Chatsworth Holds Off Kennedy, 61-52

Chatsworth High basketball players learned something in Wednesday’s 61-52 win over Kennedy in a Northwest Valley Conference opener. Something to stuff in their duffel bags and carry with them the rest of the season.

The Chancellors outhustled the host Golden Cougars, outshot them from the field and beat them to every loose ball . . . for the first 28 minutes.

“For the first 3 1/2 quarters, I felt like we had control,” Chatsworth Coach Sandy Greentree said. “In that last quarter, I didn’t feel like we had any control.”

Luckily for the Chancellors (3-1, 1-0 in league play), a lesson in playing hard from start to finish was learned rather painlessly. Chatsworth weathered a 25-point fourth quarter by Kennedy and, despite nearly blowing a 16-point lead with less than four minutes to play, held on for the win.

The Golden Cougars (4-3, 0-1) trailed, 49-33, with 3 minutes 21 seconds left. Kennedy had scored a whopping five points in the third quarter and there had been few signs of a pulse.

But Bobby Winn made a three-point basket with 3:12 left and the Golden Cougars’ furious press against inbounds plays from the baseline paid off immediately. After a Chatsworth free throw, Joe Wyatt connected on another three-point shot. Kennedy then forced three consecutive backcourt turnovers and converted them all to move within 50-45.

The up-tempo pace certainly suited Wyatt, who finished with a team-high 19 points, 12 in the fourth quarter. Before the final few minutes, however, Kennedy had slogged along.

“I don’t know what’s wrong,” Wyatt said. “We just need to pump up and play like it’s the fourth quarter at the beginning.”

With 2:21 left, Chatsworth center Brady Mertes (19 points) missed the front end of a one-and-one opportunity, but Wyatt and Winn misfired on consecutive three-point attempts. Kennedy’s Vidale Little scored on an 18-foot jump shot to cut the lead to 51-47 with 1:47 to play, and, after a traveling violation by Dennis Byrd, it looked like anybody’s game.

Byrd, however, redeemed himself with a steal at midcourt and a layup with 1:19 left. After a turnover, Ken Manor scored on a fast break to give Chatsworth a 55-47 lead.