Lynwood's hopes for section championship are dashed by Bosco Tech
HUNTINGTON BEACH » Bosco Tech used a balanced, teamoriented offensive attack to defeat Lynwood 88-81 in the CIF-SS Division 5AA championship game Saturday afternoon at Edison High in Huntington Beach.
For the Tigers (27-6) it's their first section championship in school history.
The story of this game for Bosco Tech was how well it responded to every run Lynwood made throughout. Every time it appeared the Knights (21-11) were going to seize control, the Tigers answered right back. The most pivotal stretch came when Lynwood tied the game at 71 late in the fourth quarter and Bosco Tech responded with a 6-0 run to fend off Lynwood in the final minutes and finished the game on a 17-10 run to secure the win.
The key to this championship was the huge performances from forwards Jaden Erami and Ryan Osborne who consistently broke down the Knights' press defense with good ball movement and unselfish plays.
Erami had a double-double of 30 points and 12 rebounds while adding six assists. Osborne finished with 29 points, eight rebounds, four assists and three blocks.
Lynwood coach Jason Crowe spoke about how trailing early set the tone for the entire game.
“It determined the game,” Crowe said about his team's slow start. “(Bosco Tech) came out with more force, they forced a turnover immediately from the jump ball and we never could gain our footing.”
The Knights were led by freshman Jason Crowe Jr. who scored a game-high 35 points, hitting a couple of very deep 3s, and did all he could to keep his team in the game, working really hard to score against the Tigers' tough team defense.
“I just think I could have done better, especially on the defensive side,” Crowe Jr. said. “Too many forced shots, I could've kicked it out more, but it's all good. We got to get strong for State (playoffs).”
Crowe Jr. did much of the heavy lifting offensively, but had some help in the fourth quarter from senior forward/center Syeon Jennings. He battled through foul trouble throughout the game scoring just one point through the first three quarters, but came alive in the fourth scoring 14 of his 15, including three 3-pointers.
“I woke up too late,” Jennings said of his performance. “That's what it was, instead of me coming out of the gate from the jump. I started off slow, and then instead of me getting down with the foul trouble, I just had to keep my head straight, push my guys, and try to make a run for it in the fourth.”