Kennedy Shows Off All Sides

With one returning player from last season and a new coach, the Kennedy High boys’ basketball team hardly resembles the squad that reached the City Section 4-A quarterfinals last season.

This year, the Golden Cougars are young and inconsistent. They began the season winning five consecutive games, then lost their next five.

In a 56-54 loss to University in the semifinals of the Van Nuys tournament Tuesday night, Kennedy was good and bad.

The Golden Cougars began the game with a 9-0 run as the Warriors (6-4) missed their first nine shots. Kennedy held the lead through most of three quarters.

But by the fourth quarter, the Golden Cougars suddenly had trouble with University’s press and allowed the Warriors critical offensive rebounds.

“We came out like gangbusters,” said Kennedy Coach Tim Guy, an assistant last year. “But we’re having growing pains.”

The Warrios took the lead for good with one minute to play on two free throws by Gerald Kirk.

But Kennedy (6-6) still had a chance with one second left. Trailing by four, Montell Duhon was fouled on a desperation three-point attempt.

Duhon did exactly what he was supposed to do, making the first two free throws before sending the last one off the rim. But the ball fell right to University’s Jeremy Kermah and time ran out.

Duhon, a sophomore forward, scored 18 points. Six-foot-six center Nana Gbewonyo added 10 points, had 14 rebounds and blocked three shots.

Raoul Quiveors scored 14 points for University, which will play Venice in the final tonight at 8. Kennedy will play Van Nuys for third.

Venice 82, Van Nuys 50--The Gondoliers used a 10-0 run late in the first quarter and held the Wolves to four points in the second to break away in a semifinal.

El Camino Real 70, Sherman Oaks CES 45--Sophomore Justin Saad-Anthony scored 19 of his 23 points in the second half for the Conquistadores in a consolation semifinal.

Four players scored in double figures for El Camino Real (4-6), which will play Reseda for the consolation title.

Reseda 68, Hollywood 46--Jaime Gibrian scored 23 points and Larry Knox added 17 for the Regents (5-8) in a consolation semifinal.