Boys’ basketball: L.A. Windward wins on basket at the buzzer [Video]
Roy Hemsley, the 6-foot-7 junior center for L.A. Windward, was missing shots, missing free throws and looking quite frustrated in his team’s Alpha League opener on Tuesday night against Brentwood. Windward fell behind by 10 points in the third quarter and looked in deep trouble.
But the Wildcats rallied in the fourth quarter, and when they needed a big shot, Hemsley delivered. With time running out, Jalen Harris missed on a three-point attempt, Hemsley got the rebound and put up a 15-footer from the baseline. The ball bounced off the rim three times before falling through as the buzzer sounded to give Windward a 56-55 victory over host Brentwood.
“The ball bounced our way,” Coach Miguel Villegas said.
The key play of the game was Windward (11-4, 1-0) forcing a five-second violation with 11.7 seconds left to take possession of the ball.
Hemsley finished with 16 points and made five consecutive free throws in the fourth quarter, showing tremendous composure after his early struggles. Roman Davis and Breland Brandt also led the fourth-quarter comeback and finished with 12 points apiece. Tra Holder had 15 points for Brentwood (10-4, 0-1), which held a 35-27 halftime lead but struggled in the second half to score when the Wildcats started double teaming Holder.
In other Alpha League games, Aaron Holiday scored 28 points in Campbell Hall’s 80-67 win over Viewpoint. Kahili Simplis had 15 points and 11 assists. Sierra Canyon defeated Paraclete, 56-43. Freshman Cody Riley scored 16 points.
L.A. University defeated North Hollywood, 58-44. Tre Weston had 12 points and 15 rebounds. Fairfax defeated Heritage Christian, 98-54. Donald Gipson had 16 points and Olisaeka Nwachi, Sage Woodruff and Foster Dixon had 14 points apiece.
Village Christian defeated Oaks Christian, 49-42. Bennie Boatwright had 18 points and Bear Henderson had 12 in his debut. El Toro improved to 14-2 with a 55-40 win over Trabuco Hills.
Grant defeated St. Genevieve, 72-62. Daleshaun Jackson had 35 points.
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