Cleveland Best in West Valley, 63-57

It was the kind of game that made Cleveland High’s Kevin Crider roll up his sleeves, sweat profusely and even yell at the scoreboard operator.

Missing 15 consecutive shots can do that to a coach.

But the Cavaliers recovered from subpar shooting in the first half against Chatsworth on Friday night, staged a fourth-quarter rally to defeat the Chancellors, 63-57, and clinched the West Valley League boys’ basketball championship.

The loss denies Chatsworth (10-10, 7-3), playing its second game without center Eddie Miller, an automatic berth into the City Section 4-A playoffs. The Chancellors must wait until today to see if they make the 16-team field.

Miller, a 6-8 All-City center averaging 25.3 points, was declared ineligible by Chatsworth on Wednesday after he received an unsatisfactory mark in a government class. Miller said he met with school officials and will find out Monday if he can regain his eligibility.

The Chancellors were able to maintain a lead most of the game until Cleveland’s Junior Brignac hit a three-pointer that gave the Cavaliers (15-8, 9-1) a 59-57 lead with just over two minutes left.

Chatsworth had a golden opportunity to tie but missed four consecutive layups on the ensuing possession, three by backup center Phil Valera.

Brignac hit a pair of free throws with 41 seconds left, forcing Chatsworth to gamble on three-point shots.

The Chancellors started fast behind guard Jerome Joseph, who scored 23 points while leading Chatsworth to a 38-30 halftime lead as the Cavaliers went through their dry spell.

“We did not shoot well in the first half,” Crider said. “We were taking more shots and getting more rebounds but they were out-hustling us.”

Brignac, who finished with 22 points, and junior Donald Holt, who had 20, led Cleveland back in the third quarter, going on a 10-2 run before Chatsworth made a final push to extend the lead.

Sophomore Keith Stevens hit a pair of three-pointers to give Chatsworth a 46-38 lead. But the Cavaliers chipped away and got even, 50-50, on a basket by Holt with six minutes left.

Cleveland, using a combination of man-to-man and zone defenses, held Joseph scoreless in the third quarter and to seven points in the second half.

“I felt a lot of pressure this week,” Joseph said. “[Chatsworth] has depended on me and Eddie all season. I knew I had to score my points and Eddie’s too.”

Miller, who did not attend Wednesday’s victory over Taft, arrived shortly after Friday night’s game began.

“I really wasn’t sure if I was going to come,” Miller said. “I thought I might come in for a second and leave. I’ve felt like I let the team down.”