Poly Has Plenty in Reserve for Title

Steve Smith scored 14 points, including four dunks, and grabbed 12 rebounds to spark Poly High to a 59-53 come-from-behind victory over Jefferson in the City Division boys’ basketball championship game Saturday at Loyola Marymount University.

James Word added 13 points, including three three-point baskets, and Mike Mgdesyan had 11 points, making all six of his free throws for the No. 13-seeded Parrots (17-11).

Poly beat fourth-seeded Marshall, No. 12-seeded San Fernando and eighth-seeded North Hollywood to reach the final against No. 6-seeded Jefferson (18-10).

“We have three keys--rebounding, making open shots and defense,” Coach Jay Werner of Poly said. “We didn’t do any of them in the first half. But I told my players to focus on doing what got us here.”

The Parrots got the message loud and clear. Word and Harold Berreondo hit consecutive three-point baskets to give Poly its first lead, 32-31, in the first minute of the third quarter, and Seferino Vargas opened the fourth quarter with a three-pointer to extend the lead to 49-43.

After Jefferson closed to within 57-53 on a layup by Eric Lewis with 51 seconds left, Vargas was fouled and sank two free throws.

Jefferson opened the game with a 9-0 run when Poly missed its first eight shots and committed seven turnovers. But the Parrots chipped away at the deficit and trailed, 31-26, at halftime.