Reese Morgan helps Panthers stay in the hunt

Reese Morgan is averaging 27.3 points for Rolling Hills Estates Peninsula and has a scholarship waiting for him at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. He scored 54 points in a victory over Lawndale Leuzinger last month. His basketball team is seeded No. 1 in the Southern Section Division 2A playoffs.

If only people knew what was required of him to reach this point in his journey....

Growing up in San Pedro, Morgan remembers shooting baskets in the dark in his front yard. When he went for walks in his neighborhood, he took along a basketball to dribble. Whenever he practices, he dives for loose balls, whether it’s a blacktop or gym floor.

“It’s taken years and years of hard work,” he said. “I’ve had a basketball in my hands since I was 5. I’ve played on club teams since I was 8.”

He suffered a torn ligament and torn cartilage in his left knee with five games left in his sophomore season, leaving him at less than full strength a year ago. But that didn’t deter him.

“The kid works nonstop,” Coach Jim Quick said. “He’s a relentless worker.”

In the off-season, his first step became quicker, his jumping improved and his release was faster. It set the stage for a senior season in which he has scored in double figures in every game for Peninsula (26-1).

On Wednesday night in Peninsula’s playoff opener against Fullerton Troy, Morgan scored 23 points, had nine rebounds, five steals, two assists and even took a charging foul in the Panthers’ 62-28 victory. Peninsula will play Rowland in the second round Friday.

His dunk late in the third quarter brought a loud roar of approval from the Peninsula student section, particularly the first row known as the Zoo, where students dress up as animals.

For Morgan, it was a moment to savor.

“That’s my first dunk ever,” he said. “It was pretty exciting. I had to rehab for nine months. Getting a dunk like that reassures me I’m back to where I was and even better.”

Peninsula hasn’t lost since the third game of the season, when the Panthers were beaten by City Section power Westchester, 58-51. Then they defeated Los Angeles Washington by 31 points, and the Generals have gone on to become the No. 3-seeded team in the City Section Division I playoffs.

Peninsula had lost in the opening round of the playoffs the last two seasons, so Wednesday’s victory over Troy (11-16) was a small step toward achieving a much bigger goal.

The Panthers don’t take any game for granted. They had a couple of overtime victories en route to winning the Bay League championship.

“I believe any team could beat any team on any given night,” Morgan said, and those words were spoken before the Lakers lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Morgan knows his season and high school career can end at any time, and he’s committed to putting forth an effort that will allow him to leave the court knowing he gave his all.

“I want to make some noise in the playoffs,” he said. “It is a last hurrah for high school.”

eric.sondheimer@latimes.com

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