,” said Azzam, whose Comets finished the regular season ranked second in The Times’ top 10, with a 15-5 record. “But, we can still live up to our goals by winning the City title.”

The Comets have defeated quality teams, as witnessed by routs of Moore League champion Lakewood, City 3-A power Los Angeles Washington and Cleveland.

The catalyst for the Comets is Crawford.

Crawford is a fast-break offensive player with great leaping ability. He is averaging 30 points and 15 assists a game.

On the receiving end of many of Crawford’s assists is Mason, who is averaging more than 21 points a game despite constant double-teaming from opposing defenses.

Mason was named the state’s top junior player of the year last season, while averaging 21 points and nine rebounds a game.