Westchester Overwhelms Grant

Finally, a weakness was detected on the Westchester High boys’ basketball team.

The Comets missed two dunks in a 104-54 dismantling of Sunset Six League champion Grant on Wednesday night in a City Championship quarterfinal game at Westchester.

Don’t expect Coach Ed Azzam to hold dunk practice today. By the end of the first quarter, 10 Westchester players had scored to open a 20-point lead.

By halftime, the Comets (26-1) led, 51-23.

Westchester has been looking like the Harlem Globetrotters while making opponents resemble the Washington Generals.

Last week, the Comets defeated Marshall, 110-40.

Azzam, in his 21st season as coach, said this year’s team could be his best.

“The depth is what makes this team different than any we’ve had,” he said.

“We go into the second unit and it doesn’t drop off.”

Grant (20-7) will swear to the Comets’ domination.

DeWayne Anderson, who scored 20 points for the Lancers, marveled at the Comets’ ability to bring in player after player.

“What makes them so great is their balance,” he said. “Any five guys on that team could start. They had height, quickness, shooters, rebounding.”

David Warshaw and Hassan Adams each finished with 15 points for Westchester. Brandon Bowman had 13 points and Scott Cutley and John Clemmons each added 10.

The game was tied, 6-6, then Westchester scored 16 consecutive points.

The Comets’ 1-2-1-1 full-court press devastated the Lancers.

“It’s the best team any of my teams have played against, and we’ve played the Crenshaws and Westchesters,” Grant Coach Howard Levine said.

“That is a dynamic team. They have so many weapons.”

Westchester’s only loss this season came to Bishop O’Connell of North Carolina in overtime.

Mike Charleston, Grant’s 6-foot-6 center, did his best trying to battle with Westchester’s 7-foot Chad Bell.

“There wasn’t anything different except his elbows were at my throat,” Charleston said.