Corona Centennial dominates Harvard-Westlake to repeat as Open up Division champions
A cozy, packed, noisy Corona Centennial gymnasium was the scene on Friday night time for a legitimate glimpse of what significant-boy basketball seems like in Southern California. And no team is taking part in better than the 30-1 Huskies.
Going through a surging Studio City Harvard-Westlake group that rose up to knock off Chatsworth Sierra Canyon very last week, Centennial turned up the defensive strain to win a second consecutive Southern Portion Open up Division title with 68-48 victory.
Centennial opened a 17-level halftime direct even though keeping Harvard-Westlake to no area goals and 6 totally free throws in the next quarter. The Wolverines poorly skipped their most precious participant, Cameron Thrower, who went to the bench with three fouls at the 7:43 mark. Harvard-Westlake (24-3) never bought closer than eight points in the second 50 %.
The game was additional evidence how Centennial has divided by itself the last two seasons.
“It’s an awesome emotion to earn back again to again,” mentioned junior guard Jared McCain, who scored 20 details and shipped three momentum-shifting 3-pointers in the 2nd 50 %.
Centennial was supposed to return all 5 starters from final season’s championship workforce, but star guard Kylan Boswell transferred to a group in Arizona. Some thought the Huskies would not be the very same. In reality, they were being even much better because it cleared the way for the guard duo of McCain and Donovan Dent to exhibit how great it could be, serving as enthusiasm to confirm to people today the workforce was continue to fantastic.
“When Kylan still left, men and women imagined we couldn’t do something,” McCain stated.
Dent has been the team MVP all period with his court leadership and capability to push and dish. McCain, remaining recruited by UCLA, Gonzaga and Duke, shown his clutch 3-level shooting competencies.
“They’re as very good as we assumed,” Harvard-Westlake coach David Rebibo said of Dent and McCain.
Dent scored 11 points and 3 periods his assists led to dunks. Centennial’s massive males, Devin Williams and Aaron McBride, scored 17 and 10 details, respectively. Brady Dunlap scored 18 factors and Thrower had 15 of his 17 details in the second 50 % for Harvard-Westlake.
“This demonstrates how rough they are,” Centennial mentor Josh Giles said as he proudly watched his players get their championship awards.
Last season, the pandemic prevented the Huskies from competing for a state championship. They selected to not even take part in the regional playoffs.
Now they will get to enjoy for a vacation to Sacramento for a point out title. They should really be seeded No. 1 for the Southern California Open up Division regional when pairings are declared Sunday.
“Finally we get to engage in for a point out title,” McCain explained. “That’s been on my dream board for a when. I bought to get a point out title.”
In City Area Division I boys, Van Nuys Grant gained its initial basketball championship with a 53-48 acquire about top-seeded Westchester. Jeremiah Windham scored 20 factors to lead the Lancers.
In City Area Open up Division girls, Lake Balboa Birmingham defeated Westchester 51-46. Janna Holley led the Patriots with 18 details.
In Southern Section Division 1, Playa del Rey St. Bernard defeated San Juan Capistrano JSerra 71-59.
