jason day last of mlk

SoCal High School & Prep Report

Jason Day: The Last of MLK Stuff
And Other Notes--(January 25, 1998)

Well, the 4th Annual MLK Challenge is now history, and it's almost time to move on to other things. But before we leave it behind until next season, when the 5th Annual MLK Challenge will undoubtedly be held at UCLA's Pauley Pavilion, here's Jason Day's final analysis of Crenshaw v. Etiwanda. Because you asked for it. And as always, remember, that if you want to complain, cajole, or otherwise write to Jason, he can be reached at elgee333@pacbell.net. Here's the report.

MLK HOLIDAY CHALLENGE

CRENSHAW SQUEAKS PAST ETIWANDA 63-61

WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN?

by Jason Day

I want to share a few notes I jotted down at Monday’s 4^th Annual Martin Luther King Holiday Challenge. As I said in my previous offerings from this great event, SoCalHoops has some excellent in-depth stuff on all of the games, so I’ll just share an observation or two on the 4 (out of 8) games that I saw. This chapter of rants, raves, and ramblings covers the L.A. Crenshaw Cougars against the Etiwanda Eagles.

This was a "coming out party" of sorts for Crenshaw since they’ve played few games, when compared to some of the other prominent teams around, and many of those were played out of town during the holidays. Local fans have been dying to see them so we could answer the burning questions.

Are the Cougars as tough as last year’s state championship version? Will they prevail in the predicted showdown against Westchester for the City championship? Can this team play that famous "Shaw" defense?

Well not too much of that was resolved by the end of the Etiwanda contest. One might naturally conclude that since Crenshaw didn’t blow out Etiwanda, they must not be that tough. The problem is that many people, here in ‘Shaw" territory, don’t know that Etiwanda is not some weak team traveling to L.A., from out near Riverside somewhere, for the fun of it. No, they are not Westchester, or Dominguez, and yes Fairfax beat em at the Best in the West on a last second 3, but they’re nobody’s doormat either. They almost knocked off Crenshaw for a number of reasons and Crenshaw not being tough was probably not one of em.

In this one, Etiwanda almost out "Crenshawed" Crenshaw. While they had trouble with the Cougar press early, they slapped on one of their own that yielded dividends too. They didn’t get as many steals, but they made the Shaw guards work very hard for good entry passes, and even harder for effective dribble penetration. On offense they attacked the press, and the half court zone, pushed the ball up the court relentlessly while looking for penetration, and good passes to cutters through the lane. And, they set shooters up on the perimeter for the long bomb. Sound familiar.

So the Cougars faced a mirror image of themselves and that MAY have contributed to the close score.

So what DOES Crenshaw have? Inquiring minds want to know.

In my view, the same thing they had last year and the year before that (both championship years by the way),"the system". Crenshaw doesn’t depend on the addition of this go to player or that go to player. "Willie West does not rebuild, he reloads." The faces change, but it’s "the system" that remains. That’s why most observers can’t name a Crenshaw star, or don’t know the names of a lot of the kids that take the floor for the Cougars. The players are virtually interchangeable "cogs" in "the system"

Oh, there are conventional components to this team. They have an "inside" game. Anthony Garrison is a load in and around the paint, no doubt. They’ve got an outside game. Brandon Hawkins is emerging as one of the most prolific scorers around. He’s hitting scary numbers at times. They’ve got a point to distribute the rock. E.J. Harris is showing some of the stuff he learned after a year apprenticing behind "Lord" Baron Davis at Crossroads. But, every one of them can, and had better, run the floor and play tenacious defense or they will sit down and be replaced by someone who also can and will. West had 17 players in uniform for their 40+ point blowout of San Pedro, and a whole bunch of em played. It’s like facing the allies at Normandy, wave after wave after wave.

Garrison carried them offensively in this one with 22 points and 14 rebounds in a stellar inside performance. What a sight to see this 260+ pound kid finish a breakaway with a double clutch lay-up.

But Harris dished 4 assists, had 4 steals, but just 8 points. Hawkins shot wasn’t falling, so he finished with 7.

Bring in Jonathan Stokes, a junior shooting guard, who last year attended Crenshaw, transferred to Artesia, playing for them as recently as two weeks ago, and who is now back at Crenshaw. Setting aside the "transfer" considerations and what this means to high school basketball in general, with Stokes, just give him the ball and watch him flash the ability he flashed once in awhile in his short career at Artesia. A very quick 2 who can blow by defenders for nice finishes at the rack, he contributed an important 10 pts. 4 boards, 2 assists, and 3 steals. I’d say he’s returned "home".

Bring in Ryan Sims, a junior power forward, who may be on the verge of a breakout season. He’s added a little muscle to the slender frame and taken some "aggressiveness" pills. At 6’-8", with major hops and pretty good footwork, he’s a formidable presence inside. Just ask the Etiwanda players that saw 6 of their shots swatted into next week. Add 8 rebounds, and a developing jumper, and you’ve got a big man who could attract a lot of attention on and off the floor.

Bring in 6’- 8 JR, Armand Thomas, who had 7 boards, only 2 points, but 3 blocks of his own, or senior guard, Donte Barrett, with 9 points, 4 boards, 2 assists, and a steal.

Get the picture here?

If parts of the "system" aren’t clicking, bring in someone else to try for a while. Reload.

Are they as good as last year’s team? Probably not.

Not as consistent outside scoring. Can they beat Westchester for the City title? Probably not. Defense inside will be tested, guards tested outside. Can this team play the "Shaw" D as well as previous Cougar teams? Probably not. A bit slower and not quite as attentive on "help" side.

However, early last season when Crossroads had that Cougar team down by 15, we asked the same question: Are they as good? And the answer was the same, "probably not", but then they won.

And when they were down by 12 late in the Southern Section finals to Mater Dei, we again asked if they could beat em, we answered "probably not", and yet they won.

In the state finals when they trailed Alameda, and Ray Young, by 15 at the start of the 4^th, we asked again, for the last time that season, if they could play the D and score too. And for the last time, we answered "probably not".

You know the result. Crenshaw won.

Bottom line. Don’t underestimate "the system". [Jerry's note: Or, don't listen to Jason's answers to his own questions. . . ha]. It’s still early in the season, and Crenshaw has defied conventional wisdom before. Any team that plays 'em had better take care of the ball, be in condition to run like crazy, rebound religiously, and take advantage of every scoring opportunity they get. Or else.

Later.

Jason Day