Manual Arts Earns Right to Defend Title, 100-90

Dwain Bradberry scored 32 points to lead Manual Arts High to a 100-90 victory over Washington in a City Section 4-A Division semifinal playoff game Friday night at Santa Monica College.

The Toilers (22-3), advancing to the City final for the fourth year in a row, will play Westchester for the championship Friday night at the Sports Arena. Westchester upset Crenshaw, 71-65, in the other semifinal.

Bradberry, a 6-4 senior guard, made 16 of 21 field-goal attempts, grabbed five rebounds and had five assists for the Toilers, the defending City champion and The Times’ second-ranked City team.

“We shot with confidence this game,” Bradberry said. “We felt that we came into the game like we were the underdog because they beat us the last time we played them.”

Washington, The Times’ fourth-ranked City team, defeated the Toilers in an early season tournament behind Lamar Smith’s 42 points. This time, Smith was held to 19 points.

Manual Arts also owned a regular-season victory over Washington and familiarity played a role in the Toilers’ defensive plan. “We played them twice and we knew what they could do and couldn’t do,” Manual Arts Coach Randolph Simpson said. “Whoever got hot for them, we just made adjustments to take them out of the game.”

Manual Arts held a 26-20 lead at the end of the first quarter as Kevin Beal and Bryan Smith combined for 15 points. Washington (21-5), with Isaac Burton and Smith combining for 16 points, took its first lead at 33-32 with 4:54 remaining in the half. Manual Arts rallied behind Bradberry to take a 49-44 halftime lead.

Bradberry continued to lead the way in the second half, making 10 of 11 field-goal attempts, including all eight in the third quarter. Manual Arts controlled the game with its defense, as it limited the outside shooting of Smith and the inside scoring of Barnabas James.

A key second-half move for the Toilers came after Washington started to rally early in the third quarter.

“At that point, I told the team to play everyone straight up on defense and not to key on one guy,” Simpson said.

Manual Arts received strong play from point guard Jason Martin, who scored 17 points, including five fourth-quarter free throws, and Beal, who also finished with 17.

Washington, which can advance to the State tournament with an at-large bid, was led by Burton, who scored 30 points. James added 22 points and 11 rebounds.