West Teams Overmatched

As the West went, so did Southland players in the boys’ and girls’ McDonald’s All-American games Wednesday at the Ford Center.

Unfortunately for the players, the West was overmatched.

Point guard Jordan Farmar of Woodland Hills Taft had a game-high seven steals in the West’s 126-96 loss, but he also had four turnovers.

Guard Arron Afflalo of Compton Centennial, who like Farmar will attend UCLA, made only one of seven shots and missed all six of his three-point attempts. He had four rebounds but also had four turnovers.

“I wasn’t very pleased with the way I played,” Afflalo said. “It was fun, but I should have done better.”

Seven-foot Robert Swift of Bakersfield, who has signed with USC, had 10 points, all in the first half.

East players J.R. Smith of Newark, N.J., St. Benedict’s and Dwight Howard of Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy were co-most valuable players. Smith made 10 of 16 shots for 25 points and Howard made nine of 13 for 19 points, and also had eight rebounds.

In the girls’ game, a 91-66 East victory, UCLA-bound center Lindsey Pluimer of San Clemente had seven rebounds and two points. Point guard Sa’de Wiley-Gatewood of Lynwood scored six points and had three assists.

-- Steve Henson