Collins Twins Rule Division III

Basketball hasn’t been the same at Harvard-Westlake High in North Hollywood since twins Jason and Jarron Collins arrived three years ago.

The brothers, who are easy to spot since Jason is 6 feet 11 and Jarron is 6-10, posted their normal numbers in leading Harvard-Westlake to a 62-49 victory over Sacramento Grant in the State Division III final Saturday at Arco Arena.

Jason scored 19 points and had 17 rebounds, and Jarron added 12 points and 10 rebounds as the Wolverines (30-2) won their first title. Their statistics are now taken for granted at a school that had never won much of anything in basketball until they enrolled.

“We’ve done things here that we’ve never done before, and Jason and Jarron are a major part of that,” Harvard-Westlake Coach Greg Hilliard said. “They not only rack up big numbers, but they’ve made everyone else around them better. You try practicing with them.”

To combat Harvard-Westlake’s size advantage, Grant (31-3) pressed on defense. The strategy worked early on as Grant lead at halftime, 33-27.

It was a different story in the second half as the Collins twins took over. Harvard-Westlake outscored the Pacers, 21-4, in the third quarter and never looked back.

Grant, making its first appearance in a state final, shot 26% from the floor and was outrebounded, 52-29. Junior guard LaRon Bryant led the Pacers in scoring with 15 points.

Oakland St. Elizabeth 72, Van Nuys Montclair Prep 67--After trailing by as many as 18 points in the second half, St. Elizabeth rallied in the fourth quarter to win its first Division V title.

Montclair Prep (29-4), the defending divisional champion, was ahead, 48-30, with five minutes remaining in the third quarter before the Mustangs (31-4) rallied.

Sophomore guard Dynell Morgan scored 15 of his team-high 20 points in the second half for St. Elizabeth, which outscored the Mounties, 30-13, in the fourth quarter. A pair of free throws by senior guard Paul Norris with 48 seconds to play put the Mustangs ahead for good, 67-65.

St. Elizabeth helped itself by converting 16 of 20 free throws in the second half.

Senior forward Anwawn Jones finished with 22 points and 10 rebounds for the Mounties.

“We screwed up in the last minute of the third quarter by making some mistakes and letting them get back in the game,” said Montclair Prep Coach Howard Abrams.

GIRLS

Torrance Bishop Montgomery 46, Grass Valley Bear River 42--After forfeiting 17 games last month and barely making the playoffs, Bishop Montgomery capped an improbable ending to the season by winning the Division III title.

Bishop Montgomery was nursing a 44-42 lead when junior forward Danielle Graham made a lay-up with three seconds remaining to seal the victory.

Graham and senior guard Jamiliah Jones scored 11 points each for Bishop Montgomery, and senior center Tiffany Washington had 10.

The Knights (18-17) had to forfeit 17 games because paperwork wasn’t filed on two transfer students, junior Nicole Prado and sophomore Janae Zahn. The players regained their eligibility and the team qualified for the Southern Section playoffs as its league’s third and final entry.

“The forfeits added to our goal to get here and win the whole thing,” Bishop Montgomery Coach Yvette Angel said.

Bear River (34-2) shot only 30% from the floor.

Atherton Sacred Heart Prep 64, San Luis Obispo Mission Prep 52--Sacred Heart Prep, which scored 10 of the final 12 points to break open a close game in Division V, won its fourth title in a row.

Only two other schools, Brea Olinda and Point Loma, have won four consecutive titles, and each did it in the girls’ division.

Four players finished in double figures for Sacred Heart (28-8), led by junior guard Trisha Felts, who had 18 points and four steals.

Senior guard Mary Mott of Mission Prep (25-3) scored 28 points and had 10 rebounds.