The562’s coverage of Jordan Athletics is sponsored by former LBUSD superintendent Chris Steinhauser.
Led by second-year head coach Chris Francis and a strong core of senior leaders, the Jordan Panthers delivered a significant championship for a proud basketball program. With a 68-57 victory over Sage Hill in the Division 4A title game, the Panthers won their fourth CIF crown in program history, and the first since 1996.
“It was what we expected and it was about us sticking to J-Town basketball, controlling the tempo, sharing the ball and running our scout team (in practice),” Francis said after winning the title. “This is special for our school and our community.”
Moore League Player of the Year Franklyn Chambers was key down the stretch, scoring 10 of his 14 points in the closing minutes after Sage Hill had cut the Jordan lead to just three points with less than five minutes to play. He accomplished all of that while playing with four fouls.
“My teammates did a good job of helping me keep my head up and I scored when I had the opportunity to. It just so happened to be 10 big points to get the job done. So I appreciate my teammates. Without them I don’t think I would’ve even been playing.”
Dennis Redmond, Jr. led all scorers with 23 points in the title game, and he and Chambers were named the Division 4A All-CIF Players of the Year.
It was quite an exclamation point on the most successful season in decades for J-Town Basketball, and was an uplifting achievement for the school, and the community surrounding it.
“The pandemic was rough on these kids and on the North Side,” Francis said. “We even had some kids who ended up losing their lives who grew up with Dennis. It was tough on the community. To be able to bring this community together with such a positive moment, it’s special. It was amazing that the alumni came back out. There was even a guy out there who was Class of ’74. That’s a beautiful thing for people to still have that pride for the community and the school.”
