Snodgrass Rescues Vikings : Division V-AA: Role player’s hustle helps faltering Campbell Hall hold off Brentwood in final quarter, 62-60.

Jim Snodgrass was an unlikely hero for Campbell Hall High in its Southern Section Division V-AA semifinal game Tuesday night.

Snodgrass scored only four points but when the Vikings lost an eight-point lead in the final quarter and seemed to be falling apart, it was Snodgrass’ hustle which enabled Campbell Hall to escape with a 62-60 victory over Delphic League rival Brentwood before a standing-room-only crowd at Harvard-Westlake.

Campbell Hall will play Pasadena Poly in the championship game Friday night.

With the score tied, 58-58, and less than a minute to play, Snodgrass stole a pass from Eagle guard George Washington, drove downcourt and fed Simeon Woodall, who scored with 22 seconds left to give the Vikings the lead for good.

“I’ve been a role player all year doing those things,” Snodgrass said. “I let the other guys to the scoring.”

After Woodall (18 points) and Brentwood’s Teddy Miller (29) traded free throws, the Eagles had one last chance, but Miller’s 10-foot baseline shot bounced off the rim and Sebastian Saylor’s follow missed before Viking center Alex Lopez tipped the ball out to midcourt as time expired.

Brentwood put itself in a position to win by using a trapping defense, causing seven fourth-quarter turnovers. When Campbell Hall didn’t give up the ball, it shot an astounding 70% (23-33) from the field.

Most of the turnovers came on passes to Lopez, who was double-teamed in the fourth quarter after scoring 21 points on nine-of-10 shooting. Lopez was held scoreless in the final period. The Vikings as took only four shots in the final eight minutes.

“I told the team to try to play to win, not hold back and wind up losing,” Campbell Hall Coach Jon Palarz said. “I think they tried to go for the spectacular play when it wasn’t there.”

Snodgrass also helped get Brentwood’s Kareem Abdul-Jabbar into foul trouble. Brentwood’s leading scorer fouled out with 2:33 left, having scored only nine points.

Campbell Hall (20-8) started fast, thanks to a strong shooting performance by shooting guard Harold Sylvester. Sylvester scored 10 of his 16 points in the first quarter as the Vikings took an early advantage, leading by as many as 11 points early in the second half.