Fairfax Holds Off Cleveland to Win, 74-60

Between yawns, Fairfax High grumbled and groused its way to a 74-60 win over Cleveland on Wednesday night like a giant stirred from a midday slumber.

From Chris Mills’ 10-foot jump shot in the first few seconds to the foul-marred fourth quarter, Fairfax, ranked No. 3 in the nation by USA Today, was unchallenged in the Valley League game. But the Lions didn’t appear to be enjoying themselves and they certainly didn’t please the capacity crowd at Cleveland.

Maybe they’ll perk up when they get some competition.

“Whew, that is an excellent team,” said Cleveland Coach Bob Braswell while shaking his head in dismay. “You have to respect that.”

Fairfax defeated Cleveland, 72-55, last week in the final of the Chaminade tournament. Fairfax Coach Harvey Kitani believed that had a lot to do with his team’s lackluster performance. “It was a difficult game for us because we just got through playing them.” he said.

Against most teams, Cleveland (1-1 in league, 8-2 overall) displays excellence. The Cavaliers are ranked No. 1 in the Valley behind a vigorous transition game that usually makes up for having no player taller than 6-4.

Fairfax (3-0, 12-0) hardly noticed the energetic Cavalier running game.

All Sean Higgins noticed was the ball and the officials. “I kept asking the ref to change the ball. It was warped,” said Higgins, a Fairfax forward and preseason All-American.

The referee responded by calling five fouls on him. Higgins, who has signed a letter of intent with UCLA, scored 14 points--well below his average of 25--before fouling out with five minutes left in the game.

“We come out to the Valley and we have to play the other team, the fans and the refs,” Higgins said. “It isn’t fair.”

Higgins had plenty of company on the sideline. Five players fouled out, including the entire Cleveland front line of Albert Fann, Richard Branham and Damon Charlot. Fairfax guard Clarence McDuffie also fouled out. In all, 49 personal fouls were called.

Cleveland’s strategy was to penetrate the paint and try to get Fairfax’s Triplet Towers--Higgins (6-8), Mills (6-8) and J.D. Green (6-7)--in foul trouble. “They try to block a lot of shots and get overzealous,” Braswell said.

The problem was that the only way to stop those three from scoring was to foul them at the other end. And the result was that Cleveland’s fast-break attack--its only hope--was constantly interrupted by whistles.

“This is no excuse because we would have lost anyway,” Braswell said, “but it’s frustrating as hell to see so many fouls. It hurts a team like us that plays a fast tempo.”

After missing six games with a hand injury, Cleveland guard Damon Greer, a three-year varsity player, returned and directed the running game. He scored 10 points and had four assists, but often had no open teammate to pass to when driving the lane. On the other end, the Cavaliers shut off the outside shooting of Higgins, but left Mills open to score a game-high 28 points.

And the taller Lions, with Cleveland players helpless to do anything but throw elbows wildly, grabbed 18 offensive rebounds, once tipping the ball five times before Mills was fouled. Fairfax out-rebounded Cleveland, 46-27. Mills had 16 and Higgins and Green each had nine. For Cleveland, Adrian King had eight and Richard Branham had seven.

Cleveland stayed within striking distance during the first half by making 11 of 18 shots. Fairfax led, 22-19, early in the second quarter after Cleveland guard Joey Manliguis hit a 20-foot jump shot. Green converted a three-point play and Mills hit two baseline jump shots, however, and Fairfax led at halftime, 35-29.

Braswell’s frustration at his players’ inability to rebound was evident in the early seconds of the third quarter when, after three straight Fairfax offensive rebounds, he threw up his hands and screamed: “Hit the boards.”

Later, the coach was more understanding. “I told the team we can’t second-guess one another,” he said. “People will say, ‘You’ve lost two in a row. What’s wrong?’ We played Fairfax twice in a row, that’s all.”

Cleveland gets one more chance at Fairfax. And that would appear to be the problem--the game will be at Fairfax. But the Cavaliers defeated the Lions in their own den last season and ended up tied for the league title.

So, Braswell remains an optimist. “I reminded the team we have only one league loss,” he said. “We are only one game behind and can make that up at Fairfax.”

Regardless of the outcome, Higgins won’t have the same complaints. The game won’t be in the Valley, the officials will be different and the ball, it is hoped, will be round.

FAIRFAX--Mills 28 and 16 rebounds, Higgins 14, Green 14, Henderson 7, McDaniels 5, Levy-Mayer 2, Durity 4.

CLEVELAND--Branham 7, Fann 6, Charlot 10, Greer 10, Anderson 5, King 12, Manliguis 6, Milby 4.