Cub basketball - Loyola records a win for the ages in second round of CIF Division I playoffs
LOYOLA STUNS STATE POWER ETIWANDA AT LEAVEY, 51-42
A suffocating defensive effort by surging Loyola at Leavey Gymnasium before a large, raucous crowd on Tuesday night in the second round of the CIF Southern Section Division I basketball playoffs against perennial state power and defending CIF Southern Section Open Division champion Etiwanda was the key element enabling the Cubs’ to notch one of the most stunning-and satisfying-victories in Loyola hoop annals.
First year head coach Damaine Powell has the Cubs playing their best at just the right time. Coming off a 56-48 road triumph at Fountain Valley in the first round of the Division I playoffs last Friday, prep basketball experts gave Loyola scant chance for an upset over the visiting Eagles, who entered the contest ranked tenth in the state by Cal-Hi Sports and seeded third in the D-1 bracket.
But the Cubs were unfazed by Etiwanda’s lofty ranking, and refused to be deterred by the Eagles’ fast, athletic lineup. From the opening tip to the final buzzer Loyola shot down the Eagles with an inspired, gutty, relentless man to man defensive effort. It was ironic that the Cubs beat Etiwanda at its own game. The Eagles are annually the best defensive squad in California under longtime head coach Dave Kleckner.
Etiwanda held 15-11 and 23-17 leads at the end of the first and second periods, respectively. Early in the third frame Loyola senior VINCENT SAMPSON’s two free throws and senior CHASE TOLIVER’s three cut the Eagles’ lead to one point. Following that trey, TOLIVER hit a mid range jumper to give the Cubs a one point lead that they would never relinquish. The third stanza ended with Loyola up by five, 32-27.
The Cub crowd was in a frenzy as the fourth period got underway. Senior OWEN PENTZ drained a three at the 6:50 mark and senior guard JALEN COX followed with a two point bucket with 6:06 left on the clock to put Loyola up by nine, 37-28.
The one constant that remained down the stretch was the Cubs’ tremendous defensive play, which caused several turnovers. The Eagles managed to get within four points in the dramatic, white knuckle final minute, but senior JACOBY KELLY’s layup and subsequent free throw put Loyola back in the lead by seven. The final score was Loyola 51, Etiwanda 42.
JALEN COX led the Cubs with 11 points, nine rebounds, six assists and four steals. Sophomore JONAS de KRESSEL also scored 11 points, including three 3’s, 5 rebounds and two steals. Senior PARKER JONES had seven points, five bocks, two assists and a steal.
With the huge win over the Eagles the Cubs improved their season record to 22-6. Etiwanda ended its season with a 21-7 ledger..
The Cubs will travel to Bellflower on Friday to take on the St. John Bosco Braves (21-8) in the Division I quarterfinals. Bosco defeated Anaheim Fairmont Prep 64-62 in the second round. Tickets will be available for purchase on GoFan.
Loyola is a hungry team with a grat deal of momentum after Tuesday’s epic victory.