Comets Race Past Crenshaw to Final

They are immensely talented, have depth to spare and look ready for another state championship run.

That used to define Crenshaw. Now it is Westchester.

The Comets shocked a standing-room-only crowd at Los Angeles Southwest College by torching Crenshaw with a 43-point first quarter en route to a 114-93 victory Friday night in the City Section boys’ basketball Championship Division semifinals.

Westchester (27-1) will try for three City titles in four years when it faces either second-seeded Fairfax or third-seeded Fremont in the title game next Saturday. Fairfax plays Fremont today at 4 p.m. at Southwest College.

Westchester blindsided Crenshaw with its 11-man lineup and had a 31-point lead after the first quarter.

Westchester Coach Ed Azzam substituted five players at a time twice in the quarter and the lead continued to increase, going from 14-4 to 27-8 to 38-10 with each switch. Brandon Heath had 26 points and Hassan Adams added 18 for the Comets.

“We came out smoking,” Azzam said.

After that opening blitz, Crenshaw held it together long enough to outscore Westchester over the final three quarters. The Cougars (21-6) shaved 14 points off the lead in the second quarter.

Marcus Williams had 13 points in the quarter to trigger the comeback. But the sophomore point guard picked up his fourth foul right before halftime and Westchester regained control, scoring the final four points of the half for a 63-41 lead.

Jamaal Walls had a game-high 32 points and Williams added 17 for Crenshaw.