Fairfax Tourney Update
June 24, 2009
Jack Pollon
Without Blake Stanton and Matt Mounier, few in attendance at Fairfax of Los Angeles gave Crespi of Encino any chance of beating Fairfax in a first round game of the 23rd annual Nike Fairfax Summer Classic boys basketball tournament.
Although Crespi didn't come away with a victory in a 66-57 setback, it sure did give the Lions a scare.
Crespi sprinted out to an 11-0 lead, led 19-7 at one point and didnt give up the lead until midway through the second half.
Crespi had four players in double figures, led by sophomore-to-be Justin Rubia's 15 points.
The Celts and coach Russell White are finding ways to adjust without key players and the loss of Michael Avery, who transferred to a boarding school out of state.
"It has been hard to adjust and play through things," Crespi power forward Reggie Coates said. "We have to learn how to play through situations. We have a lot of new guys from J.V. When we get Blake (Stanton) back it will help because he is a senior guard."
Coates and sophomore-to-be Jericho Richardson each had 11 points and Kenny Stenhouse had 10.
Crespi was running the floor and hitting shots early but had trouble sustaining the momentum against a Fairfax team that played 14 players.
Crespi's big lead was cut to one by halftime and Fairfax finally took its first lead with 8:45 remaining on a 3-pointer from Jordan Weathers.
Weathers scored a game high 29 points, including four 3-pointers to lead Farifax, who is also adjusting to life without mega-recruit and Mississippi St.-bound Renardo Sidney.
Crespi tried to stay close but Donte McFrazier made a 3-pointer with 2:08 remaining giving Fairfax an insurmountable 12 point lead. The 3-pointer was the dagger in a 14-2 Fairfax run.
"We just aren't used to being these situations, it's tough without your senior guard in there", Coates said.
White was upbeat about the tough, gritty performance but also a bit frustrated.
"We have to do better in second halves," White said. "It could be we are out of shape, inexperience..."
Crespi figures to get better and build more team chemistry as the season appraoches but Loyola of Los Angeles and Harvard-Westlake will be tough hurdles in a very deep Mission League.
ST. FRANCIS TAKING ITS LICKS
St. Francis of La Canada-Flintridge hasn't exactly been a basketball powerhouse the last several years but the Golden Knights are trying to turn things around playing as much as possible and in tough tournaments.
Despite a 70-46 loss to Long Beach Poly, St. Francis played hard to the end and received 17 points from guard Tommy Jordan.
AREA TEAMS SHUT OUT
Usually Taft of Woodland Hills or Harvard-Westlake make it it into the round but both teams lost Tuesday and if La Canada loses to Mater Dei of Santa Ana as expected, it would mean all six area entrants ending up in the consolation bracket.
SECOND ROUND SCHEDULE
The games continue today through Sunday with the championship game scheduled for 6 p.m. Sunday.
Games today include, Taft vs. St. Francis at 4 p.m., Campbell Hall vs. Loyola at 5:30 p.m., Westchester vs. Leuzinger at 7 p.m. and Mater Dei vs. Serra at 8:30 p.m. The 7 and 8:30 p.m. games are championship semifinals.
Friday's schedule is Harvard-Westlake vs. La Canada at 4 p.m., Crespi vs. Dorsey at 5:30 p.m., Fairfax vs. Santa Monica at 7 p.m. and Long Beach Poly vs. Orange Lutheran at 8:30 p.m.