The562’s coverage of Lakewood Athletics is sponsored by J.P. Crawford, Class of 2013.
The562’s coverage of Long Beach Poly is sponsored by Bryson Financial.
There’s not many situations that the Long Beach Poly boys’ basketball team hasn’t faced just ten games into their season. The Jackrabbits battled out a stacked pre-season schedule and took their experience to Lakewood on Thursday night with a big 63-42 win in their Moore League opener.
“It’s shown our guys how hard we need to work, play, and execute,” Poly coach Shelton Diggs said of his team’s pre-season. The Jackrabbits have faced an abundance of competition including Harvard Westlake, Sierra Canyon, and Santa Margarita. “Now as we get into Moore League we expect ourselves to play a lot better and we played well today.”
The Jackrabbits immediately matched up well with Lakewood behind 6-foot-9 junior Jonas Oware who presented himself as a problem in the post early in the game. The big man had six of his game-high 20 in that first quarter which helped spark a 10-0 run to end the period.
“This game was personal,” he said after the game. “I’ve lost to them a few times and in this game I wanted to come out and really give my all into it, especially in the paint. I just know I have to be there in the paint and stay solid to be there for my team. I’m taller than everyone so I feel like I got to.”
Oware’s height has always been a challenge for opposing defense’s, but the senior worked hard during the offseason to improve his abilities in the paint with the ball in his hands. He credits cross-training as an important factor to his growth, and says that the work has given him more confidence now in his senior campaign.
“I worked on a lot of things. I lifted weights, cross-trained, and did a lot of work in the post. I think what helped me the most was my cross training. It’s helped me with my speed and athleticism and I’ve gained a lot of confidence. I feel like the more work you put in the more confidence you have.”
The Jackrabbits boast an experienced roster and spread the ball around well to players like Austin Unegbu who finished the game with 19 points. Giovanni and Nana Ofoegbu each added six points alongside Jovani Ruff who sat out most of the game while battling a sickness.
“I felt like we had to come out and just make a statement. I want to leave my own statement and leave a legacy, ” said Unegbu, who recalled falling to Lakewood on the road the last two years. “It does rile me up and I’m the ultimate competitor so I thrive off that.”
“It’s huge to be able to look to different guys,” added Diggs. “We want to be a top team and top teams don’t just rely on one person. It’s the good teams that play good basketball and we need to make sure our team is playing the right way.”
Poly also played together on defense where they held the Lancers scoreless for the first five minutes of the second half. The Jackrabbits led by as much as 33 points in the half and subbed out their starters midway through the fourth quarter.
“We’re built on defense,” said Diggs. “That’s something that we’ve been built on. We’ve struggled a little bit on defense this year so we’ve just been working at it. It’s good for them to come out and play defense the way we’ve been working in practice”
For Lakewood, the Lancers found a team-high 16 points from Anthony Williams meanwhile Keaton Lewis chipped in nine.
Both teams will enjoy their winter breaks before returning to league basketball on Jan. 8. Lakewood will resume play against Millikan meanwhile Poly will host Wilson.
