Westchester boys basketball defeats Cleveland, advances to City Open Division final

LOS ANGELES — It wasn’t easy for the Westchester boys basketball team to put away Cleveland in Monday’s L.A. City Section Open Division semifinal at Roybal Learning Center.

The Comets built a 14-point lead in the second quarter, but midway through the third, they trailed by one point.

Westchester closed the third quarter on a 16-5 run to take a 10-point lead and eventually prevailed 68-57.

“The kids responded,” Westchester coach Dewitt Cotton said.

Westchester’s Tahj Ariza was saddled with foul trouble early, picking up three fouls in the first quarter. He picked up his fourth in the second half, but stayed in the game and delivered a pair of big 3-pointers as the Comets gained control of the game. He finished with 20 points.

When he initially went to the bench, Westchester had a two-point lead. However, Patrick Ramos went on a personal 8-0 run to give the Comets a 25-15 lead.

The Comets took a 35-28 lead into halftime.

Ramos and Ty Ingram finished with 13 points apiece.

In the third, Cleveland trailed 40-35 when it scored six consecutive points to take its first lead.

Westchester regained the lead on a pair of Ingram free throws, followed by a three-point play by Ariza for a 45-41 lead.

Later in the quarter, Ramos scored back-to-back baskets, including a 3-pointer and Ariza had a 7-0 run to give the Comets a 56-46 lead heading into the fourth.

“He hit stepped up hit some big threes for us,” Cotton said of Ramos. “That’s kind of what they’ve done on this road ….15 (wins) in a row now. We’re not bad.”

Ariza closed the game strong, finishing with 20 points.

“Staying in it, staying involved,” Ariza said of his night, “figuring out ways to get involved, keeping my head in the game and figuring it out.”

Guard Roman Finney had a game-high 23 points for Cleveland (23-6).

This is Ariza’s first year at Westchester, the home of his father, NBA champion Trevor Ariza. The Comets have 15 City Section titles and will be in search of their 16th when they face Chatsworth and USC commit Alijah Arenas in the final Friday at 8 p.m. at L.A. Southwest College.

“This is what everybody wanted,” Cotton said. “It’s our opportunity. We played earlier in the season, but we just trying to get it together, but now I think we’re ready.”

The teams met on Nov. 19 with Chatsworth winning 59-55.

“We coming for it,” Ariza said. “We could have won the first game, we were being too selfish, but we’re starting to figure it out.”

Chatsworth defeated Palisades 77-47 in the other semifinal.