BOYS’ BASKETBALL ROUNDUP : Gardena Serra Shoots Down Calvary Chapel

The quarterfinals are as far as Calvary Chapel has ventured into the Southern Section playoffs, and Tuesday Gardena Serra made sure the Eagles went no further.

The visiting Cavaliers shot the basketball with elan and deadly accuracy, making 62% of their 66 shots and blistered Calvary Chapel, 101-62, in Division IV play at Century High. Serra (16-11) advanced to play Downey Pius X on Friday. Calvary Chapel’s season ended at 21-7.

Guard Milt Palacio led Serra with 34 points, using his quickness to avoid Calvary Chapel defenders and take mostly open jumpers. In fact every Cavalier looked a step-and-a-half faster than the Eagles who, despite blocking seven shots, spent the night running to where Serra had already been.

But the Cavaliers were not only offensive minded. They threw a variety of matchup zones and man-to-man defenses at Calvary Chapel, and forced the Eagles--who managed to shoot 50% (25 of 50) themselves--into a season-high 20 turnovers. Point guard Kevin Falconer, who handles the ball nearly every play for Calvary Chapel, wound up with more turnovers (five) than points (three).

Serra was so proficient that its star center Leonard Butler, who scored all of his 15 points in the second half, was not missed even though spending most of the night in foul trouble.

“They are very, very good,” Calvary Chapel Coach Craig Falconer said of Serra. “And very well coached. We were told they were undisciplined; but they took the ball out of Kevin’s hands. We were too programmed of having Kevin with the ball, and that hurt us. But we also couldn’t guard them.

“Some of our losses have been to Mater Dei and Sonora; Serra might not be Mater Dei, but they are as good as anyone else we’ve played.”

Cavalier Coach Dwan Hurt came into the game concerned that Calvary Chapel would shoot well, but it was readily apparent the Eagles could not keep up with his squad.

“I didn’t think they were as deep as we were, and eventually we would wear them down,” Hurt said.