Gahr wears down Oak Park with press

Teams know what to expect when they face Cerritos Gahr in basketball. The Gladiators put on a relentless full-court press. Oak Park certainly prepared for it, but the Eagles found out Friday night that there’s no way to simulate Gahr’s athleticism and quickness in practice, and by the time they finally adjusted, it was too late.

“Turnovers were the name of the game,” Oak Park Coach Aaron Shaw said after his team’s 64-50 loss in a Southern Section Division 3A second-round playoff game at Gahr.

The Eagles (19-9) fell behind by as many as 22 points in the second quarter and never got closer than 11 points in the second half. Davon Potts scored 20 points for Gahr (24-4), seeded No. 4 and considered one of the division’s four elite teams with Gardena Serra, North Hollywood Harvard-Westlake and Compton Centennial.

Gahr’s players and their coach, Bob Becker, pride themselves on conditioning and wearing down an opponent. They run so often that Josh Perkins, a 6-foot-4 junior and a 400-meter runner, said it’s more strenuous than track practice, which causes Becker to smile. Players have to go up and down the football bleachers.

“I have a saying that fatigue makes cowards out of all of us, and when we can get a team tired, they collapse,” Becker said.

Oak Park had 12 turnovers in the first half and six more in the third quarter. Twice the Eagles were called for 10-second violations. Eventually, the Eagles became more comfortable, with Austin Ramljak finishing with 20 points, but he had only a single basket in the first half.

Gahr has little height but lots of athletes. Perkins is the younger brother of Angel Perkins, a former Gahr sprinter who won the 2001 state girls’ championship in the 200 meters by beating future Olympian Allyson Felix. Josh Perkins is a three-sport athlete who also starts at receiver for the football team.

Then there’s point guard Ervin Ware, the San Gabriel Valley League most valuable player. He sat out most of the second quarter in foul trouble, but he ignites the Gladiators with his quickness and precision passes.

More athleticism is supplied by 6-4 Charles Nebo and guards Anthony Martinez and Javonte Sales. And Potts, a junior, isn’t bad himself. He’s averaging 21.4 points and made four three-pointers Friday.

“When we’re healthy, not anybody has beaten our press,” Becker said.

The Gladiators are finally healthy, which is bad news for future opponents.

eric.sondheimer@latimes.com

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