You Can Go Home, Harvard Discovers

STUDIO CITY —  The show that was on the road for so long finally came home. To rave reviews.

Harvard-Westlake High, playing at home for the first time in more than 10 months, parlayed a second-half surge into a 59-48 Mission League boys’ basketball victory over Notre Dame on Friday night.

The Wolverines (11-2, 2-0 in league play), defending Southern Section III-A Division champions, spent much of December participating in tournaments, including prestigious affairs in Florida and Delaware in which 6-foot-11 twins Jason and Jarron Collins showcased their talents.

But after a month of globe-trotting, including a two-week trip that required spending Christmas in a hotel, Harvard players and coaches were ready to sing of rainbows and yellow brick roads.

“It’s good to be home,” said Jarron Collins, who scored 18 points for Harvard. “The crowd support was great. A lot of guys from last year’s team were here and some people from last year’s class. It was great to get a win in front of them.”

Notre Dame (8-8, 1-1) nearly spoiled the homecoming. The Knights held the lead four times in the first half, including a 29-28 edge at intermission.

Accurate three-point shooting by guard Ryan Bowne and center Tim Anderson--both of whom made a pair of three-pointers in the first half--offset the Wolverines’ significant size advantage.

“Do you think anybody here expected us to have the lead at halftime?” Notre Dame Coach Chris Perez said. “We’re hungry every time we play them.”

Notre Dame made five of 10 three-point shots in the first half. But in the second half, Harvard, employing a zone defense, held the Knights to two three-pointers, one by Anderson and one by Bowne.

Anderson finished with 19 points, including all eight of his team’s points in the third quarter. Bowne had 13 points and four rebounds.

Jason Collins scored 11 of his 17 points in the second half and had 12 rebounds. Jarron Collins added 10 rebounds.

Harvard opened the third quarter with a 16-4 run and maintained a comfortable lead.

“With 6-11 twins, it makes it tough to get inside against them,” Bowne said. “We gotta shoot from the outside. We didn’t shoot well in the second half and that was the difference.”