Wild Shots Leave Cleveland in Bad Spot--Out of Playoffs

It doesn’t seem right, but when Cleveland High guard Derrick McGhee sank a three-point basket in the opening seconds against Carson, it probably was the worst thing that could have happened to the host Cavaliers.

Cleveland, buoyed by McGhee’s initial success, fired early and often from the perimeter but most shots were rushed and fell everywhere but into the basket as Carson cruised to an 83-55 victory Friday night in a City Section 4-A Division first-round playoff game.

The 10th-seeded Colts (16-10) will play Crenshaw in the quarterfinals Wednesday.

“I don’t have a problem with a player shooting if he’s open and feels comfortable that he can make it from that spot,” Cleveland Coach Kevin Crider said. “However, we do argue where that spot should be.”

Crider had plenty of fuel for his argument in the second quarter when shots by McGhee and Jason Bolding hit only the backboard and one by Jerome Grant hit nothing at all as Carson built a double-digit lead.

Cleveland finished seven of 27 from beyond the three-point arc and the Cavaliers failed to get the ball inside to forward Donald Holt, their second-leading scorer and best inside player.

Holt had three points, and four shots, in the first half, and finished with 10 points. Junior Brignac scored 22 points.

The seventh-seeded Cavaliers (15-9) have shot poorly before but used tough defense to pull out several close games during the Northwest Valley Conference season. But the Colts methodically broke down the defense, freeing up center Eric Burris, who had 23 points.

Guard Carnell Washington added 22 points and 12 rebounds.