Page 4 January 15, 2015 Lawndale Finishes Preseason with Two Wins By Joe Snyder, photos by Joe Snyder Lawndale High’s boys’ basketball team put the final touches in preseason play after non-league wins over cross town rival Leuzinger and Gahr High from Cerritos last week. At Leuzinger on January 7, the Cardinals pulled away from the Olympians 59-39. In the Serra High Cavalier Classic in Gardena last Saturday, Lawndale topped the Gladiators 76-71. Six-foot-10 University of Southern California-bound senior center-forward Chimezie Metu played a big role in both Cardinal victories. Against Leuzinger, Metu dominated the Olympians with 13 points, 13 rebounds and seven blocked shots. Brandon Newman added 11 points that included a key three-point basket that enabled Lawndale (8-5) to go up by 13 points late in the third quarter. The Cardinals pulled away from there for the 20-point win. Lawndale’s other 6-10 senior, Brodricks Jones, contributed three blocks. Leuzinger, which is 7-9 after a 74-49 victory at South Torrance in their Pioneer League opener last Friday, failed to get a player to score in double figures. The Olympians were led by Devin Newton with seven points and Davonte Carr with six. Christian Odionu had five points and 15 rebounds. In the Cavalier classic on Saturday, Metu put on a dunk display with seven of them as he led the Cardinals with 22 points in their win over Gahr. Metu scored 19 of those points in the second half. Down 37-33 at halftime, Lawndale let loose for 27 third quarter points to 11 for the Gladiators in taking a 60-48 lead. Gahr had some very good shooting to get close but the Cardinals were able to hang on. J.T. Johnson, Jones, who committed to San Diego State University, and D’lano Beckles each chipped in 10 points. Jeremy Carlyle led all scorers with 27 points for the Gladiators, who fell to 12-4. After opening Ocean play at home against Culver City on Wednesday, Lawndale will have two critical league games coming up with other top contenders. The Cardinals host Santa Monica Friday at 7:30 p.m. before visiting Beverly Hills next Wednesday at the same time. Lawndale already defeated Santa Monica 73-65 in the Torrey Pines Under Armour Classic on December 29 in San Diego. Leuzinger rolls over South in Pioneer opener Leuzinger High’s boys’ basketball team began Pioneer League play by routing host South Torrance 74-49 last Friday. The Spartans stayed close in the first half but Darrian Williams made back-to-back three-pointers to give the Olympians a 43-33 halftime lead. Williams led Leuzinger (7-9 overall, 1-0 in league) with a game-high 26 points. Newton finished with 18 points, six rebounds and two steals. Michael Yost led South (8-8, 0-1) with 19 points and 11 rebounds. At Hawthorne on January 5, the Olympians held off cross town rival Hawthorne 61-56. Leuzinger took a 33- 21 halftime lead but the Cougars attempted to rally as they outscored the Olympians 35-28 in the second half only to fall short. Newton led the Olympians with a gamehigh 21 points. Carr tallied 15 for Leuzinger. Leading Hawthorne (4-12) were Christian Brown and Michael Blackwell with 13 points apiece. Leuzinger hosted West Torrance in Pioneer play on Wednesday and will visit Torrance Friday at 7:30 p.m. The Olympians host North Torrance in what could be a league showdown next Wednesday at the same time. After opening the Ocean League at Santa Monica on Wednesday, the Cougars visit Beverly Hills on Friday and host El Segundo next Wednesday in 7:30 p.m. league games. Monarchs continue on a rol Morningside High’s boys’ basketball team entered the Bay League with a very good 11-4 record after routing host Hawthorne 65-40 in non-league play last Friday. Leading by eight (31-23) at halftime, the Monarchs turned the game into a blowout by outscoring the Cougars 34-17 in the second half. Morningside’s