SACRAMENTO, Calif. — For the first time in
Lynwood history, the boys basketball team is CIF Division V state champions and freshmen were the ones leading the way for the Knights, who won 89-58 over
Sierra (Tollhouse).
Four freshman —
Chace Holley ,
Jason Crowe Jr.,
Matthew Gibbs-Martinez and
Jahaz Wright — and senior
Syeon Jennings trotted out to start the game and it was a fast-scoring pace as the Knights averaged nearly 3 points per minute in the first quarter.
The freshman combined to score 74 points in the game and were led by Crowe Jr., who scored 36 today and led all ninth-graders in scoring in the nation.
“I’m really speechless, coming into this year I didn’t know I was going to have the year I had, especially with the guys I had,” Crowe Jr. said.
Crowe Jr. plays for his father Jason Crowe Sr. and the son averages 36 points per contest and hit that mark today, tying the Division V title game record. In the Southern Regional final against Pacifica Christian/Santa Monica, the Knights won 87-65 and Crowe Jr. led the way with 40. Holley and Wright added an additional 40.
“I truly believe we have the best player in the state playing for us in my son. I probably sound a little bit Lavar Ball-ish, but I just got to admit it,” Crowe Sr. said. “The way he controlled the flow of the game and stayed on the attack. The future is bright for this group and we’re proud to get this game today.”
The team came into the season following a 3-16 season and Jennings, the lone senior starter said the team came into this season wanting to put in more effort, even though they were a young squad.
“It was a tough task at first because they are still kids. I would build them up instead of tearing them down,” Jennings said. "The overall experience its been good, it’s taught me how to be a better person inside and outside of basketball and everything else just played its course.”
At Golden 1 Center for the state championship against Sierra, the freshman got off to a blazing start, combining to score 41 of the Knights 44 first-half points. Lynwood led by 12 at halftime and raced into the locker room with momentum after scoring a bucket, getting a steal and then a 3-pointer by Holley — all in the final five seconds.
Holley started the second half with two straight buckets, extending the lead to 48-32 before Sierra scored its first points of the second half. Holley fired right back with another 3. He finished the day shooting 10 for 13 with 24 points.
The lead was pushed to 20 when Wright hit a three. Midway through the third, Crowe Jr., Holley and Wright had combined for 57 of the team’s 60 points. By the end of the third, Lynwood extended the lead to 79-47.
NBA Hall of Famer Paul Pierce sat just behind the Lynwood bench cheering for the squad, and his former high school teammate Jason Crowe Sr. Pierce has been going to practices and games all season and has given motivational speeches throughout the season.
“Paul Pierce is a NBA Top 75 all-time, and NBA champion, so when you listen to him, he knows what he’s talking about. For him to be here and support us, that means a lot.”
Lynwood won the CIF Division V state championship 89-58 over Sierra Friday at Golden 1 Center. (Photo: David Steutel)
