Centaur boys’ basketball is pleasant surprise

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Boy's soccer player from Culver City, defender Dylan Lizardi gets ready to deliver power a kick during a recent match. (Photo by George Laase)

This was supposed to be a rebuilding year for the Culver City High School boys’ varsity basketball team. They have a new head coach and several new players but after a slow start the Centaurs have raised their level of play during the last month.

At press time they were 9-5 and 1-1 in the tough Bay league. They beat Mira Costa (13-6) last Friday 59-49 at home. but they lost to Redondo Union (14-4) 79-72 on the road last Monday after committing 22 turnovers.

Their next home game is Friday against Palos Verdes (13-8) at 7 p.m. and Saturday they travel to Inglewood for a 7 p.m. contest.

Culver City’s new head coach Ray Singleton along with his staff has followed the blue print from last years team that was one game away from the state final.

“A lot of the things that we are doing I learned from our head coach from last year, Michael Cooper,” said Singleton last Tuesday after practice. “I learned a lot from coach Cooper but I am also putting my own spin on things.”

According to Singleton the season started to come together after they won the Damien High School Tournament last month during the Christmas break.

“In the beginning of the season the team was a little apprehensive but after playing a few games and beating quality opponents the team started to buy into what we were doing,” said Singleton. “Basically, they are buying into the culture and they are playing good basketball.

“Everything that the coaching staff has been preaching is manifesting itself right now,” said Singleton. “They see the benefits of communicating and playing as a team.”

The girls’ basketball team is currently 10-9 overall 0-2 in the Bay league. They play Palos Verdes at home on Friday at 5:30 p.m.  They boy’s soccer team has a record of 2-7-1 and they face Palos Verdes at home on Friday at 5 p.m.

The girl’s soccer team is 9-4-2 overall and 0-2 in the Bay league. They travel to Palos Verdes on Friday for a 3:15 p.m. match.

The girls water polo team is 8-4 and their next three games are at home at the Vets Pool on Overland Avenue in Culver City. On Wednesday, Jan. 16, they have a match against Palos Verdes, on Jan. 17 they battle Brentwood and on Jan. 18, they face Redondo Union. All three matches start at 3:30 p.m.

Boys’ basketball team are from front left,  Dorian Lawson, Braylon Singleton, Henry Herrbach, Keishawn Ross, Raymar Williams, Myles Singleton, William Fourte and Mark Fourte. The  back row are head coach Ray Singleton, Keishawn Ross Sr, Kai Johnson, Jordan Njuko, Cole Zeno, Dom Batiste, Coach Davis, Coach K and Coach Steph. Not pictured are asst. coach Michael Zeno and No. 20, Giovanni Lopez. (Photo by George Laase)
Culver City girls basketball player Karen Kawaguchi, left, makes a move on a Mira Costa player last Friday at Culver City. (Photo by George Laase)