Loyola beats Harvard-Westlake 91-88
Jerome Green
January 31, 2009
Some of the best and most passionate basketball is not being played at the Staples Center, John Wooden Court or The Galen Center. The most electrifying heartfelt basketball in Southern California is being played in High School Gyms, filled to capacity with family, friends and students. The best part is some of these games are free (at least until CIF playoffs start). Last night I was at Harvard-Westlake to watch Harvard-Westlake play the Loyola Cubs. Loyola won 91-88 behind Jordan Gathers 27 points and took over first place in the Mission League.
This was a rematch rivalry game where the Loyola teams seemed ready to come out and establish themselves very early. Loyola jumped to a quick lead by a couple baskets by Carl Hoffman. It was very clear that Loyola’s player’s intentions were to approach this game differently than they did in their losing effort a few weeks ago. Coach Jamal moved Miles Cartwright back to point, a position that he made all league playing last year and Jordan Gathers to the two spot. While the game didn’t represent the best defensive effort on either side, it did hold up to being a true rivalry game and worth the drive over the hill on the 405 to see.
Loyola Opened an 14 point lead on balanced scoring from the 6-9, Hoffman, who had 19 points, Cartwright and 6-10 Tony Wroblicky who had 14 points apiece. Harvard Westlake stormed back into the game with a combined defensive and offensive effort. Chris Barnum who is a defensive nuisance did a good job in containing Miles Cartwright and Michael Attanasio post entry passes were better than most I’ve seen this year on the high school level. Harvard-Westlake was led in scoring by Damien Cain, 6-7 sophomore, who scored 25 points, Erik Swoope, 6-5 junior who scored 20 points and Junior Austin Kelly who had 20 points.
You can call it a redemption game where all the participants played for the pride of representing their school and playing with all their hearts.