Chatsworth boys basketball dominates Cleveland for share of lead in West Valley League

CHATSWORTH — The Chatsworth boys basketball team took one step closer to locking up the No. 1 seed in the CIF City Section Open Division playoffs Monday night.

In doing so, Chatsworth also avenged an overtime loss to West Valley League rival Cleveland earlier in the season.

USC commit Alijah Arenas, with his future head coach Eric Musselman in the stands, scored 30 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in Chatsworth’s 71-44 win over Cleveland.

The Chancellors (18-7 overall, 8-1 league) got a well-balanced effort from all the players who took the court against Cleveland (21-5, 8-1).

Senior guard Salomon Torres crashed the glass with intensity, pulling down 11 rebounds, several on the offensive end.

Sophomore guard Aaron Krueger came off the bench and hit three 3-pointers in the first half, providing the Chancellors with an added spark.

Senior center Taj Unuakhalu sent shots flying out of bounds, blocking four shots to go along with 14 rebounds.

“I just try to play my part, you know. It’s fun to try and get blocks, stop them from scoring,” Unuakhalu said. “Even if I don’t score myself, I can just make a difference on defense, so that’s just what it means to me.”

“Winning plays doesn’t always mean shooting the ball. Maybe you have to set a good screen or rebound the ball,” Chatsworth head coach Sam Harris said. “Winning plays — they matter and they add up faster than points do.”

Arenas helped Chatsworth get out to a 19-7 lead in the first quarter, scoring nine points in the opening frame.

The Chancellors controlled the offensive glass in the second quarter, grabbing six total offensive rebounds as a team that led to second-chance opportunities, which they capitalized on.

Krueger made two 3-pointers in the second quarter, keeping any momentum Cleveland was trying to build at bay.

“I told Aaron (Kreuger) before the game, ‘Be ready,’” Harris said. “’When you come in, you’ve got to pull the trigger.’”

Cleveland came out with more focus and energy in the third quarter, trying to make a push led by senior wing Cayden Kelly’s seven points and three rebounds in the frame.

Senior guard Kamari King scored five of his 10 points in the third quarter, but Chatsworth kept pace with Arenas scoring eight points and Torres adding five points in the quarter.

“I just reminded them who they were. This team won 16 games in a row. They haven’t lost in two and a half months,” Cleveland head coach Dagem Asfaw said about his postgame message to his team. “A game like this, it’s going to happen. No one’s perfect. Games like this will happen, and let’s bounce back and win a league title tomorrow.”

Chatsworth and Cleveland are now tied atop the West Valley League with an 8-1 record and will share the league title if both teams win their final regular-season game.

Birmingham will have the opportunity to play spoiler against both, hosting Cleveland on Tuesday and Chatsworth on Friday.

Cleveland defeated Birmingham 58-49 the game prior and Chatsworth beat Birmingham 79-58 on Jan. 29.

“In my regime here at Cleveland, we still haven’t won at Birmingham,” Asfaw said. “It’s a tough game and you know they’re going to be in that game tomorrow knowing that they want to ruin our league season. So we’re going to go in there and we’re going to fight our butts off, and I think our kids will respond very well.”

The City Section Open Division playoff pairings will be announced Sunday.