Suttle Approach Lifts Westchester

Searching for an outside shooter to crack a tough 2-3 zone defense, the Westchester boys’ basketball team turned to sophomore guard Dane Suttle, who responded with 17 points, including four three-point baskets, to lead the Comets past Los Angeles Fairfax, 66-62, Wednesday in a Western League game at Fairfax.

Westchester (15-3 overall, 9-0 in league play), ranked No. 1 in the Southland by The Times, clinched the league title and probably the top seeding for the City Section playoffs, which begin next week. Joey Knox made two free throws with seven seconds left to secure the victory and had a steal with 40 seconds left.

Third-ranked Fairfax (20-4, 7-2) got 27 points and nine rebounds from Jamal Boykin, who scored 21 points in the second half, including 12 in the third quarter. He and Donovan White, who finished with 13 points, combined for all but two of the Lions’ 32 second-half points.

But it was Suttle, the son of the former L.A. Fremont and Pepperdine standout with the same first name, who made the key contribution.

“I was hot, and Coach told me to keep shooting,” Suttle said.

The Lions made 10 three-point baskets. Ahmaad Cook had 11 points and three three-pointers.

Eric Sondheimer

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Rancho Santa Margarita Tesoro might never reach full strength this season, but that didn’t keep the Titans from winning their second consecutive Pacific Coast League championship.

Tesoro made 19 of 24 free throws in the fourth quarter to rally from a nine-point deficit and defeat visiting Irvine University, 53-48.

The Titans (17-9, 8-2) played their first 24 games without last season’s leading scorer, senior guard Patrick Marion, who tore a knee ligament while playing soccer in August.

Marion, who signed last week to play soccer at California, began playing limited minutes only last week. He played three minutes in each half Wednesday and finished with one point.

Brett Sherry scored 18 points, including eight in the fourth quarter, to lead the Titans.

Andrew Nobe scored 12 points for University (14-11, 7-3).

Sixth-ranked Lynwood forfeited its 72-69 victory over Long Beach Poly in the Nike Extravaganza on Saturday in the Anaheim Convention Center, Coach Mike Acheanpong said.

Lynwood administrators took the action, Acheanpong said, after he let Jerry-Davon Jefferson play against Poly, despite instructions that the senior forward be suspended from all extracurricular activities while serving a one-week suspension from school for breaking team rules.

Athletic Director Rick Smith said the suspension began Friday, when Jefferson was held out of a game against Cerritos Gahr. He also sat out Tuesday’s game against Downey and is expected to sit out the regular-season finale today against visiting Paramount. Lynwood’s record falls to 16-7.

Jefferson, who has signed with Nevada Las Vegas, had 26 points and nine rebounds against Poly.

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Dan Arritt

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Girls’ Basketball

Richard Wiard, coach at fourth-ranked La Puente Bishop Amat, will return to the sideline tonight when the Lancers try to complete an undefeated regular season.

He sat out the team’s 64-14 victory over Santa Fe Springs St. Paul on Thursday because he was hospitalized with a bacterial infection in his legs. Coaching in his place was his assistant, wife Kathie.

The Lancers (26-0, 7-0) play Del Rey League rival Torrance Bishop Montgomery (16-10, 6-1), and though they shared the league title last season, a victory would end the Knights’ run of five consecutive league titles.

Wiard was hospitalized Feb. 2 and returned home Monday. He had a high fever for a few days and his legs were swollen.

Kathie Wiard said doctors had a theory about the bacteria.

“He tapes the girls’ ankles and kneels on the gym floor,” she said. “Doctors thought maybe the bacteria entered from there.”

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--Martin Henderson