Prep Basketball Playoffs : Crenshaw Wins on Press, 97-80

Crenshaw High School forced 10 turnovers in the final 2:30 and defeated Westchester, 97-80, Wednesday night to win their City Section playoff game at Crenshaw.

Leading, 82-78, Crenshaw went to a matchup full-court press that led to a 12-2 run, blowing the game open.

“We knew we had to get the ball out of (Sam) Crawford’s hand,” Crenshaw Coach Willie West said. “When we went to a man press, we were able to make them turn the ball over.”

Crenshaw took a 41-39 lead into the locker room at halftime after Terry Cannon connected from three-point range to tie the score and converted a Comet turnover into a breakaway layup as time ran out. Cannon finished with 23 points.

“Sam just ran out of gas,” Westchester Coach Ed Azzam said. “They pressured our guards, and we kept turning the ball over.”

Westchester led, 67-65, at the end of three quarters behind the shooting and passing of Crawford, who scored 27 points. Zan Mason added 19 for the Comets.