Zekiah Lovett scored 29 for the high flying Eagles
By Tim Peterson
Zekiah Lovett scored 29 points, including 21 in the second half, to lead Gabrielino to a 73-39 rout of Rosemead Friday night. With the victory, the Eagles ran the Mission Valley League table with a perfect 12-0 record.
Gabrielino has won 37 straight MVL games dating back to 2013 and three straight league titles.
There was never a doubt about the outcome Friday night. The Eagles led by just three after one but broke it wide open in the second quarter outscoring the Panthers 22-7 for an 18 point lead at the break.
Grant Kirchhoff added 12 for Gabrielino
Lovett had five points in the quarter, all from the free throw line, and Grant Kirchhoff scored seven. Lovett was fouled from three point land as time ran out on the second and sank all three free throws.
The onslaught continued in the third as Lovett got red hot. He buried two from long range and also had a pair of buckets as he went four of five from the floor. By the time the third quarter buzzer sounded, Gabrielino had outscored Rosemead 25-12 and was sitting on top of a 67-31 lead.
It was garbage time in the fourth as Lovett hit a couple more threes before Eagle head coach John Carney pulled him and emptied his bench.
The fans were out in force
Kirchhoff was also in double figures with 12 and Dillon Tiao had nine. Ivan Ip led the Panthers with 15 points and Ben Ly finished with nine, but after that the scoring was few and far between.
Gabrielino ended the regular season at 23-3 overall and will now get ready for the playoffs. Rosemead finished tied with South El Monte in the MVL at 8-4 and 11-11 overall. Rosemead will see post season action as well.
G 15 22 25 11 73
R 12 7 12 8 39
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