Bishop Montgomery Defends III-AA Title

A strong start Thursday night propelled Torrance Bishop Montgomery to its second consecutive Southern Section Division III-AA boys’ basketball championship.

With USC-bound twins Derrick and Errick Craven leading the way, the Knights broke out to a 12-point first-quarter lead en route to an 80-67 victory over Compton Centennial at The Pyramid.

“We didn’t come out ready to play,” Centennial Coach Rod Palmer said. “We dug ourselves too deep a hole.”

Derrick Craven scored four points during a 12-2 first-quarter run that gave Bishop Montgomery a 22-10 lead. The Knights (26-2) led 44-23 at halftime and 57-42 after three quarters.

Centennial (15-15, including 11 forfeit losses for using an ineligible player) outscored Bishop Montgomery, 8-3, to open the fourth quarter, cutting the deficit to 60-50 with five minutes, 31 seconds left. The Knights responded with an 8-3 run for a 68-53 lead with 3:55 remaining. They led by at least 12 the rest of the way in defeating the Apaches in the final for the second consecutive season.

Derrick Craven made eight of 10 shots and scored nine of his 21 points in the fourth quarter. Errick Craven added 19, on seven-of-11 shooting, while Fred Washington made all five shots for 11 points and Leland Dodd five of six shots for 10 points.

The Long Beach State-bound Anthony Davis scored 24 points, Roscoe Biggers 18.