Alemany Slows Down, Slips Past Harvard-Westlake

This time, a player wasn’t ejected.

Instead it was a team, Harvard-Westlake High, that was bounced, so to speak, when Alemany cruised to an 81-64 victory over the Wolverines in a Mission League boys’ basketball game Saturday night at L.A. Baptist.

Though less dramatic--and controversial--than the teams’ meeting earlier this month--an 89-80 Harvard-Westlake victory in which forward Reggie Kinlaw of Alemany was ejected a minute into the game--it was more important.

Alemany (13-6, 6-2 in league play) stayed within a game of first-place Chaminade.

Devin Montgomery scored 31 points for Alemany, which showed the ability to run the floor and, in the second half, to slow the tempo and win several one-on-one situations.

“Everybody thinks all we can do is run, where everything’s frantic,” Coach Darryl McDonald of Alemany said. “We can slow it down and play good halfcourt, too.”

The game was tied at halftime, 40-40, but Harvard-Westlake (12-10, 5-3) began to show signs of fatigue.

The Wolverines made only seven of 22 shots (31.8%) in the second half and Russell Lakey,who finished with 22 points, was the only consistent option on offense.

Alemany, ranked No. 4 in the region by The Times, was relentless with its full-court press, causing 31 turnovers and keeping alive hopes of a Mission League title.

“We have to run the table if we want to win league,” Montgomery said.

Alemany plays Crespi on Monday and, further down the road, has a regular-season finale Feb. 10 against Chaminade.

Chris Hooks, a junior reserve for Harvard-Westlake, did not play because his older sister, who had battled cancer in the past, died early Saturday.

The news hit hard for Harvard-Westlake players and coaches.

“It’s going to take time for everybody,” said Coach Greg Hilliard of Harvard-Westlake, who put the night into proper perspective. “This is just a game. We’re concerned about Chris and we want him to know that we’ll rally around him.”