L.A. Baptist Has Surprise for Bell-Jeff

An intense, focused L.A. Baptist High basketball team took the court for its Southern Section Division IV-A quarterfinal game against Bell-Jeff on Tuesday night looking to shed its reputation as a team that had piled up victories because of an easy schedule.

A 73-70 victory over the Guards at North Hollywood High should quiet the skeptics.

“I really wanted this,” said L.A. Baptist Coach Bob Chevalier, whose team will play top-seeded Crossroads in the semifinals Friday. “Everyone felt like we needed to beat a quality opponent. Well, we played somebody tonight.”

Ruben Douglas’ three-point attempt clanked off the back of the rim as time expired, dashing Bell-Jeff’s hopes and ending a frenzied three minutes.

L.A. Baptist led, 72-70, with 10 seconds remaining when Jermaine Sweet, who scored 28 points, missed two free throws.

Douglas grabbed the rebound and spotted teammate Kent Dennis streaking down the court on a 2-on-1 break. But Douglas’ pass went out of bounds.

A quick foul put Sweet back on the free-throw line, and this time he made one of two attempts with eight seconds left.

Douglas led the Guards with 25 points despite sitting out nearly seven minutes after picking up his fourth foul with 5:28 left in the third quarter.

Dave Plaxen of L.A. Baptist hit a three-point basket to tie the score, 36-36, at halftime, and the momentum carried over into the second half. The Knights opened the third quarter with a 15-2 run.

The Guards fought back to take a 63-61 lead with 2:55 to play, then tied it, 68-68, on a three-point basket by Douglas with 1:18 left. But L.A. Baptist made five of eight free throws and forced two turnovers in the final minute.

“Their intensity was higher than ours,” Douglas said.

The Guards (21-7) were the first team the Knights (24-2) played this season that had 20 or more victories.

“There is no doubt that this is a quality team,” Bell-Jeff Coach Eli Essa said of L.A. Baptist. “Their schedule has been a question all year, but my hat’s off to them.”