Jordan rolls to its first playoff win since 2012
LONG BEACH ❯❯ Win or go home. That was all the Jordan boys basketball team needed to know to power the Panthers to a 79-30 win at home against Montclair in the first round of the CIF Southern Section Division 4A playoffs on Wednesday.
It was Jordan's first appearance in the CIF-SS playoffs since 2015 and the program's first postseason win since 2012.
The Panthers improved to 17-12 overall and will play Friday at Liberty High from Riverside County in the second round.
Senior forward Jerome Wilson led the Panthers with a game-high 15 points and 13 rebounds. He secured his double-double before halftime with 10 points and 11 rebounds in the first half.
“It's really exciting being a senior and helping my team do what we have to do to go to the next round,” Wilson said. “We have to keep going and keep playing hard.”
Jordan held Montclair to seven points in the second half, starting the third quarter on a 22-1 run before pulling away to win by 49 points.
Jordan senior point guard Franklyn Chambers added 13 points and seven rebounds.
Montclair (12-16) led 14-11 at the end of the first quarter.
“I thought we came out a little nervous, but I thought once we got underneath our feet, I thought we played well,” Jordan coach Chris Francis said. “Competition brings the best out of people.”
Jordan quickly tied the score at 17 early in the second quarter and soon after went on a 15-0 run to take control of the game.
The Panthers led 44-23 at halftime and 68-26 at the end of the third quarter.
Jordan played mostly underclassmen who were recently called up from junior varsity in the fourth quarter.
Senior guard Isaiah Mathis led Montclair with 12 points.
Jordan finished 10-16 last season and lost its final nine games.
Wilson, who made three 3-pointers against Montclair, said the way last season ended still motivates the team.
“Losing nine straight games (last season) is not an easy thing to take,” Wilson explained. “When you lose nine straight you really want to just keep moving forward and try to play your hardest every game.”
Francis said after coaching Wilson's uncle and playing basketball with Wilson's grandfather back in the day, he always knew his 6-foot-5 stretch forward would blossom into an impact player.
“We know and (Jerome Wilson) knows he was born to shoot a basketball,” Francis said. “I never have taken that away from him even though he grew to be so big. It comes to him naturally, it's in his DNA and we encourage him to shoot it because he's very capable of doing it.”
Jordan is the No. 2 seed in the Division 4A bracket after winning the school's first Moore League boys basketball championship since 2009. local high school boys basketball playoff games today. There are 13 teams from the Press-Telegram area still alive in the CIF Southern Section playoffs. The scores from Wednesday's first-round games are included.
OPEN DIVISION
St. John Bosco (24-4) at West Ranch (27-1), 7 p.m.: The Braves, who are the No. 6-seeded team in the Open Division, will begin pool play at No. 3-seeded West Ranch. St. John Bosco believes it has the talent to play against any team in the CIF Southern Section. Bosco will need great allaround games from at least three of these four players, sophomore point guard Elzie Harrington, junior shooting guard Jack Turner, sophomore forward Kade Bonam and senior center Xinyi Li, if they want to upset West Ranch before playing at No. 2-seeded Harvard-Westlake on Tuesday, Feb. 14.
DIVISION 2A Aquinas (23-6) at Downey (26-3), 7 p.m.: The Vikings are on a five-game winning streak entering their second-round game at home against Aquinas. In the first round, they pulled off a 67-58 win at home against Cypress. Downey's 12-man roster includes 10 seniors. Leaders like Jacob Topete, Marcus Sanchez and Jathan Lopez have extra motivation for a long postseason run this year because their beloved coach, Larry Shelton, is retiring after 35 years at Downey.
DIVISION 3AA
St. Pius X-St. Matthias (25-4) at Canyon of Canyon Country (15-14), 7 p.m.: The No. 1 seed Warriors are on a 17-game winning streak heading into their second-round game at Canyon. In the first round, junior guard Tyrone Riley scored 31 points in the team's 90-57 win at home against Alemany. Sophomore forward Douglas Landford and junior forward Edmari Binion combined for another 26 points. Coach Donte Archie will be looking for a similar effort from his team as the Warriors continue their quest for CIF Southern Section and CIF State championships. DIVISION 4A
Long Beach Jordan (1712) at Liberty (20-3), 7 p.m.: The No. 2 seed Panthers started slowly in the first quarter but closed their first-round game with a 68-16 run to pull away for a 79-30 win at home against Montclair. Seniors Jerome Wilson and Franklyn Chambers combined for 28 points and 20 rebounds to lead Jordan to its first CIF playoff win in more than a decade. Coach Chris Francis will want his team to give maximum effort for 32 minutes in the second round, especially after a 74-mile bus ride to Liberty High in Winchester for the contest Friday night. DIVISION 5AA Lynwood (19-10) at La Quinta (14-15), 7 p.m.: The No. 1 seed Knights began their quest for a CIF-SS title behind 42 points, six rebounds and eight assists from freshman point guard Jason Crowe Jr. Senior forward Syeon Jennings had a double-double with 12 points, 12rebounds and six assists. Freshman guard Chace Holley added 19 points and five rebounds. Coach Jason Crowe Sr. wants his team to remain locked defensively, and continue sharing the ball on offense during their second-round game at La Quinta.
TODAY'S SCHEDULE
All games at 7 p.m., unless noted
OPEN DIVISION
St. John Bosco (24-4) at West Ranch (27-1)
DIVISION 1
Los Alamitos (23-6) at St. Paul (18-11)
DIVISION 2A
Downey (26-3) vs. Aquinas (23-6)
La Mirada (21-8) at Shalhevet (23-6)
DIVISION 3AA
St. Pius X-St. Matthias (25-4) at Canyon (15-14) Artesia (22-7) at Buena (25-4)
DIVISION 3A
Cerritos (14-15) vs. Newport Harbor (21-8)
DIVISION 4AA
Warren (17-12) at Valencia (18-10)
Long Beach Wilson (19-10) vs. St. Monica (15-13)
DIVISION 4A
Long Beach Jordan (17-12) at Liberty (20-3)
DIVISION 5AA
Lynwood (19-10) at La Quinta (14-15) Whitney (19-8) vs.
Rim of the World (15-9) Compton Early College (13-8) at de Toledo (23-5)
WEDNESDAY'S SCORES FIRST ROUND DIVISION 1
Los Alamitos 55, Santa Margarita 50 Damien 69, St. Anthony 57 Roosevelt 63, Dominguez 43
Mater Dei 78,
Long Beach Poly 51
DIVISION 2AA
Crescenta Valley 72, Lakewood 54
DIVISION 2A
Downey 67, Cypress 58 La Mirada 66,
Bishop Amat 46
Dana Hills 70, Cerritos Valley Christian 67
DIVISION 3AA
St. Pius X-St. Matthias 90, Alemany 57
Artesia 66, Newbury Park 48 Tustin 29, Gahr 18
DIVISION 3A
Cerritos 51, Ocean View 40
DIVISION 4AA
Warren 70, Workman 48 Long Beach Wilson 63, Jurupa Hills 55
DIVISION 4A
Long Beach Jordan 79, Montclair 30
DIVISION 5AA
Lynwood 107, Anaheim 32 Whitney 60, Savanna 31 Compton Early College 69, Mesrobian 46
— John W. Davis