jason day serra

SoCal High School & Prep Report

Jason Day: Gardena Serra Beats
St. Bernard's 72-64--(January 25, 1998)

Here's the latest installment of last night's (Saturday's) game between St. Bernard's and Serra. The Del Rey Athletic League, with teams such as Bishop Amat, Bishop Montgomery, St. Bernard, St. John Bosco, St. Joseph/Lakewood, St. Paul, and Serra is a very competitive league and in prior years, has had it's share of championship teams. While the league is probably more competitive in football historically, there are some fine basketball teams this year. Our friend Jason Day was lucky enough to make it out last night to the game between St. Bernard's and Serra, and as you'll see, there were some tight moments and big-time action. Here's Jason's take on the game. Oh yes, if you agree, disagree or just want to send Jason a note, he can be reached at elgee333@pacbell.net.

ST. BERNARD'S FALLS SHORT AGAINST SERRA

by Jason Day

If you follow high school, or college, ball you know that a major component of the excitement / drama is a good old fashioned rivalry. When you put two teams on the floor that have a "history" you can throw all conventional wisdom out the window. Records don't matter, which team has which superstar doesn't matter, which kid's going to which level doesn't matter. Add a little animosity to the rivalry and you've got the makings of big fun in the gym.

This one between Gardena Serra High, and Playa Del Rey St. Bernard's, at Bernard's, was "all dat and a phat bag o' chips".

Bernard's, minus point guard Brandon Granville, who transferred to Westchester, has struggled thus far this season, while Serra, as inconsistent a team as you ever want to see, is at the top of their league. Throw it out the window. Serra is way bigger than Bernard's and starts 6'-7" (and future star) sophomore, Aerick Sanders, along side 6'-5" future star (if he wants it) junior Earl Lewis. Throw it out the window. Bernard's beat Serra last year and, according to some Serra players "talked much head" afterwards. Throw it out the window.

The tone for this one was set before the ref even threw up the ball. The Serra players had their "triple H ritual" (that's Hoopin' and Hollerin' Huddle) at center court when Bernard's team decided that they should have their ritual there. Bernard's moved in and the two teams had to be separated by coaches and referees. It was "on".

Both teams started with man to man defenses. Advantage Serra because senior point guard Davon Johnson is going to take WHOEVER guards him off the dribble for that pretty jumper of his. Problem was that his first two didn't fall, and then he scared the water out of the Serra partisans when he went down with what appeared to be a leg or ankle injury early in the first quarter. Point guard heir apparent, Ryan Odums (6'-1" Jr PG) --9 points, 2 boards, 2 assists-- took over at the point and did a great job. Serra didn't miss a beat early and built a 20-13 lead at the end of the 1st.

In the 2nd, things got a little dicey for Bernard's for two reasons. Serra switched to a full court 2-2-1 press, and Johnson was back in the game. Bernard's point guard, senior Lamar Leslie did all he could to keep his team in it offensively, scoring 13 in the first half by working harder than just about anybody else on the floor (he finished with 19 points, 4 boards, 2 assists). His efforts around the hoop were very impressive, as was his ability to take defenders off the dribble to the hole. He got a significant amount of help from Jose Hansen (5'-9" Jr PG), who came off the bench and went "off" for 6 points in three straight possessions, while grabbing 3 rebounds, and 2 steals.

But, Johnson and Serra's defense would have something to say about any comebacks in this half. Johnson, who, when he's on, can be as exciting a shooter as any you'll see in the state, lit the Bernard's defenders up for 15 after returning from the injury. I've noted before that Serra's offensive scheme gives Davon very little help in getting his points. Few screens or picks, or anything to assist him in scoring. His forte is taking his man off the dribble and pullin' up for the J. When that works, he's spectacular. When the defender is effective and "gloves" him, or when his shot is off, he and his team can look powerless. They weren't looking powerless at this point. Lewis, who can be spectacular when he comes to play, was the other offensive weapon for Serra in the 1st half. He had 9 points and 3 boards on a great performance in and around the paint. His front court mate Sanders, who was coming off a 19 point offensive explosion against St. Paul, wasn't scorin' much but owned the inside. He had 4 boards, 4 blocks, and a steal in the half, to go with 2 points. Lewis finished with 14 points, 7 boards, and a block, while Sanders finished with 6 points, 8 boards, 5 blocks, the steal, and an assist. Serra took a 10 point lead to the locker room 39-29.

Second half, new game. Oh yeah, Serra built their lead to 15 at one point, but, NEW GAME. Why? Because St. Bernard's switched to their own 2-2-1, played it aggressively, and attacked, attacked, attacked. Since the refs were essentially letting both teams play, this strategy put Serra back on it's heels by the middle of the third. At the half, Serra had 4 turnovers to Bernard's 11. With 4 minutes left in the 3rd, Serra had committed an additional 7 TO's. A goodly amount of those give-aways were converted on the other end. Then, Bernard's senior forward, Javier Hansen (brother of Jose), went to work. He had 5 points in the 1st half, he added 14 points, 3 boards, and two assists in the second. He hit two huge 3-pointers that got Bernard's right back in this game. Jose, still working his butt off, added 6 more points, 3 more boards, and 2 steals. Bernard's had cut the lead to 2 with :55 left in the 3rd, and trailed by 4 (51-47) at the end of the period.

Two things confused me when the fourth quarter was underway. First, Bernard's started to abandon the press. Second, Serra still wasn't going inside to Sanders or Lewis. The effectiveness of Bernard's press was obvious, they were back in the game. How effective Sanders and Lewis would have been on inside offense was just as obvious. They were way bigger than anyone Bernard's could put on the floor. But, more convincing was the fact that those two combined for 15 rebounds, and 6 blocks. I only counted 23 rebounds for the entire Bernard's team. Give these guys the ball on O.

Anyway, with Serra being allowed to get back into their offensive rhythm, Johnson went right back to work. Bernard's stayed in it with some great shots by the Hansens, and/or Leslie, but Johnson hit a 3 here, a 2 there, went to the line and sunk 2, whatever. He finished with 26, 3 boards, an assist, and a steal. Serra also got a great performance from senior point guard, Deron Jeter, an exciting athletic 1 who's got handles, speed, and can defend with the best around. He had 11 points, 2 boards, 3 assists, and 5 steals. A real steady performance. Add the maturity and skills of Odums, not to mention a "highlight reel" drive to the hoop for a double clutch finger roll, and Serra was clicking again, even without going inside.

Bernard's was able to tie it a couple of times, the last being at 55-55 with 6:00 left, and stayed close for a few. But by 2:25 left in the game, Serra was up ten 65-55. The chants rang out from each school. This one was over, but the rivalry was still "on".

Final: Serra 72 -- St. Bernard's 64

Great game, big fun.

Later

Jason Day