SOUTHERN SECTION BOYS 5-AA BASKETBALL : Hannibal Takes Long Beach Poly Over Mountain, 60-58

Roderick Hannibal of Long Beach Poly made a twisting layup with two seconds remaining to give the Jackrabbits a 60-58 win over Lynwood for the Southern Section boys’ 5-AA Division championship before a crowd of 11,713 at the Sports Arena Saturday night.

Trailing 58-55 with 1:47 left, Poly (26-2) outscored the Knights, 5-0, to win its 13th Southern Section title and first since 1984.

“I knew that the clock was running out when I started the drive,” said Hannibal, who had 18 points. “I thought that I was fouled but after I didn’t hear a whistle, I just put the ball up and it went in.”

Hannibal’s shot was set up after Yikeem Craddock made one of two technical foul free throws with 24 seconds remaining, after he was intentionally fouled on a layup.

“It’s hard to get beat like that, but the officials made the call,” Lynwood Coach Bill Notley said. “But I guess we were just fortunate to be in the game considering the minutes we played without (Earnest) Killum.”

Killum, who entered the game with a 30-point average, did not score a point before he had to leave the game midway through the first quarter with two fouls.

He fouled out for good early in the fourth quarter when Poly’s Willie McGinest took a charging call. Killum finished with 14 points.

But Poly’s foul problems did not get serious until 3:13 left in the second quarter when 6-7 Willie McGinest picked up his third foul.

With Killum on the bench for most of the first half, Lynwood (30-2) was able to stay close behind the play of point guard Mike Singleton, who scored eight points in the first half, and forward Juaquin Hawkins, had nine.

Poly led at halftime, 32-29, but a rested Killum took over and scored 12 points to help the Knights take a 46-43 lead after three quarters. Lynwood had a 50-46 lead, but the momentum shifted after McGinest’s stand on Killum.