LOS ALAMITOS – Point guard Eyassu Worku sparked Los Alamitos’ boys basketball team early Friday night in the first round of the CIF-SS Division I-AA playoffs.
His running mates kicked in support in the third quarter.
Worku scored 13 of his game-high 21 points in the opening period and four of his teammates sank 3-pointers in the third as the fifth-seeded Griffins defeated visiting Long Beach Jordan, 73-54, to reach Tuesday’s second round.
Los Alamitos (25-2) will play host to Valencia of Valencia, a 72-49 winner against Quartz Hill. Valencia is 22-6.
Worku sank a 3-pointer to spark a 10-0 run by the Griffins to close the first period, which ended with Los Alamitos ahead, 21-12. But it was a barrage of 3-pointers from the junior’s teammates in the third that put away Jordan (13-14).
Forward Jack Kaub stepped out to open the second half with a 3-pointer and guard Kurtis Wirth followed with one shortly after. Guard Connor Laines then made his first of two 3-pointers in the third. Guard Keith Pagett also struck from beyond the arc as the Griffins made 5 of 7 3-point attempts in the third.
“Our role players stepped up real big,” said Worku, who finished with seven assists and five rebounds. “Everyone was shooting threes. Everyone was making them. They got me assists. I just want to thank them.”
Laines scored eight of his 13 points in the third. Forward Ryan Kusch also reached double figures with 12 points while Kaub finished with nine points and 13 rebounds.
Los Alamitos’ attack was so balanced in the third, Jordan scrapped its plan of a box-and-one defense, which likely would have targeted Worku.
“The second half, that’s what hurt us,” Jordan coach James McDonald said.
The Griffins finished 8 for 16 from beyond the arc while Jordan went 0 for 5 in the first half and finished with only three.
Worku, who has offers from UC Irvine and Montana, made 7 of 11 shots from the floor.
Los Alamitos’ hot shooting also including a 17 of 19 effort from the foul line.
Contact the writer: dalbano@ocregister.com
