Boys basketball, 16-14, take on Chatsworth today in the semifinal game of the CIF L.A. City Section Division 1 Basketball Championship. The Gondoliers hope to defeat Chatsworth and advance to the finals.
The game is set for 6 p.m. at Birmingham.
Chatsworth is listed as the second seed compared to the Gondoliers’ third seed.
Chatsworth beat Venice 64-55 earlier this year January 8. But the Gondoliers are determined to get the desired result this time around.
“We already played Chatsworth once, so we kind of know who they are. Hopefully we’ll have a better outcome this time,” said coach Dave Galley. “Part of the game plan is to handle the ball pressure they’re going to put on us and deal with their press.”
The Gondoliers finished third in Western league and defeated North Hollywood on Wednesday Feb. 11 and Polytechnic on the road last Friday to this semi final game.
Junior Jahzeer Bradley, a small forward, said that the team’s goal is “to do what we do best”: play offense, play defense, and win.
This game is looking to be a competitive one between two of the best teams attempting to make a championship run.
Although Venice missed out on competing in the Open Division, confidence and spirits are high on the possibility of clinching the Division One title.
“I think we have a very good opportunity.” Galley emphasized.
Senior A’Jonn Mitchell, a co-captain with senior Aiden Charron, credits some of the team’s success to team unity and time spent playing together.
“What makes our team special is we’ve been playing with each other all summer, so we’re close,” he said. “We know how to get each other the ball. Whenever someone messes up, we pick each other up.”
Venice is looking to continue their playoff success following Venice’s victory over the sixth seed John H. Francis Polytechnic in the quarterfinals 58-40.
Following the first quarter, Venice was trailing 19-18 to the Parrots. But out the gate in the second quarter, Venice came in with defensive intensity forcing turnovers and converting chances.
This constant defensive intensity helped spark an 11-2 run, forcing Poly to call a time out. Even out of the huddle, though, Venice continued to dominate, ending the quarter with a score of 16-5 bringing the half to 34-24.
On this second quarter success, Galley said the Gondoliers identified Poly’s scoring threats and made adjustments.
“We did a good job in the first quarter seeing what their strengths and weaknesses were and honing in on their scorers,” he said. “Then in the second quarter we decided to switch to a zone defense.”
This disciplined zone defense was a clear turning point. In one play Poly swung the ball, set multiple screens but couldn’t penetrate the defense and ended up chucking up a shot after the shot clock had run out.
The Gondoliers were able to limit Poly to five points in two separate quarters, much thanks to this defensive effort.
“I think we were all dogs on defense, pressuring the ball taking them off their game and just forcing turnovers,” Mitchell said
On the offensive end Venice was able to penetrate the defense off load the ball in the paint, kick it out or finish at the rim.
“We did a good job getting our feet in the key,” Galley said. “I think when we get our feet in the key, and we have to make reads, that’s our strength. Making the defense collapse then finding our rotations.”
