Big third quarter lifts Warren High past Downey in rivalry showdown
Warren High School’s Kenneth Martinez (10) makes a basket in their league boys basketball game at Downey High School on Wednesday. Warren defeated Downey, 67-52. (Photo by Keith Durflinger)
DOWNEY — The Warren High School boys basketball team put themselves in the drivers seat for a league title with a big second half against host Downey Wednesday night (January 21) at Downey High.
In a nip and tuck first half with both teams trading points, the Bears took control and had another big quarter against their rivals to pull away in the third quarter in route to a 67-52 San Gabriel Valley League game.
With the win, Warren improved to 17-6 overall and 6-0 in the SGV and Downey is 16-8 and 4-2 in league. Four league games remain for both teams.
In their first meeting on Jan. 2, Warren held a slim 14-12 lead before blowing the game open in the second quarter as they outscored visiting Downey, 21-2, to hold a comfortable, 35-14 halftime lead.
The third and fourth quarters were basically even with Warren winning by 20, 67-47.
With the Vikings hosting the first game of the second half of league, a win would have tied them with Warren with identical 5-1 records, but that scenario didn’t play out.
“This is a rivalry, right, so it’s always going to be tough at the start,” said Warren coach Zaiid Leflore, referring to a close first half for the Bears in Wednesday’s game.
Downey led by two,11-9, after the first half and Warren won the second quarter, 15-11.
With the score tied, 3-3, Downey senior guard Alessandro Garcia was driving for a layup and was fouled at the 4:07 mark. He made both free throws to lead, 5-3, which was followed by a layup by Warren leading scorer junior guard Kenneth Martinez to tie it at, 5-5.
Downey senior guard Matthew Topete connected for a three-pointer and made a free throw for the 9-5 lead with 3:08 left in the opening quarter. After a couple baskets by the Bears to tie it at 9-9, senior guard Shane Costello hit a short fade away jump shot for the 11-9 lead to end the quarter.
The Vikings kept up the pressure throughout the second quarter, but their last lead of the game came on a short jumper by sophomore guard Lucas Morales to lead, 20-18 with 2:38 left in the quarter.
“I was excited coming into the game,” said Morales, of the Downey-Warren rivalry. “No matter what it’s always heated.
“In the first half we stayed composed and our defense was pretty decent. We were just trying to win, but obviously we didn’t get the outcome we wanted.”
Warren finished with a 5-2 run for the 24-22 halftime lead.
“Jitters, nerves, this is the second round of playoffs (league), so we need to win, they know they need to win, right, so it’s whoever weathers the storm,” Leflore added.
The third quarter 26-point explosion put the Bears up, 50-32.
“I think the difference in the third quarter was our intensity on defense and we started making shots,” Leflore said. “In the locker room at halftime I told them it was important to get stops and push the ball.”
Adding to Kenneth Martinez’ big game was senior guards Robert Chavez and Donoven Knighten with 12 and 10 points, respectively. Senior guard Azen Bojorquez had seven, while sophomore guard King Johnson and senior guard Songhai Glover scored six each.
Johnson, who leads the team with a 20.1 scoring average was held in check most of the game. He only had two free throws in the first half and two baskets in the fourth quarter.
“He’s (Johnson) our leading scorer, so I would target him as well,” said Leflore, who was asked if he was double teamed and was a target. “He’s the game plan for a lot of people, but as you see we have other options.”
Leading the way for Downey was Morales with 15 points (3 3’s), followed by 10 points (3 3’s) from Topete and eight points from senior guard Joel Rodriguez.
Those three players have been leading the Vikings in double figures this season. Topete leads with a 13.2 per game average, followed by Morales (12.2) and Rodriguez (11.9).
Costello (7 pts.) and Garcia (6) were followed by senior guard Christopher Medina and sophomore guard Elijah Macias with four and two points, respectively for Downey.
As a team, the Vikings had eight three-pointers in the game.
Martinez started slow, scoring only a basket in the first quarter, but caught fire the last three quarters, with 5, 11 and 8 points.
“The ball just came to me, and I was just playing my game,” Martinez said. “I just got more focused and my teammates just finding me and just playing defense.
“The third quarter was the start of our momentum and that’s what started us and how we got our lead.”
Momentum is the word of the third quarter, as the Bears started with a 16-0 run in the first 4:08 to take an insurmountable, 40-22 lead.
Garcia broke the Bears scoring streak with a layup with 3:54 left in the quarter.
Both teams matched points with 10 each to finish the quarter with Warren leading, 50-32.
Highlighting the 16-0 run for the Bears was three two-point baskets by Chavez (6 pts.), six points by Martinez and a three-pointer and a basket by Bojorquez.
Downey outscored the Bears in the final quarter, 20-17, led by eight points (2 3’s) by Morales. Martinez also had eight for Warren.
“In the first half our defensive intensity was there and we were pressuring the ball getting deflections,” Downey coach Tyler Ellis said. “The first time we played we felt like we had too much respect for them and not pressuring the ball enough.
“I liked our defensive energy in the first half and in the second half when they went on that run (16-0) it just kind of felt like they physically imposed us on the glass. Our ball pressure wasn’t the same and it just snow balled from there.”
Downey continues with league play at Norwalk Friday (Jan. 23), while Warren will host Lynwood on Friday.