Cleveland Proves Too Much for Outmanned Chatsworth in Storming to 55-Point Win

The word “Chatsworth” was plastered across the front of their jerseys as clear as day, but Friday night the Chatsworth High basketball team sure looked a lot like the old Washington Generals, those foils the Harlem Globetrotters still run rings around.

And the Chancellors had about as much chance of beating Cleveland as the Generals do of whipping the Globetrotters.

As routs go, Cleveland’s 87-32 lambasting of Chatsworth in a Northwest Valley Conference opener is about as bad as it gets.

Exhibit A: Chatsworth (3-7), which starts two sophomores and has no players with varsity experience, turned the ball over the first seven times down the floor.

Exhibit B: When the Chancellors did finally take a shot nearly four minutes into the first period, it was blocked.

Exhibit C: Chatsworth, which had 14 turnovers in the first period and 34 total, shot 21% from the field in the first half and 29% for the game.

Exhibit D: The Chancellors trailed, 22-4, after the first quarter and 47-13 at intermission, when their leading scorer was Delvon Hardaway, with three points.

It was so ugly that Cleveland Coach Marc Paez was making wholesale substitutions as early as the second period.

“I thought we could control it a little bit, but we didn’t control it at all,” Chatsworth Coach Gary Shair said. “I’m frustrated. We’ll never have a chance against Cleveland.”

Shair’s frustration was evident when he was whistled for back-to-back technical fouls in the third period, resulting in four free throws by Cleveland’s Joe Eddings. It didn’t much matter--Chatsworth trailed, 63-15, at the time.

It was just another night at the office for Cleveland (11-3), winners of 10 of its last 11.

The Cavaliers led, 14-0, before Chatsworth even took a shot. Eddie Hill and Brandon Martin each had 12 points by halftime--only one less than the Chatsworth team.

“I really didn’t go in expecting a rout. There’s always a little bit of fear for me in any game,” Paez said with a straight face. “I thought our starters went in and did what they had to do. They created a big spread, and we were able to put our other kids in at an early juncture.”

Shair, for one, was pleased Cleveland didn’t rub salt in the open wound that was his team.

“They could have been worse,” Shair said. “But he played everybody. He didn’t rub it in. I appreciate that.”

Martin led Cleveland with a game-high 17 points. Hill and reserve center Patrick McCook each scored 12, and Eddings added 11 off the bench.

Chris Dumbar was the lone to Chancellor to reach double figures, scoring 11 points--three on a three-point basket that put Chatsworth over 30 points for the game.