INGLEWOOD, CA- The stars were definitely out on a cool, clear Tuesday night at Morningside High/Inglewood High School United.
The brightest star of the evening was Inglewood’s Jason Crowe Jr., for the Ocean League opener against visiting Beverly Hills.
Down at center court, there was a festive atmosphere. The DJ spun various rhythm and blues, hip hop and dance music. Green confetti was launched in the air and fluttered around like a New Year’s party. Friends, relatives and basketball followers celebrated as Crowe achieved a huge milestone in California high school basketball.
They were also happy about Inglewood’s 112-75 win over Beverly Hills.
L.A. City Section Hall of Famer Dwayne Polee was among many former players, coaches, officials and fans in attendance to watch Inglewood display a total team effort as Crowe became the state’s all-time leading scorer.
Crowe finished with 51 points, but it wasn’t easy. In between getting knocked around by a physical Beverly Hills defense, he had to earn every point, from the court to the free throw line.
While Inglewood (7-1) was taking care of business on the court, there was prep sports media legend Eric Sondheimer writing his award winning column from his perch up high above the Western sideline in the stands.
Standout L.A. area journalists Tarek Fattal, Ronnie Flores, photographer Nick Koza, and many other videographers were putting their best work together, representing the prep media in yet another big Southern California basketball event.
Game announcer Corey “Swaggy C” Kwok used his powerful voice in another commanding performance that punctuated the sparkling night.
Legal magnate Jacob Emrani and basketball camp guru Dinos Trigonis soaked in the pure basketball atmosphere that actually felt like a playoff game.
Meanwhile, there was an important league game to win. Cayim White and David Conerly helped Inglewood’s defense use an array of steals, half and full court pressure traps to build a lead that began at 24-7 after the first quarter.
Despite trailing 57-32 at the half, Beverly Hills (6-2) put up a competitive showing of its own at times, playing aggressive scrappy defense, its wings filling lanes wider than the Harbor Freeway to create several two-on-one breaks after steals.
But at the end of the night, it was just another magical chapter in the illustrious Inglewood basketball legacy.
With his performance, Crowe joined Byron Scott, Jay Humphries, Ralph Jackson, Reggie Theus, Lisa Leslie, Tina Thompson, Monica Raspberry, Shaunda Greene, Jojo Witherspoon, Lynn Sherow, Elden Campbell, Carl Franklin, Frank Scott, Jim Harrick and many others, but the playoffs will be the next step very soon.
