Preview: Harvard-Westlake vs. Roosevelt in CIF Southern Section Open Division boys basketball final
It's as if the basketball Gods saved the best game for last.
Top-seeded Harvard-Westlake (29-3) will play No. 2 Eastvale Roosevelt (30-2) in the CIF Southern Section Open Division boys basketball final on Friday at 8 p.m. at Cal Baptist University.
The game will follow the girls' Open Division final between Sierra Canyon and Etiwanda at 6 p.m.
It will be the first time Harvard-Westlake and Roosevelt have ever competed against each other. Roosevelt High opened in 2006.
Harvard-Westlake will be making its second all-time appearance in the Open final after falling short to Corona Centennial in 2022. Roosevelt is making its first-ever Open final appearance after earning the program's first berth to the Open playoffs this season.
The makings of the matchup make it a toss-up.
Both went 3-0 in Open Division pool-play.
- Harvard-Westlake beat Centennial, Sierra Canyon and St. John Bosco
- Roosevelt beat JSerra, St. Pius and Mater Dei
Both rosters are riddled with talent.
- Havard-Westlake: Trent Perry, Nik Khamenia, Robert Hinton, Christian Horry
- Roosevelt: Brayden Burries, Issac Williamson, Darnez Slater, Myles Walker
Both coaches are top-tier, and each have two CIF State titles.
- David Rebibo: D-IV, 2016; OPEN, 2023 (both at HW)
- Stephen Singleton: D-II, 2001 (Compton Dominguez); D-1, 2017 (Roosevelt)
3 KEYS TO THE GAME
Issac Williamson vs. Trent Perry
One of the key matchups, if not the key matchup, will be how Roosevelt junior guard Issac Williamson will defend USC-bound, McDonald's All-American Trent Perry of Harvard-Westlake.
Trent Perry presented with 2024 McDonald's All-American jersey on Friday, Feb. 16, 2024.
Tarek Fattal/SBLive
No player has been able to slow Perry down this season, however, Perry isn't a high-volume scorer, per se. He's the ultimate floor general at 6-foot-4 with the ability to notch a triple-double.
Williamson has shown signs of shutdown ability. He held No. 1-ranked sophomore Brandon McCoy of St. John Bosco to 13 points in Roosevelt's Classic at Damien Platinum Division final in December.
Williamson is heralded as the Mustangs' best perimeter defender.
Roosevelt's Issac Williamson (12) being pesky defensively in a game against St. John Bosco.
Heston Quan/SBLive
Which role player will make 3s?
Championship games always seem to provide a platform for opportunity. Question is: Which player will take advantage?
Harvard-Westlake senior guard Christian Horry - son of former NBA player Robert Horry - has been shooting lights out since the turn of the year. He's consistently making two to three 3s per game, but could he make four on Friday night in an arena-style setting?
Harvard-Westlake's Christian Horry.
Naji Saker/SBLive
Sophomore Amir Jones and junior Isaiah Carroll have been making 3-pointers as of late, too. But the surge from beyond the arc has come in the postseason where the Wolverines hosts all their games. Can the shot-making translate beyond the comfort of Studio City? Jones and Carroll are in year one of varsity basketball.
Roosevelt's Myles Walker and Dominic Copenhagen are starters for the Mustangs, but generally fill the gaps behind Brayden Burries, Darnez Slater and Issac Williamson - which is the mark of a great role player.
If one of the two gets hot, it could be the difference in the game.
Dominic Copenhagen of Roosevelt.
Heston Quan/SBLive
Battle in the paint
The game will feature heavy guard play. It means rebounding, protecting the rim and other assorted skills required inside could swing the game.
The edge in this category goes to Harvard-Westlake. Sophomore center Dominique Bentho and junior Nik Khamenia are both 6-foot-8. Roosevelt has size, but it's in wings like Brayden Burries (6-6) and Darnez Slater (6-3).
It means the play of Roosevelt center Kevin “Tochi” Anigbogu could be a huge factor for the Mustangs. Anigbogu hovers around 6-foot-10, but comes off the bench. He's athletic and active, which could help defensively, but he didn't play heavy minutes in Roosevelt's big games this season.
In anticipation of his services Friday night, Roosevelt coach Stephen Singleton started and played Anigbogu in the team's 64-59 win over St. Pius last Tuesday night.
Maybe, he's ready for the big stage.
Anigbogu is the younger brother of Ike Anigbogu, who played at UCLA (2016-17
