Calvary Chapel Halted by Crossroads

Better than Mater Dei?

Maybe not, but that was the feeling Santa Monica Crossroads left Calvary Chapel with after defeating the Eagles, 70-53, in the Division IV-A boys’ basketball semifinals Friday at St. Monica High. The top-seeded Roadrunners (24-8) advance to their first section final since 1992. They play Los Angeles Verbum Dei next Friday at UC Irvine’s Bren Center.

“I’m not saying they would beat Mater Dei,” Calvary Chapel Coach Craig Falconer said. “I think they have more individual talent. But many teams that have played Mater Dei this season have been more talented. They [the Monarchs’ staff] are just doing a great job of coaching over there this season.”

There are some similarities. Like Mater Dei, Crossroads has a great one-two punch in senior forward Kejuan Woods and junior guard Baron Davis.

Both proved to be the difference Friday, especially in the second half. Woods led all scorers with 21 points, and dominated inside with 11 of his team’s 28 rebounds. Davis, reportedly high on UCLA’s list to recruit next season, had 19 and broke the game’s last tie, 44-44, with a layup at the end of the third quarter.

They and reserve Cash Warren (seven points) keyed a fourth-quarter, 9-3 run that gave Crossroads control. The Roadrunners outscored the Eagles in the quarter, 24-9.

“This team is a lot like the 1992 team because of its depth,” Crossroads Coach Daryl Roper said. “I thought that would be the difference. We knew we had to wear down their point guard Kevin Falconer because he handles the ball so much, and then play some defense.”

The Roadrunners followed the instructions to the letter. Not only did they keep Falconer quiet offensively (five points), but they forced Calvary Chapel into a rash of turnovers early in the fourth quarter that eventually extended a two-point lead to eight. The Eagles never got closer than six points after that.

Coming into the game Calvary Chapel (23-5) had reasons to feel confident. The Eagles had won 12 straight since the 62-52 loss to Mater Dei on Jan. 3. Five of those games were won in the game’s final 30 seconds. Craig Falconer, who had his team play a zone for most of the game to combat the Roadrunners’ height and quickness, figured if the Eagles could keep it close they could find a way to win.

Calvary kept it close for three quarters. The Eagles weren’t getting many shots (they made 20 of 43), but Garid Beeler (17 points) and Joe Ortiz (13) made theirs count. The Eagles’ last lead was 44-42 with with a minute left in the third, but they thought they were where they wanted to be going into the final quarter.

That’s when the Roadrunners ran away and hid.

“We had a great season,” Craig Falconer said. “Now, nobody will remember anything but the fourth quarter.”

In Division I AA:

Palos Verdes Peninsula 56, Esperanza 42--Jim Brewer, who injured his tailbone in Tuesday’s game for Peninsula (20-8), missed the team bus, but showed up in time to start the game and score a game high 20 points and grab seven rebounds in the upset.

Peninsula jumped to an early 9-0 lead and then went on another 9-0 run late in the first quarter, taking a 30-14 lead. Peninsula led by as many as 17 in the game.

Lohnnie Tape led second-seeded Esperanza with 24 points 7 rebounds.

In Division V-A:

Antelope Valley Christian 81, Heritage Christian 57--Jay Williams scored 19 points and Jim Findlater 10, but host Heritage Christian (18-9) lost its quarterfinal game. Second-seeded Antelope Valley Christian is 24-0.