Despite losing their last six games, the Culver City High School boys basketball team has made the 32-team 2AA CIF playoffs.
On Thursday evening at 7, the Centaurs will travel to Orange County to face the 14th seeded Westminster.
Culver City, 11-15 overall and 2-8 in the Ocean League, face an 18-8 Westminster team that won the Golden West League with a perfect 10-0 record. They have won seven straight and 11 of their last 13 games.
Culver City, however, is optimistic.
“We have a chance to do well in the playoffs,” said senior guard Isaac Girley after the Centaurs lost their final regular season game to Beverly Hills, 63-42, last Friday.
“We know what it feels like to lose. So we are going to come out hungry for a victory. Everyone will look at us like we will be an easy win. We have an opportunity to surprise some teams.”
If Girley can continue his hot shooting and Culver City’s other top scorers, Armani Nicolis, Chris Edwards and Wesley Dixon, can reach double figures, the Centaurs could upset Westminster.
Last week Girley scored 25 points against Hawthorne and 17 against Beverly Hills.
Culver City played without Edwards, their second leading scorer, against Beverly Hills. Edwards was suspended for one game for comments he made to an official after the Centaurs’ 79-77 loss to Hawthorne on Senior Night last Wednesday. “I think the official overreacted but I also think Chris will learn from this situation and move on, “ said Culver City Coach Adam Eskridge.
Although Culver City has dropped their last six games, three defeats were by less than four points. Coach Eskridge still likes his team chances in the playoffs. “In any situation, any team can go a long way in the playoffs,” he said.
CIF created an Open Division this year, pitting the top rated teams against each other. In the past, these teams would not meet until the State Regional Tournament. Now teams with non-winning records have a better opportunity of advancing in the playoffs.
“If we get our mojo back,” Eskridge said, “there is no reason we can’t run off some wins and advance deep into the playoffs.”
Mr. Finley may be contacted at sfinley50@aol.com
