SoCal High School & Prep Report

Best in the West: Westchester
Beats Perris--(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 Westchester and Perris.

Westchester and Bluthenthal Beat Perris to Advance to Semifinals

Saturday, December 27, 1997

by Jason Day

The first time I saw the Westchester team play this season was at the Pooh Richardson Classic, which we dubbed the "Super Secret Stealth Tourney", chiefly because I and about 40 other lucky folks were the only ones who saw it, and that includes the teams and the coaches. Westchester played Morningside. After that game I declared that Westchester was one great team that would win a lot of games. Great athletes, big firepower, outstanding defense. They just dismantled Morningside and I became a fan.

The next time I saw them was at the Reebok Tourney in Las Vegas. They beat a South Mountain (Phoenix, AZ) handily, but looked awful doing it. The defensive intensity was gone, and the offensive decision-making was erratic and unfocused.

Okay. Highway lag. (They drove in that day.) Bad game. Whatever.

Then I saw them against Las Vegas High. More lethargic defense and uninspired offense. This from a team that is absolutely loaded. They won. By 5. Uh Oh. I was beginning to question why I had picked them so early to win. Maybe I didn't know that much about basketball after all; at least I was beginning to have doubts.

Next, Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) v. Westchester. Great game. Moving the ball. Hitting the open cutter. Great 2-2-1 full court pressure. Westchester gets an 18 point win against a tough team. My faith is restored. I know this game!

The next two times out though, Westchester just gets hammered. Destroyed by Rice (NY). Dismantled by Mountain View (Mesa, AZ). I’m out of the guru business. Don't know a thing. Couldn't see talent if it hit me in the face.

So, with doubts in hand and mind, I decided to spend some time trying to figure out what's happening to what I believed was obviously a fine team which was experiencing what I viewed as a temporary slide. So before their first round game here at the BIW, against Antelope Valley, I spent some time talking with Comet coach Ed Azzam, and asked him his thoughts about Vegas and the team in general.

While he was optimistic, he was pointedly so when talking about the return of David Bluthenthal, the USC bound 6'-7" Sr PF who had not played to this point because of knee surgery before the season. Azzam acknowledged that the team had been inconsistent thus far and needed to bring more intensity to each and every game. But, then again, David was back.

Here at the Best in the West, Westchester is the top seed. They beat Antelope Valley in the 1st round and moved on to a tough (TOUGH) game against Crossroads; we'll have a report on this one-- it was a great game. Westchester beat Crossroads, but only barely, and moved on to the quarterfinal match with Perris, a strong Inland Empire contender led by senior PG Damon Jackson.

Perris is a team which just loves to come out to the BIW territory to play. They've already been at the Compton Tip-Off Classic; and at the 46th Annual Pacific Shores. They're always tough, and ready to grab any opportunity to knock off some of the westside guys.

In this quarterfinal game, Perris threw a zone against the Comets, the same 2-3, or 1-2-2 that Rice and Mountain View lived in for their games against Westchester in Vegas. Early on, it seemed that Westchester would be content to sit on the perimeter and chuck it at the hoop instead of utilizing the great quickness and athletic abilities of an Albert Miller in and around the low block, or Tony Bland, who can get to the rack at almost any time against almost anybody, or a wide-body like Bluthenthal who has to be all of 230 and moves as if he’s carrying 190. That strategy killed them against MV and Rice.

After 1 quarter, Perris was up by two, 17-15. If they had been able to finish some of the great half court plays they ran, they would have been up by considerably more.

Westchester was alternating between the full court 2-2-1 match up, and their usually effective 1-2-2 half court trapping zone. Perris' Jackson and fellow senior, and back court partner, Ryan Ruiz, did a pretty good job of keeping the ball and running a very disciplined and polished half court offense that was content to shoot over the half court zone, or reversed the ball quickly to attack from the weakside.

At 4:11 of the 2nd quarter, Perris led 27-22.

By this point in the game, David Bluthenthal had proven that he was well-worth waiting for. He was beginning to dominate the boards at both ends of the floor. Teammates Brandon Granville, Tony Bland, and C.J. Williams began to get the ball to him on the low block, where he usually had great position against the Perris big men, and he would finish or get fouled. This young man is a major talent. Yes, I said that after only three games. He has a jumper, plays tenacious defense, has great hands, is a very good passer, and plays hard every minute he’s on the floor. What else could you ask for. Check the line: 22 points, (9-15), 15 boards (8 offensive), 4-7 from the line, and 1 block. He’s out of shape and still played 26 minutes in this one. Merry Christmas, Henry Bibby.

Bluthenthal had been ably assisted by Chris Osborne (6'9 JR PF/C) in the two previous games here, but Chris sat this one out while nursing some stitches on his "noggin". He took two teeth to the head from Crossroads Mischa Taylor when the two collided under the basket during Friday night’s contest. Chris will be back for Monday’s game. With both of them in the lineup this a truly forminable team.

Bland had a terrific game. Again. This time he often took over the point duties from Granville, and when he did, as in recent games, the team seemed to be more aggressive and good things happened. I have to say that Brandon seems to be trying to find his way right now. He just doesn’t have the overall intensity out there that, for instance, Tony does. To be fair, maybe it’s just that he doesn’t have the flash and flair. After all, he did finish with 9 assists in this game, to go with 7 points, 3 boards, and a steal. I’ve said it before, when Granville is at the point, then Tony gets to play the two / wing / whatever, and gets to use that great handle, athleticism, first step, and finish to score, score, and score. "Pretty T" finished with 21 points (9-14, with a 3), 2 boards, 4 assists, and 3 steals. Stellar.

Miller, just a workhorse, who comes to play every time out, finished with 10 points, 6 rebounds, and an assist in limited time due to foul trouble.

All of that was well and good, but Perris was apparently unimpressed. They were only down 45-41 at 1:30 of the 3rd quarter. Jackson, Ruiz, and 3rd guard Anthony Lloyd, gave the Westchester zone fits. Jackson led them with 23 points, 8 boards, and 2 assists. He is an impressive guard who’s shot mechanics are not very refined, but who can get to the rack off the dribble almost whenever he wants to. He’s a good defender and can pass with the best around these parts. Nice game.

Ruiz had 13 points (2-3 from 3), 2 boards, 4 assists, 3 steals, and only 1 turnover. Lloyd contributed 5 points, 4 boards, 5 assists, and a steal.

Perris scrapped and fought and kept it close.

But in the end, Bluthenthal and Bland were just too much for them. David had his way on the glass and Tony had his way everywhere else.

Final score: Westchester 71, Perris 61.

Since this game now qualifies me to re-apply for "guru" status, I’ll go out on a limb and predict that Westchester will probably win their next one against Long Beach Jordan in the first semi-final Monday at 7:35pm, in the main gym at Long Beach City College. Artesia will play Long Beach Poly in the second semi at 9:10pm.

Don't miss them.

Jason Day

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