Borchart Maturing in Hurry

Scott Borchart of Chaminade High is barely 15. He’s too young to shave but old enough to play basketball like no other freshman in the region.

With the top-seeded Eagles facing one of their toughest tests, Borchart, who is 6 feet 7, scored 21 points in a 69-39 victory over Centennial in a Southern Section Division III-A quarterfinal game Tuesday night at Dominguez High.

He made all six of his shots from the field, nine of 10 free throws and pulled down 13 rebounds and took his customary one charging foul.

This was no playoff patsy. Centennial (19-9) owned victories over San Fernando, Morningside and Crossroads. But Chaminade (25-1) Coach Jeff Young had the Apaches well scouted and used a 2-3 zone defense to neutralize their quickness.

Centennial’s Marquis Poole was his team’s most effective offensive player with 11 points.

Chaminade outscored Centennial, 33-10, in the second and third quarters. With 6:39 to play, the Apaches trailed, 51-20.

Centennial’s typical offensive series was miss an outside shot, with Borchart rebounding. Miss an outside shot, rebound by Justin Stewart. Miss an outside shot, rebound by Scott Long.

Stewart finished with 14 rebounds and Long added 10 rebounds and 11 points.

“We really outrebounded them pretty bad,” Young said.

“Our zone was working great,” Borchart said.

Centennial failed to score in the first 5 1/2 minutes of the third quarter after falling behind, 38-26, at halftime. The Apaches’ top player, guard Arturo Jones, was scoreless until making a free throw with 6:30 to play.

Eight of Borchart’s points came directly after offensive rebounds.

“I just knew I had to come out and rebound,” he said. “My legs felt great. I knew how much this game meant.”

In earning a semifinal game against Santa Paula or Cabrillo, who play tonight, the Eagles played hard throughout and left it up to Borchart to inflict the main damage inside.

How someone so young can handle the pressure of playoff competition so well brings a smile to Young.

“I’ll tell you what. That kid is already mature and he has three more years of high school,” he said. “It doesn’t matter who he plays against--he’s unfazed.”

Borchart wasn’t worried about playing far from home. He had played at Dominguez as a younger player.

“I’m just going to come out and play my game,” Borchart said. “I’m not intimidated. I’m just so used to playing against tough guys.”

The best part of the game for Young is the knowledge that his players have raised their level of play after each playoff game.

“Every game in the playoffs, you learn more about your team,” Young said.