Westchester forfeits game to Crenshaw after leaving court with 1.3 seconds left

The City Section has begun an investigation after Westchester boys’ basketball coach Dewitt Cotton pulled his team off the court on Saturday night at Crenshaw with 1.3 seconds left and the host Cougars ahead 63-62.

City Section commissioner Vicky Lagos said Sunday the game will go down as a forfeit win for Crenshaw after the officials’ report indicated Westchester left the gymnasium without completing the game.

It was announced Westchester will also forfeit its Monday game against University and coach Cotton has been suspended for a game against Venice and won’t be allowed to coach in the first round of the City Section playoffs. Junior varsity coach Akil Reese, a former Westchester player, will take over for the next two games before Cotton is allowed to return.

With four seconds left, a technical foul was called against a Westchester player for elbowing a Crenshaw player. AJ Robinson made both free throws to give Crenshaw the 63-62 lead. With 1.3 seconds left, another foul was called against Westchester. That’s when the Comets decided to leave the gym.

According to City Section rule 1315, “If the behavior of a participant or coach causes the contest to be shortened or forfeited (and they were ejected from the contest), the offenders will be disqualified from the next contest.”