Not Just Collins in Harvard Title Mix

The most-impressive part of Harvard-Westlake’s third-quarter run that led to its first state title was that Jason and Jarron Collins played only supporting roles.

The junior twins were terrors as usual on the defensive end for the Wolverines in their 62-49 victory over Sacramento Grant in the Division III State final Saturday at ARCO Arena.

But when Harvard went on a 17-2 run to open the second half and erase a six-point deficit, the Collinses had just five points in the stretch.

Instead it was senior Alex Gelbard, the overshadowed member of Harvard-Westlake’s frontcourt, who scored eight points and helped build a 44-35 lead.

The Pacers didn’t recover.

It was redemption for Gelbard, who drew two quick fouls and was never in the flow during the first half of the Wolverines’ first State title game.

“After 16 minutes I realized this was it for my high school basketball career,” Gelbard said. “You can’t underestimate that kind of fear and anxiety. I just focused harder on what we needed to do.”

Of course, part of the run must be credited to the Wolverines’ defense, which forced Grant (31-3) to miss 11 consecutive shots during the third quarter and make only five of 32 in the second half.

Grant scored four points in the third quarter and 16 in the second half.

Harvard-Westlake’s 6-foot-11 Jason and 6-10 Jarron Collins were dominating inside as Grant didn’t have a player taller than 6-4, with 6-6 center Johnathan Greer sidelined by a sprained knee.

Harvard-Westlake (30-2) outrebounded the Pacers, 52-29. Jason Collins had 17 rebounds and Jarron Collins grabbed 10, most of which fed Gelbard, who had 12 points and eight rebounds, and Smiley, who scored 10, for uncontested layups.

“It’s a team sport and we believe in their abilities,” Jarron Collins said. “We’ve all stepped up through the playoffs.”

Jason Collins finished with 19 points, nine in the fourth quarter, to keep the Pacers at bay. Jarron Collins had 12 points and six assists.

LaRon Bryant, normally a three-point specialist, led the Pacers with 15 points but was only one of 10 from beyond the three-point line as he tried to shoot the Pacers back into the game.

Grant narrowed the gap to 48-40 a minute into the fourth quarter but could get no closer.

“This doesn’t happen to us often because we are well-conditioned, but we got tired,” Grant Coach Mike Alberghini said. “We were banging and bouncing and we just finally slowed down.”

The lead went back and forth in the first quarter as Grant tested the Harvard-Westlake front line with speed and quickness.

But by the end of the first quarter, the Pacers showed no fear of the taller Wolverines as point guard Ronnie Walton drove around Jason Collins for a layup that gave Grant a 17-11 lead.

The Collinses asserted themselves early in the second quarter with dominating rebounding and inside play.

Alberghini called a timeout after Harvard-Westlake took a 24-21 lead.

The Pacers responded with a 10-0 run and a 31-24 edge, capped by Bryant’s breakaway layup.

“The only thing we were a little surprised about was how quickly they can move with the ball,” Hilliard said. “Usually, if you’re sprinting, you can catch up to the guy with the ball. I don’t think we did.”

The Wolverines committed four consecutive turnovers in the run.

“For a half, we executed exactly like we wanted to,” Alberghini said. “We just couldn’t sustain it.”

Deonta Durrough scored 12 points and Walton added 10 for Grant, which was making its first appearance in a State championship game.