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Boys’ basketball: Crespi holds off Harvard-Westlake in overtime thriller

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Dramatic, fan-pleasing basketball is back in the Mission League. On Wednesday night, Crespi and Harvard-Westlake engaged in an overtime thriller.

The game was finally ended when sophomore Brandon Williams made a baseline jumper at the buzzer in overtime to give Crespi (16-1, 2-0) a 77-75 victory at Harvard-Westlake.

Twice Harvard-Westlake (12-3, 0-1) made three-pointers to tie the game. The first came from Ali Iken with 2.5 seconds left in regulation, 64-64. The second came from Wolfgang Novogratz with 11 seconds left in overtime, 75-75.

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But trying to defeat a Crespi team that has won 16 consecutive games will always be difficult with players like Williams and De’Anthony Melton on the court. Williams made 11 consecutive free throws and finished with 27 points. Melton scored 27 points and had 14 rebounds.

For Harvard-Westlake, Novogratz scored 22 points, Cassius Stanley 21 and Carter Begel 15.

David Rebibo, a former Crespi assistant, and his old boss, Russell White, each wore a long sleeve shirt and tie. They kept coming up with strategy and moves to match the other as their players battled it out. Midway through the third quarter, Crespi opened a 10-point lead. But Novogratz rallied the Wolverines.

Alemany defeated Sherman Oaks Notre Dame, 77-52. Earnie Sears scored 24 points and Shacquille Dawkins 23. Loyola held off Chaminade, 51-41. Henry Welsh had 12 points, 13 rebounds and seven blocks. Josh Hauser led Chaminade with 24 points.

Bishop Montgomery improved to 15-0 with an 82-46 win over Narbonne. Jordan Schakel scored 23 points, Ethan Thomas 22 and David Singleton 17.

Oak Park defeated Agoura, 65-52. Wes Slajchert had 21 points and Riley Battin 15.

In a Moore League opener, Long Beach Poly defeated Lakewood, 81-65. Long Beach Millikan defeated LB Wilson, 72-62. Chris Barnes scored 19 points in Compton’s 64-53 win over Long Beach Cabrillo.

In the Suburban League, Mayfair defeated Artesia, 55-45.

JSerra improved to 13-2 with a 76-53 win over Orangwood Academy. Sebastian Much scored 28 points.

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Birmingham defeated Sylmar, 84-56. Devante Doutrive had 26 points and 10 rebounds. Adrian Byrd-Jelinek had 19 points and Deschon Winston 14.

Santa Monica defeated Palisades, 68-58. Jonah Mathews scored 31 points.

Demarko Flanagan had 17 points and 18 rebounds in Cleveland’s 52-42 win over Monroe.

Sean Fernandez scored 27 points in North Hollywood’s 62-33 win over Kennedy.

Fairfax defeated Rancho Dominguez, 84-47. Babacar Thiombane finished with 24 points and 10 rebounds. Jeremy Hamilton added 17 points and Antoine Monroe 10.

Flintridge Prep (9-2) won its Prep League opener with a 59-42 win over Chadwick. Andrew Tsangeos scored 18 points and Dante Fregoso added 12 points.

Villa Park defeated Cypress, 59-52.

For the latest on high school sports, follow @LATSondheimer on Twitter

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