Windward Wins its First Boys Basketball CIF Southern Section Championship in School History
Jerome Green
Sports Editor
Windward prevailed over La Verne Lutheran 72-62 in the finals of the Div V A CIF-SS Toyota Championship. This was a game that had a series of ups and downs. Windward took an early 9-2 lead that they never relinquished. LaVerne made several runs at them and brought it with 6, but they couldn’t break the barrier.
Sophomore Wesley Saunders lead a balanced Windward attach with 19 points. Senior’s Anthony Stover 17 points, 8 rebs and 6 blocks, Darius Morris with 16 points and 6 nifty assist and Malcolm Washington with 14 points backed him up.
La Verne also had balanced scoring from C. J Cooper with 18 points and an array of pull up jumpers and blow by lay ups and Sally-13 points, Payne-13 points and English with 12 points. La Verne is a team to be reckoned with in this years State championship and also, next season with all of their key players, with the exception of Sally (junior), currently sophomores.
Like all CIF playoff games I’ve seen this season, the game was a pleasure to watch. Seeing young men putting their hearts and souls on the line for a game they luvv is thrilling to watch.
It was worth the long drive 90 minutes to see a quality played game. Personally it was a very special game for me because I got to watch my son, Pharoah, play in the last 16 seconds, after sitting out all season because of an injury. He even got to the free throw line and made both. Now, that is what CIF basketball is all about. Every player, no matter of status or ability getting a chance to do something they will remember for the rest of their lives.