By Corey Kwok
(Flintridge Prep) – Flintridge Prep raced out to a 9-0 lead with five minutes to spare in the first quarter and eventually subdued La Salle 69-55 Saturday night in a non league contest.
The Lancers clawed back to draw even at the frame’s end, capped by Ian Schuler’s back-to-back inside baskets within the last minute. A terrific battle ensued as fans witnessed thirteen lead changes and three ties over the next 1 1/2 quarters before Jared Norsworthy attacked and finished down low twice just 22 seconds apart in the third to put the Rebels ahead for good.
Preceded by a free throw and a Kory Hamane deuce, Flintridge spun off a string of 15 second half points for Norsworthy and a 15-3 Rebel run that culminated in a nine point (44-35) lead with 1:30 left in the third.
Jordan Whaley found Hamane for an easy score and Hamane followed with an electrifying 14 foot pull up at the third period buzzer for his 11th point of the quarter and was the game’s leading scorer with 24.
Norsworthy then started some fireworks of his own on a top-of-key banker followed by a pull up splash-and one that shifted the momentum the Rebels’ way for good. Norsworthy had a 21 point, 8 rebound, 2 steal and 2 block resume and was a perfect 7-7 on free throws. Robert Cartwright was also perfect from the stripe going 6 for 6. The Rebels, as a whole, were a solid 25 for 32 (78.1 %) on free throws.
The Lancers stuck around and trimmed it to six at 51-45 with 5:20 to play after Kishon Sanders and Jared Padiernos powered their way in, but got no closer as FP gradually slipped away. Sanders finished with a fine game line of 7 points, 14 rebounds, and five assists for La Salle.
Kenyatta Smith, who’s been an inside scoring machine for Flintridge Prep all season, saw limited time due to foul trouble but nevertheless arose from a slow first half to complete a pair of three point plays late in the game. Also notching 11 boards, 3 blocks and 1 steal, Smith totaled 10 of his 12 points in the fourth to help lead the Rebels down the stretch. The Rebels had four and-one chances in the quarter.
Gary Mkrtichyan scored 13 in point blank range to lead La Salle. Peter Nuguid lit up the inside with two zone-burning drive-and-reverse finishes towards all his eight in the fourth. Ian Schuler, empty in the second half, got 10 in the first.
The CIFSS Division 5AA’s top ranked Rebels improved to 16-4 with the victory and enjoy a six day rest before embarking on a tough four day, three game campaign on Friday beginning with Pasadena Poly in a match that could decide the Prep League title. FP will then host young powerhouse Sierra Canyon of Chatsworth on Saturday before league play resumes at Webb Claremont the following Monday February 7.
La Salle fell to 13-10 and also has a rough set to close out the regular season and vie for a wild card playoff spot with Serra, Cathedral, and Bishop Montgomery in the Del Rey.
La Salle ———— 12 —- 16 —- 9 —- 18 — 55
Flintridge Prep — 12 —- 16 —- 18 — 23 — 69
LS – Mkrtichyan 13, Schuler 10, Nuguid 8, Sanders 7, Jeff Briegel 6, Gary Goebel 4, Izzy Lacy 3, Padiernos 2, Darryl Oliver 2
FP – Hamane 24, Norsworthy 21, Smith 12, Cartwright 6, Jedrick Eugenio 4, Whaley 2
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