It wasn’t till the nineteenth recreation of the highschool basketball season that Cleveland unveiled a brand new technique — the lob. It coincided with the arrival of 6-foot-8 junior Serigne Deme, who transferred from Blair after being displaced due to the Eaton hearth.
He was given an expedited switch waiver from the CIF, made his debut Jan. 24 in opposition to Chatsworth and helped the Cavaliers safe an additional time victory.
That signaled a change in Metropolis Part hierarchy. Immediately, the favorites, Chatsworth and Westchester, should take care of Cleveland, which is 18-4 and holding down first place within the West Valley League earlier than a Feb. 10 rematch in opposition to Chatsworth.
“He’s an enormous assist and the lacking piece we’ve wanted for a very long time,” Cleveland 6-6 junior Cayden Kelly stated. “We’ve at all times had nice guards however wanted an enormous to assist us safe rebounds and block photographs.”
It’s fairly clear that Cleveland, Westchester and Chatsworth are able to successful the Metropolis Part Open Division championship when playoffs start this month. They’ve separated themselves and it’ll come all the way down to execution and getting function gamers round their stars to contribute when wanted.
Within the case of Westchester, which is 14-9 and 7-0 within the Western League, 6-9 junior Tajh Ariza is the participant who have to be able to assume a management function. The son of former NBA, UCLA and Westchester star Trevor Ariza nonetheless is adjusting to Metropolis Part basketball after enjoying his final two years at St. Bernard. Opponents have been getting bodily with him, and he’s going to should study to remain below management. He was ejected from a recreation final week.
Coach Dewitt Cotton understands his staff’s inconsistency. In a recreation in opposition to Palisades, the Comets gave up 19 consecutive factors within the first quarter earlier than rallying for victory.
Trevor Ariza and his son, Tajh, when he was attending St. Bernard.
(Eric Sondheimer / Los Angeles Instances)
“We get complacent,” Ariza stated.
Westchester has what’s arguably the most effective depth, with Jordan Ballard, Gary Ferguson, Ty Ingram and Taj Ingram able to contributing to Ariza’s scoring and rebounding.
Chatsworth has the Metropolis Part’s finest participant in McDonald’s All-American Alijah Arenas, who dedicated to USC final week. The Chancellors have labored exhausting on getting extra gamers concerned within the offense, nevertheless it nonetheless comes all the way down to Arenas enjoying 32 minutes and coming near his scoring common of 31.8 factors.
Are there any groups who might problem the massive three?
Palisades would possibly be capable of make it to the semifinals, however when the massive three are clicking, there’s no one left to cease them.
Cleveland has grow to be essentially the most intriguing staff. The Cavaliers’ beginning 5 appears to be like strong with the addition of Deme, however foul bother in opposition to Chatsworth or Westchester can be powerful to beat.
The Cavaliers’ win over Chatsworth has performed wonders for the staff’s confidence.
“It was actually huge as a result of everybody was saying we have been going to lose,” Kelly stated. “I knew we have been going to win, however we actually wanted that.”
Kelly has benefited most from Deme’s arrival. Kelly has versatility to go inside or exterior and may keep away from foul bother by turning to Deme to deal with huge males.
“He’s made my job simpler,” Kelly stated.
Final season it was a significant shock to see two colleges that by no means had gained the Open Division title, King/Drew and LACES, attain the ultimate. LACES was the No. 8 seed and upset Cleveland, the No. 1 seed, within the first spherical.
The ending to this season ought to align extra with the seedings.