BELLFLOWER, Ca. – It’s the early stage of a 2020-21 Southern California boys’ basketball season that – like much of the rest of life in the COVID-19 era – will be unlike any before.
The biggest reason that’s the case, of course, is – because of the pandemic has been squeezing normal out of the world more than a year – there was no 2020 portion of this season.
But falling infections, hospitalizations and deaths – knocking on the hardest piece of wood available – and rapidly increased percentage of the population that has been vaccinated has led high school sports in the Southland to ease their way back into play.
The only thing that seems a reasonable given right now, relative to basketball, is that – barring the impact another surge would bring to a whole lot of things other than just hoops – is that the foundation of teams’ schedules will be their league contests.
Matchups in the Trinity (with Mater Dei, St. John Bosco, etc.), Baseline (including Damien and Etiwanda) and Mission (Harvard-Westlake, Chaminade, etc.) could prove the apex of the competition.
Anything else – be it “multi-team” events (ala those scheduled to be held by Mater Dei, St. John Bosco and Rolling Hills Prep – will be the icing on a “by scratch” cake of the season.
Post-season playoffs?
Those are looking dicey now although more should be known as soon as the middle of April.
Wednesday night in St. John Bosco’s gym – in front of mostly players’ family members – the Braves played host to Loyola.
The game was reasonably competitive in the first half – with the Braves holding a seven-point advantage – but the host’s superior size, depth and relative experience pushed the Braves to an 81-47 victory.
The Matt Dunn-coached Braves had opened their “season” the night before with a victory against a gifted Windward team that had only begun works in its home gym the previous week.
The Braves also had a scrimmage against Fairmont Prep of Anaheim the week before.
Loyola?
“We’ve only had six ‘practices’, and two of those were part of our try-outs,” Cubs Coach Jamal Adams said by telephone Wednesday night.
“We were missing a key player (senior guard John Belardi, out with injury) and were obviously well behind where Coach Dunn’s team is right now.
“But even with where we might be after more practice and games, we’d still have a very tough time beating them.
“They are very big and talented and Matt is a terrific coach.”
The Braves were also without a starter (junior post Chris Estrada, injured the night before against Windward) but still put enough pieces on the floor over the course of 32 minutes to showcase why they may be, conservatively, one of the top three or four teams in Southern California right now.
Seniors Scotty Washington and Lamaj Lewis, and junior Jeremiah Nyarko, combined for 49 points for the Braves.
Lewis, who signed a National Letter of Intent with Loyola-Marymount, showed off a lot of versatility and the 6-foot-5 Washington – one of the top four or five best of the “unsigned” members of the Class of 2021 in the state – scored 14 points, with an improved jump shot, and at least a half-dozen rebounders and assists.
Nyarko (pictured) had 19 points and 10 rebounds, including a couple of spectacular dunks and deep 3s.
He’s somewhere among the top 10-to-12 prospects in the western Class of 2022.
“We’ve got a long way to go to be where we want to be (as a team) eventually,” Dunn said afterward.
“But the kids are working hard and are just so happy to be able to be back on a court again playing ‘real’ games.”
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