GAME OF THE WEEK : Dorsey Falls to Crenshaw’s Sharpshooters

If Crenshaw plays in the toughest league, they sure made winning it look easy.

The Cougars’ 97-78 win over Dorsey Friday night improved their record to 18-2 overall, and more importantly, 8-0 in the Southern League to clinch first place in what was a tight race with Dorsey and Washington.

Crenshaw played a game of percentages.

Shooting percentages, that is.

The Cougar’s top-scoring trio of Kris Johnson, Reggie McFerren and Tremaine Fowlkes made a combined 19 of 35 shots from the field--54%.

Johnson, who had a game-high 27 points, led a Crenshaw team that dominated throughout.

Although both teams pressed early to try to cause quick turnovers, the defensive strategy backfired for Dorsey as its players failed to convert on layups at the offensive end.

“We need more focus out there on the court,” Dorsey coach Kevin Gibson said. “Both teams committed their fair share of turnovers but the easy layups we missed killed us.”

Dorsey seemed to be suffering from the aftereffects of a surprising loss to Narbonne, 48-44, on Wednesday night.

Dorsey trailed by only 13 points, 53-40, at halftime, a margin that would have been much larger if not for point guard Kenya Wilkins.

Wilkins continued to live up to his preseason label as the best point guard in the city, scoring 25, handing out eight assists and making five steals.

But Wilkins received little help offensively as his teammates failed to reach double figures.

Crenshaw did take advantage of Dorsey turnovers, however.

McFerren, who scored 13 points stole an inbounds pass and scored to give Crenshaw a commanding 78-59 lead with 1:12 left in the third quarter.

Dorsey made a late fourth-quarter run to cut Crenshaw’s lead to 85-71, but a layup by Maurice Robinson spurred an 8-0 Cougar run that put the game out of reach.

“(The team) stepped up on offense and defense,” Crenshaw coach Willie West said. “We are finally starting to solidify as a group.”

Records: Crenshaw 18-2, 9-0; Dorsey 11-9