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Senior Jordan Williams of Centaurs has been a pleasant surprise although Culver City lost to Hawthorne, 79-77, last night. Photo, George Laase.
The Culver City High School boys’ basketball team needs to win both games this week – including tomorrow night at 6 at first-place Beverly Hills – to have a respectable chance of making the CIF playoffs.
Post-season play begins next week.
The Centaurs are coming off back-to-back losses to Santa Monica 69-55 and Inglewood 62-48.
Culver City is 2-6 in the Ocean League and has a record of 11-13 overall.
The Centaurs, in fifth place, must win while Morningside loses to gain the last playoff position.
Culver City will need to improve its fourth quarter shooting. Several times this year they have taken quarters off during close games. They either come out slowly or end the game with a bad-shooting fourth quarter.
Against Inglewood last Friday, Culver City scored only three points in the fourth quarter and 13 points in the second half.
“We lost the game offensively,” said Culver City coach Adam Eskridge. “We could not find the right flow. But you have to credit Inglewood’s defense.”
One bright spot was Culver City’s defense. “The last time we played Inglewood, they scored 80 points,” said Eskridge. “So I was proud of our defense and rebounding.”
“We also need to make our free throws late in the game.”
Making key baskets and free throws have been a problem for Culver City all year.
“We are a good team when four players score in double figures,” said Eskridge.
Chris Edwards led the Centaurs with 16 points and Armani Nicolis had 14. But Culver City’s other top scorers, Wesley Dixon and Isaac Girley, combined for only eight points.
“All we have to do is keep playing hard and we can win these close games,” said Eskridge. “We need to work hard in practice, and we will be okay. We also need to keep the ball moving on offense. Someone will pop open.”
Mr. Finley may be contacted at sfinley50@aol.com
