Long Beach Poly trio powering team forward

Forward they march.

The Long Beach Poly Jackrabbits are closing in on historic territory, led by a trio of forwards who have powered their deepest postseason run in eight years.

Freshman Roschon Prince has poured in the points, senior Shelton Boykin has provided brawn and junior Ryan Anderson has made the clutch plays.

Reports of the demise of the high school big man seem greatly exaggerated when you watch Poly play.

“So far, no one has beaten us inside,” said Jackrabbits guard Alexis Moore, who can pretty much count on any pass to the post resulting in an assist.

Moore found Anderson in the final seconds of a Southern California Division I regional quarterfinal Thursday, slipping the 6-foot-8 standout a pass that Anderson took inside for the go-ahead basket in Poly’s 67-64 victory over Etiwanda.

Although the Jackrabbits (28-4) will be underdogs against second-seeded Westchester (29-3) in a regional semifinal at 7 p.m. Saturday at Los Angeles Roybal High, they could have an advantage on the front line.

Prince, who is 6-6, has averaged 19 points during the regional playoffs and Boykin, who is 6-5, has given Poly an unexpected boost off the bench after returning from a broken wrist that was expected to sideline him for the rest of the season. Anderson is the most well-rounded of the bunch, averaging 12.8 points, 8.6 rebounds and 2.3 blocks this season.

“Their forwards are active, aggressive and they can run the court,” said Crenshaw Coach Ed Waters, whose team struggled to contain Poly’s post players in an 87-62 regional first-round loss. “That makes them valuable with their length both on defense and offense.”

Poly’s Sharrief Metoyer might have his coaching stipend revoked if he didn’t make the trio the focus of his offense. The players combined for 16 of Poly’s 21 points in the fourth quarter of the victory over Etiwanda, with Anderson scoring two baskets in the final minute.

“Coach is always telling us the guard has to pass up a good open shot for a great shot inside,” Anderson said. “The higher-percentage shot is always better.”

Metoyer gauges the success of his inside-oriented attack by the number of free throws his team takes; if the Jackrabbits attempt at least 25, the plan is working. Poly shot 40 free throws against Crenshaw and 24 against Etiwanda. The Jackrabbits also pulled down a combined 23 more rebounds than those opponents.

Before the Jackrabbits’ post players could help the program take a giant step forward, one forward had to take a considerable step back.

Boykin broke his wrist while dunking on Dec. 30, when he was a starter averaging a team-leading 13.2 points a game.

“I told Roschon that night in the hotel room that this season you have to play like an upperclassman,” Moore said. “You’re no longer a freshman.”

Prince responded by moving into the starting lineup and scored in double figures in nine of 12 Moore League games.

“I feel like if I get to the block,” Prince said, “there’s no one that can really stop me.”

Boykin’s return in early February gave Poly another boost in its bid for its first trip to the state title game since 1984.

“It just made us a lot deeper,” Moore said. “Now we pretty much have six starters.”

ben.bolch@latimes.com