balanced scoring was led by Brandon Anyanvu with 14 points. Chio Harris and Patrick Juene each totaled nine points. Bruce Hogans led Hawthorne with 13 points, followed by Blackwell with 11. “We played pretty hard tonight,” Morningside head coach Donnell Meekins said. The Monarchs began what should be a very highly competitive Bay League at home against Peninsula from Rolling Hills Estates last Tuesday and come home to take on powerful Redondo Friday at 7:30 p.m. “We’re looking forward to it,” Meekins said on Morningside’s game against the Sea Hawks, who are also 11-4 against a predominantly steep schedule that included several nationally ranked teams. “Redondo is the team we want to look forward to.” The Sea Hawks, though, lost premier sophomore forward Billy Preston who left the school early last week. According to sources, Preston, who transferred to Redondo from Bellflower St. John Bosco last summer, plans to enroll in a prep school. Morningside travels to Las Vegas to face Durango in a non-league game Saturday at 8 p.m. before resuming Bay at Palos Verdes next Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. Lawndale Fires Mathiesen In a stunning move, the Lawndale High administration fired Lawndale High head football coach Rick Mathieson from the position last Friday. Mathieson helped the Cardinals improve with a 6-5 overall record, including 4-1 in the Ocean League and a second place finish behind El Segundo. According to sources, Lawndale’s administration, headed by Principal Paula Kart Rodas, wants a head coach to work with a diverse community of dedicated athletes. They also want them to teach them to be good citizens and students. The Cardinals made the playoffs and gave eventual CIF-Southern Section Western Division champion Palos Verdes all it could handle before falling short 35-28 in the first round of the playoffs on November 15. Lawndale was led by versatile junior quarterback Chris Murray. The administration is already looking for a new head coach. • real estate auctions 11613 Wilkie Ave, Hawthorne Hawthorne & Victorville Homes Auction Jan 23 - 29 Nominal Opening Bids: $50,000 each HAWTHORNE, CA • 11613 Wilkie Ave 3BR 2BA 1,192+/- sf. Approx .12ac lot. Auctions: 10am, Tue Jan 27 at Hampton Inn Los Angeles Int’l Airport, 11430 South Acacia Avenue, Hawthorne, CA or bid live from anywhere at auctionnetwork.com 14141 Paso Robles Ct, Victorville VICTORVILLE, CA • 14141 Paso Robles Ct 4BR 2BA 1,633+/- sf. Approx .21ac lot. Bid Online Only at auctionnetwork.com Auction Starts: 9am EST, Fri Jan 23 Auction Ends: 3:15pm EST, Thu Jan 29 Properties are occupied and will not be available for inspection. Please do not disturb occupants. 800.982.0425 williamsauction.com CA DAN NELSON RE LIC 01866273; CODY LOWDERMAN AUC LIC AUC BOND 62199677; WILLIAMS & WILLIAMS AUC LIC AUC BOND NO. 6830812. BUYER’S PREMIUM MAY APPLY. Hawthorne Press Trib 2.375 x 7.875 1/15 Morningside’s Arkel Lord goes up for a basket under pressure of Hawthorne’s Ksaun Curry in last Friday’s non-league boys’ basketball game. The Monarchs rolled over the Cougars 65-40. Morningside hosts Redondo in a key Bay League game Friday at 7:30 p.m. Hawthorne’s Sal Tai puts up a basket in last Friday’s non-league boys’ basketball game against Morningside. The Cougars fell to the Monarchs 65-40. Hawthorne visits Beverly Hills Friday at 7:30 p.m. Hawthorne’s Michael Blackwell shoots under pressure of Morningside defenders Christian Bradford (number 32) and Amauri Smith (number 13) in last Friday’s non-league boys’ basketball team. The Cougars’ Sal Tai (number 15) attempts to block off the Monarch defenders to aid Blackwell. Lawndale’s D’lano Beckles prepares a dunk in last Saturday’s Serra Cavalier Classic non-league game against Gahr. The Cardinals outlasted the Gladiators 76-71.
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