LA City Section boys basketball playoffs: No. 1 Cleveland stunned by LACES in Open Division (2/10/2024)
It's bedlam in the Los Angeles City Section.
The boys basketball Open Division playoffs began Friday night, and as expected, there were stunners due to the parity in the division.
No. 8-seeded LACES stunned No. 1 Cleveland 59-52 on the road in the opening round led by Donovan Cornelius and Ryan Conner.
Cornelius had 18 points and Conner tallied 16.
Sophomore Alijah Arenas had 28 points and 14 rebounds to give No. 5 Chatsworth a road victory over No. 4 Westchester 43-37.
Taj Unuakhalu tallied 17 rebounds to go along with eight points and freshman TJ Phillips added 16.
No. 3 Birmingham Charter erased a 22-point deficit Friday night to prevail 83-71 over No. 6 Grant.
Alex Dupre erupted for 45 points and DeShawn Banks tallied 16 in the impressive comeback victory.
No. 2 King/Drew cruised by No. 7 Palisades, 77-60.
Josahn Webster piled up 25 points, Jayshawn Kibble scored 24 and Donald Thompson added 18.
OPEN SEMIFINALS
The Open Division semifinals are set for Feb. 17 at El Camino College in a Saturday slated with four games - boys and girls.
Westchester vs. Hamilton (girls), 1 p.m.
Chatsworth vs. LACES (boys), 2:30 p.m.
Birmingham vs. King/Drew (girls), 5 p.m.
Birmingham vs. King/Drew (boys), 6:30 p.m.
Games times are to be announced.
