HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL CITY BOYS’ PLAYOFFS : Crenshaw Starts Another Streak

After seeing an 11-year home-court winning streak snapped a week before, the Crenshaw High boys’ basketball team began another one Wednesday night in beating Palisades, 95-47, in a Division 4-A first-round playoff game.

“We are on a mission because we broke tradition,” Alexous Scruggs said about Crenshaw, which suffered a one-point defeat to Washington in its next-to-last regular-season game that ended the streak.

That mission could add to Crenshaw’s tradition of postseason success. The Cougars have won 11 City Section titles and four State championships.

Scruggs scored 22 points.

“We weren’t trying to blow anyone out. We just didn’t want (to lose) to again,” said Scruggs, a 6-foot-3 senior guard.

Crenshaw (17-4), which has lost only four home games since 1971, will play at Fairfax in a quarterfinal game Friday night.

Scruggs scored 10 of the Cougars’ first 12 points as Crenshaw built a 12-4 advantage less than four minutes into the game.

Crenshaw never trailed and led, 37-19, at halftime. The Cougars forced 29 turnovers and scored 17 consecutive points midway through the second half to take a 79-33 lead with five minutes to play.

“I never saw them (Palisades) play,” said Willie West, Crenshaw coach. “I didn’t know what to expect. We don’t prepare for anyone but ourselves. People are always fired up to play us, but if we execute we’ll do OK.”

Olin Simplis led Palisades (8-14) with 26 points.