SoCal High School & Prep Report

Best in the West: Long Beach
Jordan Beats Compton--(December 29, 1997)

The Best in the West Tournament started Friday, December 26, 1997. One of our correspondents, Jason Day has been at the tournament, and will be reporting on the games, scores and his impressions of play. Here's his take on Saturday's quarterfinal game between Jordan and Compton:

Long Beach Jordan Beats Compton in Quarterfinal

By Jason Day

Saturday, December 27, 1997

They were unseeded, and no one really anticipated that they would knock off the No. 4 seeded team in the tourney. . . except Jordan that is. Compton took a tumble at the hands of upstart Long Beach Jordan in the quarterfinals of the 1997 Best in the West Invitational Tournament, losing 67-59, and the unseeded Jordan team got stellar performances from three of their underclassmen, Travon Bryant (6'-6" So. PF/C), Darren Peterson (6'-3" Jr SF), and Craig Calloway (6'-1" Jr PG/SG), who combined for 46 of Jordan’s 67 points. For their part, Compton now appears to be a team in trouble, even after a convincing win over Centennial on Friday.

Jordan took it to the Tarbabes from the opening whistle. This team is smaller than most, but just as athletic, just as quick, and just as disciplined as several highly regarded teams in SoCal. Jordan used that quickness to its advantage early with Calloway and fellow Jr guard, Eric Gathrite, pushing the ball at Compton at every opportunity and coming up with lay-ups or easy jumpers. Peterson, Bryant, and Mike Newton (6'-2" Sr SF), ran the floor exceptionally well and showed great ability to finish.

The story for Compton also unfolded early. In some respects it started to unfold last week at the Reebok tournament in Vegas. It was there that their star big-man, David Hamilton, began to have the latest of several "episodes" he's had over the years. This young man, while so obviously gifted, is just as obviously having a hard time controlling his emotions on and off the court. He had a couple of blowups on the court in Vegas that seemed to be triggered by his dissatisfaction with any one of several things, (a bad call against him, no call against the defender, bad play by a teammate, team not playing well, something the coach said or did, etc.). You name it, David seemed to display a negative reaction to it. By the time Compton came to the BIW, the word was that Coach Rod Palmer was making efforts to show Hamilton "the light". One tactic Palmer seems to be employing to get his young star’s attention, is a tried and true one. Bench 'em.

And that's exactly what Palermer did: Hamilton played NO minutes in the early games here. He didn’t get into this one until 6:30 of the second quarter. And while he finished with 13 boards, he was not really a factor in this game, particularly offensively, and he had only 7 points. It was on that end that I swear it looked as if his teammates were consciously "freezing him out". I'd like to think it's not true, but the guy was so obviously open in the post so often, and Moore, Maddox, Riley, and company so obviously refused to pass it into him that it seems like the only explanation. This guy is "the man", the "go to guy", and the only times that he touched the ball were when he went and got it himself. When you add in that Vanderbilt bound, point guard, DeAundre Moore, went 0-13 from the field (with only 3 assists) you have all the makings of a disaster.

Jordan, led by Peterson and Calloway, jumped out to an early 6 point lead, 21-15 by the end of the first quarter. Peterson is a gifted "almost" big man. He can handle the ball on the wing well enough to keep the defender at bay and has the quick first step to get that 6'-3" body into the paint where he can do some damage. Even after Hamilton, an imposing defender, came into the game, Peterson would score around the basket almost at will. He had 15 points on 5-9 shooting, including 2-2 from downtown, at the half.

Travon Bryant showed why so many observers, including this one, are expecting big things from him. His fundamentals are far more advanced than most sophomores at his position. He didn’t get much of a defensive workout against Hamilton, since he hardly touched the ball down low. On offense he showed the quickness and athleticism that gets a kid 15 points, on 7 for 10 shooting, including one three-pointer, against a top notch defensive team. He also had 9 rebounds, 3 blocks, and an assist.

Mike Newton, one of the handful of seniors on this team, played a great game and made a major contribution to this win. He hit two big 3's in the middle of Compton rallies. A quick aggressive defender, he stole the ball 6 times in this one, most of the thievery coming at key points in the game. He finished with 11 points, including 2 for 4 from three-point range, 6 boards, 2 assists, a block, and the 6 thefts. Quite a night.

Don’t get me wrong here. Compton did not go quietly into the night or anything of the sort. It’s just that whatever they came up with, Jordan seemed to have an answer. Compton Sr. SG Reggie Howard had another spectacular offensive game. He carried his team for large portions of this contest.

Facing a 4 point deficit at the start of the third, with the score 34-30, Howard would drop a J here, get fouled there, or slash to the hoop somewhere else. With Moore still ice cold, and Peterson and Bryant riddling Compton's defense, he still managed to lead them to a 42-41 lead at 2:55 of the 3rd quarter. Howard ultimately finished with 25 points, shooting 7 for 11, and 8 for 10 at the line, 3 boards, and 2 assists.

The tension and intensity rose dramatically at this point. There were back to back to back spectacular defensive plays as both teams scrambled, ran, dove, and drove to try to get an advantage. Moore went to the line, still with a 2 point lead, 45-43, missed first, dropped the second. Gathrite then took the inbounds and parlayed a nice penetration move into 2 points.

46-45 Compton at end of third quarter.

Bryant then took the ball right to Hamilton to open the fourth. Howard answered on the other end.

48-47 Compton.

Newton then hit a huge three for Jordan, and the held Compton on their possession, and Calloway got a nice drive in the lane. Newton then stole the ball at the other end and sent it airmail to the streaking Calloway for 2. Quickly, it’s now 54-48 Jordan with only 5:40 left in the game.

Jordan turned up the defense, especially inside, and, with the help of some ill advised passes by Compton players, converted the turnovers into nails in Compton’s coffin. 10 point game, 58-48 with only 3:44 left.

Hamilton was still not touching the ball, and getting nothing from his teammates, so he started going for his own with some offensive rebounds and attempted put-backs. He missed the put backs three times in the last few minutes of this game and was fouled each time. He went to the line three times for 2, and missed both of them each time.

Moore was still having the shooting night from the North Pole, ice-cold, but nevertheless continued to chuck up the threes, trying to shoot his team back into it.

It wasn't happening though, and he was 0-7 from three-point land.

With only minutes, the usual late-game strategizing ensues for Compton. It’s mildly effective, but only prolongs the inevitable. Fittingly it ends on a great steal in Compton’s paint.

Final: Long Beach Jordan 67, Compton 59

Jordan will play a much improving (over recent performances) top-seeded Westchester team in one semi-final Monday night at 7:35 at the Long Beach City College Main Gym. Compton will meet Perris, in the 5th place bracket, at 4:25pm at the same gym. The other semi pits number 3 seed Artesia against number 2 seed Long Beach Poly.

Come on down. This has been one great tournament so far. Lots of very talented, well-coached teams in some very exciting games.

See ya there.

Jason Day

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