Winning its final three preseason games last week, the Culver City boys basketball team takes its 12-3 record into league-opening contests at Morningside (played Wednesday) and at Santa Monica, Friday at 7 p.m.
League competition will be much tougher than preseason, according to assistant coach David Gordon, who has scouted several league opponents. Inglewood and Morningside are league co-favorites. Beverly Hills, Santa Monica and Hawthorne are solid teams, noted Gordon.
The Centaurs will meet visiting Inglewood, next Wed., Jan. 19 at 7 p.m. and host Hawthorne, next Friday, 7 p.m. following the league games this week at Morningside and Santa Monica.
The Centaurs will play Irvine at the Del Goodyear Centaur gym in a practice game on Monday.
Culver City used crisp passing (26 assists) and high-energy defense to take a 44-32 lead against Lynwood last Friday in their final practice game. A 24-14 third quarter expanded the lead to 22 points, and the Centaurs coasted to an 89-73 victory. However, the 21 points Lynwood scored in the first quarter and another 27 in the fourth pointed out that Culver City has to improve its defensive skills if it expects to finish first or second in league play, according to Gordon.
Aamahd Walker led Culver City with 68 hustle points, which are an amalgamation of rebounds, assists, steals and blocks. Rufus Humphrey collected 56 hustle points and Gabe Baettig earned 36. Keilan Horton also contributed with 32.
Culver City made its home debut recently against West Torrance, a strong defensive squad.
At halftime, Culver City led a low-scoring affair, 23-16. West Torrance played the second half with more energy and held a 46-41 lead late in the fourth quarter. Culver City, however, went on a 10-0 run to win, 51-46, paced by the hustle of Darren Johnson and Horton.
Walker led the Centaurs with 32 hustle points. Humphrey had 29, Horton earned 26 and
Jaylen Carpenter garnered 25.
The Centaurs opened the three-game pre-league set with an 83-82 win at Bell Gardens, where they took a 14-point lead, 61-47, into the fourth quarter. Bell Gardens chipped away with three-pointers and free throws for an amazing 35 points in the last stanza.
The Centaurs converted less than half of the more than 50 free throws they shot, yet held on to win by a single point.
Walker had 48 hustle points. Baettig garnered 38, Johnson had 30 and James Tolbert and Carpenter each had 24.
