Palisades Recreation Center’s Minor All-Star Basketball Team Is Best in L.A.
By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor
It was a storybook ending for the Palisades Recreation Center’s Coed Minor Division All-Star basketball team, which capped an improbable and courageous run with a thrilling 36-33 triumph over host Pan Pacific to capture the Citywide Tournament championship on April 10.
Having secured the West Region title in late March the heroic squad of nine talented boys continued its quest for the City crown with a lopsided victory over Valley Region winner North Weddington in the semifinals, setting up a final showdown versus the Metro Region champions, who were playing in their home gym. In a contest that went down to the wire, Palisades prevailed thanks to clutch free throw shooting and lock down defense in the closing seconds.
Knox Redick, son of Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick, hit a stepback jumper from 12 feet out to give Palisades the lead for good with two minutes left, but Pan Pacific battled to the final buzzer. Dax Skinner made a pair of foul shots to push his team’s lead to 32-28 with 1:48 left, but a three-pointer pulled the home side within one with 1:23 remaining. Arjun Srinivasan’s putback made it 34-31, but Pan Pacific answered with a layup. Palisades called timeout with 39 seconds on the clock and on its ensuing possession, Srinivasan was fouled and sank the first of two free throw attempts to make it 35-33. Pan Pacific missed two chances to tie before Kingsley Citron was fouled intentionally with 12 seconds left. He stepped to the line and calmly made the first free throw and after Pan Pacific’s last gasp came up empty it was time to celebrate.
Redick scored nine of his team-high 12 points in the second half, Srinivasan finished with nine, Citron had six, Matthew Bundy and Skinner contributed four apiece and Bowman, the only third-grader on the squad, added what proved to be a crucial free throw.
“I couldn’t be more proud,” Pali Rec Center Senior Director Jasmine Dowlatshahi said, fighting back tears. “I mean, we weren’t even supposed to play and look what we’ve done. We had 700 kids enrolled and didn’t have a gym to practice in so I want to thank Oakwood Rec Center for opening their doors to us.”
Head coach Vijay Srinivasan first thanked the opponent for a spirited effort: “You’re the best team we played.” He then acknowledged the contributions each player made, including Beckett Thomas (sidelined for the final due to a bee sting on his hand but who was on the bench to cheer for his teammates) and Hunter Ma (who played every other game but was on vacation for Spring Break). “These kids are so resilient. When the new Rec Center opens hopefully ours will be the first banner hung up!”
Wearing the biggest smile was Arjun Srinivasan, the only returner from last winter’s Pali Rec Minor team, which won the West Region but dropped a heartbreaker to Rosecrans in the Citywide semifinals.
“We lost by one point when I missed what would’ve been a game-winner and I vowed to be back this year,” he said. “I want this more than anyone. It’s cool to win it with my dad who’s been coaching me for four or five years.”
Chemistry was key even though the team was only together for two months. Srinivasan plays for the same local club as Kingsley and Ma (Loyalty, founded by Christian Morataya).
“At practice Tuesday I injured my wrist,” Srinivasan added. “I iced it as much as I could. My mentality was that we’re 40 minutes away from the City title. I want this, my dad wants this and everyone’s watching.”
Josh Ahdoot, who pulled down several big rebounds and got a steal against Pan Pacific, earned redemption for his 12-year-old brother Ben, who played alongside Srinivasan on last year’s Minor squad that fell just short of a spot in the Citywide final.
“We play together a lot in the backyard,” he said. “I was pretty confident we’d win.”
“When Kingsley made that last foul shot I’m like ‘I’m pretty sure we’ve got this,” said Bundy, who turned 10 in January and wants to join Loyalty with his brother.
“I love the way we play together,” the 10-year-old Citron said. “This was very much a team win. I played for Mar Vista last year and we lost to Pali in the West Region so I decided to play for Pali this year. It took a lot of hard work and effort but it was worth it.”
Skinner, who will also play on the PPBA 10U All-Star Baseball Team, shared what his father (and assistant coach) John said in the team huddle before the final sequence: “Don’t foul and no threes.”
Palisades finished a perfect 8-0 in All-Star competition, winning by an average margin of nearly 30 points per game.
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