Dennis Has Become a Menace for Cleveland

Yes, the Cleveland High boys’ basketball team started the season with three losses in five games.

And no, the Cavaliers do not have any returning starters from last year’s West Valley League champions.

But make no mistake about it. This is a good basketball team.

The Cavaliers proved themselves worthy of the praise by defeating Palisades, 66-59, in the championship game of the Beverly Hills tournament Saturday night at Beverly Hills High.

The Cavaliers (6-3) are solid all around, but Kent Dennis, who has quickly established himself as one of the top players in the area since transferring from Bell-Jeff in September, is the main reason the Cavaliers should be feared.

The junior guard, the tournament’s most valuable player, had 33 points, seven rebounds and four steals for the Cavaliers, who at times dominated the two-time defending tournament champion.

“Early on we had some problems so we wanted to come in here and make a statement,” Dennis said. “I knew we had a chance because everybody had their heads up and we came in here with a good feeling.”

Dennis made 13 of 14 free throws, including five of six in the final minute to seal the victory. He made three of five three-point shots, including two in a stretch of 15 consecutive points by Cleveland in the second and third quarters.

“I’m happy,” Dennis said. “I’m very happy here because I get to do my thing.”

At Bell-Jeff, Dennis was mostly considered the second option next to guard Ruben Douglas, who has committed to Arizona.

How good he can make Cleveland remains to be seen.

“I’m not going to underestimate this team,” Cleveland Coach Andre Chevalier said. “Those early losses got into our heads and the guys humbled themselves.”

Agoura 81, Venice 67--The Chargers took third place without leading scorer Marcus Helfman, who is on a football recruiting trip to BYU.

Paul Saunders, starting in Helfman’s place, had 20 of his 22 points in the first half as the Chargers (4-1) forged a 48-36 lead.

Brandon Meyer also had 22 points for Agoura and Mike Patterson added 11 points, 10 rebounds and seven steals.

Peninsula 68, Birmingham 58--The Braves (4-2) had a 45-37 lead, but were outscored, 13-2, in the last two minutes of the third quarter and could not recover in the fifth-place game.

Fahim Hassankhail had 18 points and Emmanuel Evans scored 17 for the Braves.

Culver City 66, Hart 55--The Indians (5-3) came back from a 56-35 deficit after three quarters and were within 61-52 with 2:06 to play, but could not catch the Centaurs (4-3) in the consolation final.

Hart went nearly 12 minutes over the first and second quarters without a basket and fell behind, 37-21, at halftime.

J.T. Stotts had 14 points for Hart and Scott Hunt added 12 points and eight rebounds for the Indians.