Harvard Makes 13 a Lucky Number : Boys’ Basketball: Wolverines ride 13-0 surge to 56-46 victory and first section title since 1970.

Ben Robbins felt it was destiny that Harvard-Westlake High would win the Southern Section Division III-A boys’ basketball championship.

Even when Dos Pueblos stayed close at the beginning of Saturday’s championship game at The Pond, Robbins and his teammates didn’t panic.

“I wasn’t worried; we were meant to be here and win the game,” Robbins said. “At some point we were going to hit some big shots and accomplish what we and everybody else expected us to do.”

Harvard (27-2), led by Robbins, and twins Jason and Jarron Collins, scored 13 consecutive points in the second quarter to fuel a 56-46 victory over the Chargers, claiming its first section title since 1970.

The 13-point run gave Harvard a 29-16 lead with just under one minute remaining in the first half. The top-seeded Wolverines kept the lead in double figures until Dos Pueblos made one futile surge in the fourth quarter.

The Chargers (25-3) closed to within 48-43 and had the ball with 2 minutes 37 seconds remaining. But guard Khary Hicks missed three shots, including a three-point attempt, on the same possession. Jason Collins scored on a follow shot for Harvard and the game was essentially over.

“If Khary had made any of the shots, it would have put the noose a lot tighter on their necks,” Dos Pueblos Coach Bruce Nelson said. “We were starting to smell some blood.”

Dos Pueblos’ undoing proved to be its outside shooting. The Chargers took advantage of Harvard’s zone defense to launch 29 three-point shots, but connected on only five. Hicks, who averages 17 points, made just one of 10 shots.

Dos Pueblos was compelled to shoot from the outside due to the inside presence of 6-foot-10 sophomore center Jason Collins and 6-foot-9 sophomore forward Jarron Collins.

Although the Collinses blocked only four shots, they forced several wild attempts in the lane and helped put center Matt Williams in foul trouble.

“I like to intimidate people when they get inside the key,” Jason Collins said.

“I know I’m not going to block every shot. I’m content to make them change their shot.”

Jason Collins finished with 20 points and 16 rebounds. Jarron Collins added 11 points and 16 rebounds. Robbins had 16 points, including three three-pointers.

J.T. Stone had 18 points for Dos Pueblos.