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Chris Edwards (1) finishes Culver City fast break.
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Wesley Dixon (13) rebounds for Centaurs.
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Isaac Girley rises for a two-pointer. Photos, George Laase.
During the winter break, Culver City High School boys basketball Coach Adam Eskridge took his players out of the gym for a day of fun and relaxation at his parent’s house. The day off has paid big dividends going into Ocean League play next week.
The rejuvenated Centaurs defeated Torrance, 71-54, Friday night in a tuneup for league play.
Culver City led Torrance at the end of the first quarter 13-9, but by midway in the second quarter the Tartars held a slim 22-19 lead. The game was tied at 31 at halftime.
Centaur junior Aaron Edison, who had 11 points in the win, said, “As point guard it is my job to get the ball to our two scorers Armani (Nicolis) and Chris (Edwards) and let them score.”
Edwards, a senior back on the mend, had missed several games lately due to a sprained ankle. He praised the team’s trainers. “They put my ankle through some more rehab this week, and it felt pretty good out there,” Edwards said.” I had 16 points tonight, and helped make it a good team win.”
Culver came out of the break and ran off a 16-2 streak. Establishing an 18-point lead by the end of the third quarter, they did not look back.
Wesley Dixon commented on the difference in the team between the first game with the Tartars early in the preseason, saying, “In the second game of the pre-season we beat Torrance by just two points, this time by 17. That shows we have really improved. It shows we are on an upward streak going into league play next week. We were getting rebounds and turning our outlet passes into fast breaks. We were able to hit some three-pointers, and we controlled the flow of the game.”
After the day off, the players seemed to have relaxed as a team. “It has translated into more fun at practice, more talk, more effort and more energy,” Coach Eskridge said. “We have not had a bad day at practice since that off-day. We are more positive with each other. The seniors need to keep this going and lead by example to keep the team in the right mind set.”
Co-team captain and leading scorer Nicolis praised his teammates. “Having Isaac (Girley) as a third scorer takes a lot of the pressure off of me and Chris,” he said. “Early in the preseason, we had a tendency to establish a lead and then let down a little and to let teams come back. Coach usually says we need to match our opponent’s intensity and not let them back into the game. We now have a thre- game win streak. I think we can do big things in the Ocean League.”
Coach Eskridge also praised the team’s consistent effort and pointed out the exceptional, unselfish play of Wesley Dixon. “Wesley will do whatever it takes,” he said. “He’ll fight for the rebound or make the extra pass. He doesn’t worry about how many shots he takes in a game. He just wants to win, and he will do what it takes. He has so much desire to play basketball. It’s unbelievable. He doesn’t get all the credit he deserves.”
Coach Eskridge continued, “On the JV team, Wes was our scorer, our go-to guy. It’s funny how he has evolved the last couple of years. With emergence of Armani as our leading scorer, Wes has taken a backseat, and he has embraced his role on the team. I would like to see him shoot more. He is one of our better three-point shooters.”
Coach Eskridge described how playing high school basketball now is an 11-month grind for most of the players. “Earlier the team was not playing consistent enough or hard enough. When things go well, we have a tendency to relax as a team. That has been a problem with us. I kept reminding them about that first game with Torrance when we were up by 16 points, and they came back.
“Before that day off, I wasn’t so sure. Now I feel we can compete for the league championship.”
The Centaurs (9-7) spread the scoring around finishing with four players in double figures: Nicolis led with 18 points five assists and six rebounds. Edwards had 16 points, also six rebounds and five steals. Girley had 16 points and Aaron Edison put in 11 points. Dixon grabbed 11 rebounds and was chosen Culver’s Player of the Game.
The Centaurs take a modest three-game win streak into Ocean League play Wednesday, hosting Morningside (4-11). Their first big test is Friday, playing arch-rival Santa Monica (8-7).
Mr. Laase may be contacted at GMLaase@aol.com
