Crespi Gets Home Free, 72-68

Charlie Shiebler’s stylish spiked hair makes him look like a drummer for a rock band.

Crespi High fans treated him Wednesday night as if he were a star after his two free throws with seven seconds left in overtime clinched the Celts’ 72-68 victory over Harvard-Westlake in a Mission League opener at Harvard-Westlake.

“That’s what I live for,” Shiebler said of the pressure. “I want the ball in my hands.”

Kingsley Anyanwu had 30 points and 16 rebounds for Crespi (10-3), which survived two starters fouling out and two others having four fouls.

Harvard-Westlake (6-7), defending Mission champions, has not adjusted to the graduation of guard Russell Lakey, a freshman at Vanderbilt. Last season, in close games, the Wolverines got the ball to Lakey and let him deliver victory.

Several Harvard-Westlake players tried to take charge in the closing minutes of regulation and overtime, but no one succeeded. After the Wolverines tied the score, 75-75, with 2:04 left in regulation on a Bryan Coffey offensive rebound basket, they didn’t score again until 15 seconds left in overtime.

Craig Weinstein, a junior point guard, finished with 24 points and made all 12 of his free throws but missed four shots in overtime.

“These tough games we’re going to have to win,” Shiebler said. “This is exactly what it’s going to be like--a fight every night.”

Shiebler contributed 16 points for Crespi, which played without starters Andrew Moore and Allan Ellis for the final 2:03 of overtime. Crespi didn’t shoot a free throw in the second half until there was 3:07 left in overtime.

Harvard-Westlake made 25 of 35 free throws.