TORRANCE – Katella knew it would be in for a tough game Friday night when it took on top-seeded West Torrance in the second round of the CIF-SS Division 4 AA boys basketball playoffs.
The Knights made a game of it for a while, but the Warriors used their tenacious pressure defense to go on a 19-3 run to close the first half and went on to win, 85-56.
West’s guard tandem of senior Ricky Turner (24 points and 10 rebounds) and sophomore Alex Mishaw (23 points, seven rebounds) was too much firepower for Katella (13-11).
“Katella played well early, but I think our press just wore them down and we started getting lay-ups instead of jump shots,” West coach Neal Perlmutter said. “I gave the guys the challenge to go for lay-ups tonight and not jumpers, and Ricky took it to heart going 6 for 6 in the first half and Alex kept attacking the basket.”
Katella opened the second half on a 7-0 run led by Edward Williams, who had four points in that stretch, to cut the West lead to 49-32, but Turner scored six of the next eight points to put the Warriors back up by 25.
“Our motto is family basketball over individual basketball,” Turner said. “We are moving closer to our goal for the season which is to get that ring. Win the CIF championship.”
Katella put together one more run. Williams, who led Katella with 18 points and 11 rebounds, scored six points to begin the fourth quarter to help cut West’s lead to 20 with 5:15 to play.
Hinshaw answered for West scoring eight points over the next three minutes to put west up by 27 with 2:43 to play and the Warriors were on their way to the quarterfinals.
“We did what we were supposed to do tonight blow them out,” Mishaw said. “We’re excited to make it to the quarterfinals. West hasn’t been this far in awhile we are looking forward to it.”
Katella’s Michael Weston also chipped in 15 points and grabbed six rebounds for the Knights who season comes to an end with the loss.
