Harvard and Collinses Cruise

One thing about the Collins twins: three quarters often is enough.

That again was the case Tuesday night for juniors Jason and Jarron Collins, who both enjoyed the luxury of spending the fourth quarter on the bench as Harvard-Westlake High polished off Tehachapi, 81-42, in a first-round game of the Division III Southern California Regional at Harvard.

Jarron’s third dunk of the game, a one-handed slam on the run, gave the crowd a charge and the Wolverines (27-2), Southern Section Division III-A champions, a 68-25 cushion in the closing seconds of the third quarter.

It also set the stage for Jarron and Jason to leave to the sound of applause.

Jarron Collins finished with a game-high 16 points to go with six assists. Jason Collins had 15 points, eight rebounds and one authoritative dunk of his own.

“It gets the crowd into it,” Jason said. “And it gets us into the game. We’re playing well now. We’re getting closer to our goal.”

Harvard’s goal is a state championship, something the Wolverines came within two victories of winning last season after winning the III-A title.

Harvard plays host to Bishop Montgomery in the second round Thursday. And the Wolverines figure to be rested.

Harvard aired out its bench against Tehachapi, and every player scored except Leo Da Costa and Abed Abusaleh.

Starters Alex Gelbard (four points), Ryan Smiley (10 points) and Rico Cabrera (nine points) all sat out the fourth quarter.

Reserves Jason Segel and Marc Bretter made the best of their floor time by each scoring eight points. Dan Karubian added four points and Chris Getto had three.

“We have a lot of fun watching our teammates get into the game and play,” Jason Collins said. “Every once in a while, we get a game like this. But you never expect this in the state playoffs.”

Tehachapi (18-9), Central Section runner-up, appeared overmatched from the start. Harvard darted to a 17-0 lead before the Warriors’ Nick O’Neill connected on a three-point shot.

From there, things only got more lopsided.

Jason and Jarron made dunks within seconds of each other late in the first quarter, which ended with Harvard ahead, 25-3.

Harvard kept stretching its lead until Jarron Collins’ third-quarter dunk signaled a cooling of the jets.