Crenshaw Brings Down the House : Basketball: Watson cuts shoulder on dunk that shatters backboard, ends game.

The only way Crenshaw High’s high-flying style of basketball was stopped Wednesday night was by Crenshaw itself.

With 2 minutes 40 seconds to play in the first half of a Thousand Oaks tournament first-round game against Faith Baptist, Crenshaw center Leon Watson shattered the backboard on a dunk.

By mutual agreement of coaches and tournament officials, the game was called with Crenshaw ahead, 71-23.

The gym erupted when Watson slammed down the dunk on a putback of a missed shot by Reggie McFerren, but seconds later there was silence as it became apparent Watson was injured.

Watson, a 6-foot-8 senior, sustained a deep cut to his right shoulder and was taken to Los Robles Regional Medical Center by paramedics, where he was treated for a laceration. Watson was able to move his arm as he left the gym.

“Right now I’m worried about any ligament or nerve damage,” Crenshaw Coach Willie West said. “I know the cut was down to the bone, so he will need stitches.”

West said the cut came from the rim rather than the broken glass that showered the floor. The rim became dislodged as well and fell on top of Watson.

A later first-round game between Westlake and St. Monica was moved to Westlake High. Tournament director Jim O’Brien said a new backboard should be in place for today’s semifinal games.

“We’ve had thunderstorms delay games and had games flooded out, but we’ve never been backboarded out,” O’Brien said.

Former NBA standout Marques Johnson was in the crowd to see his son, Kristaan Johnson, play for Crenshaw (3-0). “That’s the first time I’ve seen something like this live,” Marques said. “Right now, I’m just hope (Watson) is OK.”

Players on both teams expressed the same sentiments.

“I’m just shocked,” Faith Baptist forward Marrean Robottom said, “I was standing right underneath the basket when it happened. The cut looked to be real deep and all of a sudden there was blood on the floor.”

Crenshaw’s performance to that point had left Faith Baptist (3-3) amazed. Crenshaw, ranked No. 2 in the nation by USA Today and No. 1 in the state by Cal-Hi Sports, jumped to a 26-2 lead in the first four minutes.

The Cougars were lethal from the perimeter, hitting 10 of 17 three-point attempts. Johnson led Crenshaw with 20 points.

The Contenders handled the Crenshaw press to some extent but blew several layups. Robottom led the Contenders with 14 points.

“After the first couple minutes, our kids knew they could break the press,” Faith Baptist Coach Ron Colon said, “but we succumbed to the Crenshaw myth.”

A myth that no doubt will grow in the wake of Watson’s exploit.