Arenas, Grant Left in Lurch by Legans

By MICHAEL LAZARUS

Dec. 22, 1998 12 AM PT

Every Grant High basketball game this season will likely have its share of Gilbert Arenas moments, whether it be a dunk, pass or block that brings a crowd to its feet.

But sometimes it won’t be enough, as the Lancers found in a 91-80 loss to Dos Pueblos in the semifinals of the Bell-Jeff tournament Monday night at Bell-Jeff.

Arenas, a senior guard who has signed with Arizona, had plenty of spectacular plays in the first half, especially one sequence where he tipped a rebound to an open teammate at half-court, then followed a missed shot with a two-handed dunk--his fourth in the first two quarters.

But Grant (6-2) had no answers in the second half to Dos Pueblos guard Shantay Legans.

Legans, who has signed with California, scored 35 points, helped force 22 Grant turnovers and caused point guards Rashad Winston and Ryan Logan to develop early and constant foul trouble.

“I can see why he’s regarded so highly,” Grant Coach Howard Levine said of Legans. “He completely controlled the game after the first five minutes.”

Grant led the entire first half behind Arenas, who scored 28 points in the half.

But Arenas tried too hard to keep up the pressure--he was three of 11 from the field in the second half, didn’t make a three-point shot after the opening minute of the second half and finished with 42 points and 12 rebounds.

Dos Pueblos (9-2) took its first lead on a basket by Damon Jenkins three minutes into the second half and took it for good, 54-53, midway through the third quarter on two free throws by Johnny Ortiz.

The Chargers led by 14 points midway through the fourth quarter. Grant fought back, cutting the deficit to 85-79 with a minute left.

But Legans was six of six from the line to seal the victory.

Daniel Tarr scored 16 points for Grant and Ortiz scored all 23 of his points for Dos Pueblos in the final three quarters.

“We didn’t play very well offensively,” Levine said. “And we’re not going to win if we’re going to play without a couple of our pistons firing.”

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