crenshaw recap first round

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SoCalHoops Tournament News

1999 S.D. Nike Prep Classic: Recap--
Crenshaw v. Mira Mesa--(Dec. 30, 1999)

What: 1999 Torrey Pines Nike Prep Classic
When: December 27-December 30, 1999
Where: 3 locations: Torry Pines High School
San Dieguito Academy & Rancho Bernardo HS
Who: 48 of the top teams from all over the U.S.

Since we spent the day at Allan Hancock College up in Santa Maria watching some of the best JUCO teams in the country going at it, we didn't get back to our hotel in time to call the media office at the Torry Pines San Diego Nike Prep Classic, at least not in time to get the results for last night's games, so we'll have to wait until Thursday morning to post them. But in the meantime, Crenshaw played a great game against Mira Mesa in the second round, and the San Diego Union Tribune carried a great story on the Cougars and legendary coach Willie West. Now we hear that Crenshaw got absolutely hammered by De La Salle in the semifinal game last night, but we don't know anything about it really. So for you Crenshaw fans who may be licking your wounds, here's something to at least make you feel a little better: A recap of the win over Mira Mesa. Oh, and the article also had a little tidbit about the reason there are so few East Coast teams at West Coast events this year. You guessed it: Y2K. Seems that no one wants to be flying home on December 31 when the clock rolls around to January 1, 2000, and most flights have actually been cancelled. Interesting. At least that's what the Nike tournament folks are saying. Anyway, here's the portion of the article pertaining to the Crenshaw game:

Crenshaw runs wild, crushes Mira Mesa

By Steve Brand
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER

December 28, 1999

DEL MAR -- Crenshaw High in Los Angeles is a hotbed for basketball and, if you don't believe it, note the state championship banners in Willie West Pavilion.

It's eight and counting. Not quite UCLA. Yet. But then, they never named the gym after John Wooden while he was coaching, unlike West, who is still relaying instructions courtside in his uniquely gravely voice.

And his players aren't much different from Cougars teams past, either.

Crenshaw basketball is speed, depth, quick hands, up-tempo offense and deny defense. Add outside shooting this year.

Burying five three-pointers before intermission, the Cougars (3-0) raced past a Mira Mesa team that couldn't match up in any phase of the game, collecting a 91-50 victory in the opener of the Nike National Prep Classic yesterday at Torrey Pines High.

Crenshaw forced a season-high 32 turnovers against the Marauders (3-3), who were a miserable 2-of-16 from three-point range. While the Cougars appeared in midseason form, Mira Mesa was in disarray.

"We need to develop some chemistry," said Amon Gordon, who scored 21 points and had 10 rebounds in the first three quarters before being smothered inside in the fourth.

"Crenshaw was very athletic and they applied the pressure. Once they got the ball, they just ran on us."

All 14 Cougars played, but none better than 6-foot-3 E.J. Harris, who collected 24 points, more than half of them on easy layups. During one two-minute span in the third quarter, Crenshaw ran for eight straight uncontested points off fast breaks.

When Crenshaw wasn't turning the game into a track meet, it got outstanding three-point shooting from Tommy Jackson (15 points) and M'Jumbe Williams (10 points).

To make it complete, Crenshaw outboarded the Marauders 44-34.

"We didn't know what to expect because we'd only played two games coming in," said West. "With only four returning varsity players, we're young. But we have the potential to be very good."

Scary.

Conversely, the Marauders struggled, only once scoring on back-to-back baskets.

"They were tough inside," said Mira Mesa coach Dan Regas, "and they work together so well. We weren't taking care of the ball real well and we just didn't have an outside game.

"Crenshaw was a good team. Even Amon and Teyo (Johnson) were having trouble finding each other, so you can imagine the trouble the others were having.

"We have to get better. If we don't, we're in trouble."

Johnson, who scored 15 points and added nine rebounds, was one who couldn't buy a trey, finally finding the range after eight straight misses.

He isn't discouraged.

"Our having eight practices and their having 24 showed," said Johnson, who drew big crowds when he drove to the basket. "Once we develop our team chemistry, we'll be the one of the best teams in our division and in the section."