Campbell Hall Squanders Lead in 64-59 Defeat

Their coach euphemistically calls it “an inability to handle prosperity.” Like any intoxicant, enough of it can make anybody swoon.

The playoffs for Campbell Hall High have been nothing short of a playground ride, purveyors of a consistent buzz at the buzzer. Last week, the Vikings seesawed their way past Holy Martyrs, after blowing a 14-point lead.

They then edged Montclair Prep at the buzzer after holding a nine-point lead in the second half. They followed up by nudging top-seeded Bishop Diego in the final moments, after leading by seven points early on.

In the Southern Section boys’ Division V-AA final Friday night at Occidental College, reckless offensive abandon finally caught up with Campbell Hall, which fell, 64-59, to Brentwood before approximately 1,500.

It marked the first section title in school history for smoking Brentwood (18-10), which entered the postseason as a wild-card team and has now won eight games in a row, six in the playoffs.

Campbell Hall (24-4), which twice had defeated Brentwood in Delphic League play, led by eight points in the third quarter.

Sophomore guard C. J. Thompkins scored on a back-door play with 7 minutes 15 seconds left in the third quarter to give Campbell Hall a 33-25 lead. The Vikings’ free-spending ways then caught up with them in a big way.

Brentwood outscored the Vikings, 16-4, to take a 41-37 lead with 2:34 left in the quarter. Even worse, starting forwards Scott Glass and Taylor Williams were on the bench with four fouls each. The Eagles led, 47-44, entering the fourth.

By the time Glass and Williams re-entered the game with 4:29 left, Campbell Hall trailed, 54-48.

“It’s hard to win a title with two of your starters on the bench,” Campbell Hall Coach Joe Jackson said.

Junior point guard Austin McKellar, who finished with a game-high 30 points, scored on a driving layup with 2:37 remaining to cut the Brentwood lead to 56-52. The Vikings started to foul to regain possession.

Brentwood made eight of 11 free throws thereafter, however, to hold off any rally. Brentwood attempted 32 free throws overall and made 19. Campbell Hall made 13 of 19.

Center Alex Lopez, a 6-foot-10 freshman who scored 32 points in two wins over Brentwood, was held to just seven points. Frontcourt mates Glass (seven) and Williams (eight) also were slowed considerably.

By contrast, Brentwood had lived and died from the perimeter. And for the first few minutes, it looked like sure death for the Eagles. Brentwood missed all seven of its three-point attempts in the first half but went to an inside game in the second half.

Scott Clarey, a 6-6 senior center, scored 24 points, 15 in the second half. Forward Jeff Howarth was just as damaging, scoring 21 points.

Brentwood’s trapping defense forced 17 turnovers, 13 in the first half.

“Their trap hurt us,” McKellar. “If anything did, the trap did.”

And this time, the trap door fell out from under the Vikings.