Damien-Etiwanda: As good as it gets in HS hoops
LA VERNE, Ca. – The Baseline League clash between the Etiwanda High and host Damien teams expected to be one of the better games of the week in Southern California.
After the Eagles left the building and their homeward-bound bus Tuesday night with their 69-67 overtime victory, it was apparent that the 36 minutes of on-court action (including those four minutes of OT) has more than exceeded those expectations.
Some observations:
*Etiwanda (22-1 overall and 5-0 in the Baseline League going into its Friday night league game at Los Osos) has won 18 games in a row.
And no team in Southern California is playing as well as are the Eagles right now, especially on the defensive end.
Coach David Kleckner’s team is, in essence, not playing for a spot in the eight-team CIF Southern Section Open Division playoff bracket – the Eagles are playing for the No. 1 or 2 seed with unbeaten Bishop Montgomery.
*Damien (19-4 and 3-2 before its Baseline League toughie at Chino Hills Friday night) is, in all likelihood, just about as good any team, after Bishop Montgomery and Etiwanda, in the Southern Section.
The Spartans’ losses have come to top-notch opposition in Sierra Canyon, St. Bernard, Chino Hills and Etiwanda.
Can Mike LeDuc’s squad earn one of those eight Open slots?
For sure but any scenario that includes the Spartans in the field would involve at least a win at Chino Hills Friday night and another strong effort – if not a win – when they have a rematch at Etiwanda on Feb. 8.
If the Spartans aren’t in the Open bracket, they’ll be the No. 1 or 2 seed in the Division I field of 32.
*Any post-season “All-Southern California” Top 10 Seniors list better include Etiwanda’s Kessler Edwards (PICTURED) and Damien’s Cameron Shelton for any sense of credibility.
The 6-foot-7 and Pepperdine-bound Edwards scored 24 points and grabbed nine rebounds while the 6-3 Shelton (who signed with North Arizona University in November) scored 24 points with five rebounds, seven assists and two steals.
*Malik Thomas of Damien continued to play like one of those five or so most productive freshmen in Southern California.
The 6-3 Thomas – who reminds me somewhat, in physical dimensions and skill-level, of the Detroit Pistons’ Stanley Johnson when he was a freshman at Mater Dei – scored all 13 of his points against Etiwanda after intermission. And he nearly sent the contest into a second OT when his 3-point attempt came oh-so-close to going down in the final three seconds.
*Etiwanda has a senior-dominated roster.
But don’t look for much slippage from the Eagles next season.
Their junior varsity squad was 18-0 going into its game at Los Osos Friday.
Its got a lot of sophomores who will get significant playing time next season.
And its best player, 6-2 freshman Jahmai Mashack, may be the next elite prospect in the Eagles’ program.