Boys Basketball:
Of Damien’s 27 victories in the 2021-22 season, this had to be the most consequential and impressive.
The Spartans trailed by 20 points in the second quarter at Crean Lutheran.
No biggie.
Mike LeDuc’s boys regrouped, outscored the Saints 39-22 in the second half, and claimed a 64-59 victory in the first round of CIF-SS Open Division pool play.
Jimmy Oladokun had a game-high 18 points.
Spivey Word scored 14 points and RJ Smith had 12 in the win.
Kaleb Smith finished with 10 points, but nine of those 12 came in the decisive second half.
Bradley Xie would chip in with eight points for the Spartans.
Word, Xie and both Smith’s connected on two 3-pointers apiece.
Vyctorius Miller led Crean Lutheran with 15 points, and Koat Keat scored 14 for the Saints.
Up next: Damien travels to Centennial Corona on Tuesday to take on the No. 1 ranked team in the state.
Box Score:
Damien: 16-9-19-20-(64)
Crean Lu: 19-18-13-9-(59)
Damien scoring: Jimmy Oladokun 18, Spivey Word 14, RJ Smith 12, Kaleb Smith 10, Bradley Xie 8, Xavier Clinton 2
Crean Lutheran scoring: Vyctorius Miller 15, Koat Keat 14, Parker Tuttle 10, Rui Han 9, James Agany 3
Open Division First Round Scores (Pool Play):
Centennial Corona 78, Bishop Montgomery 53
Damien 64, Crean Lutheran 59
Sierra Canyon 89, Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks) 70
Harvard Westlake 67, Mater Dei 45
Records: Damien (27-2); Crean Lutheran (22-4)
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