Servite’s Shooting Stops Culver City

Servite High School Coach Richard Smith told his team of three ways to stop a fast-break offense before its 3-AA semifinal game against high-scoring Culver City Friday.

1) Make your shots; 2) Put everybody back on defense; 3) Buy tight nets.

Servite chose option No. 1, hitting 12 of 15 shots in the second half to defeat Culver City, 74-60, at Inglewood High.

The Friars (17-10) will meet Estancia, an 81-78 winner over Lompoc in triple overtime in Friday’s other semifinal, in Wednesday’s championship game at 8:30 p.m. in the Bren Center.

Servite center Steve Marusich said Smith’s three options were a joke. But the Friars knew the fast-break style of Culver City, averaging just over 90 points a game in three playoff games, was no laughing matter.

Servite was averaging about 63 points a game, but allowing just 51. The key, Smith said, was to walk--not run--to the victory.

“We knew anytime we were running up and down the floor, it was to their advantage,” said Smith, in his rookie season. “We had to make them play our style and get the ball inside, hurt them inside. It’s hard to run when the other team is putting the ball in the basket.”

Leading, 30-29, at halftime, Servite opened the third quarter patiently working the ball around the perimeter. The strategy normally resulted in a guard feeding Marusich and forward Adam Anderson inside.

The pair took full advantage. Marusich, a 6-foot-7 senior, scored a game-high 27 points, including 16 in the second half. He also had 10 rebounds and was 13 of 13 from the free-throw line.

Anderson, a 6-4 sophomore, scored 13 second-half points and finished with 20 points.

The duo was a combined nine of 11 from the field in the second half.

“The tempo was the major factor for us,” Anderson said. “We did a great job of slowing the ball down. They were great athletes.”

When Servite didn’t get a field goal inside, it often drew fouls. As a result, the Friars outscored Culver City, 29-15, from the free-throw line.