Shooting for the Banner: Pali Rec Center All-Stars Win First Minor Division City Basketball Title

By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor

Before his team’s second playoff game, head coach Cameron Broumand asked every player “Do you want a banner?” When they all shouted “Yes!” he told them to close their eyes and visualize it happening. From that moment on, the Palisades Recreation Center’s Co-Ed Minor Division  All-Star basketball team was on a mission. Now, you can call them the banner boys.

One week after becoming the facility’s first All-Star squad in any sport to capture the Valley Region title, the group of local 9- and 10-year-olds made more history Saturday morning, defeating   Shatto Rec Center of Koreatown, 32-26, to win the City championship at Yosemite Rec Center in Eagle Rock.

“That phrase ‘we want a banner’ became our mantra and it was our rallying cry in every huddle and every timeout for the rest of the tournament,” Broumand said. “I’m  so proud of everyone, they all contributed and it helps having not one, but two kids with motors in Jake and Chris. Our formula was to slow the game down, defend the perimeter and don’t let their guards penetrate.”

Shatto trailed 15-14 at halftime, but took a 21-19 lead with 13:30 left. That’s when Palisades took command with a 13-2 run, sparked by power forward Patrick Csiszar and shooting guard Julien Harnoncourt. They made back-to-back three-pointers, Csiszar made  a layup, Harnoncourt scored on a putback, shooting guard Johan Stokes sank a free throw and center Kai Klein swished a jumper in the lane to put Palisades ahead 32-23 as the clock ticked under five minutes.

Harnoncourt finished with nine points, Csiszar had seven, point guard Chris Rodriguez had six, Klein had five and power forwards Jake Evans and Luke Broumand each had a basket.

“I help the team out by passing the ball a lot and getting others the ball,” said Rodriguez, who led his Mavericks to the regular season championship. “We did a good job of setting screens.”

At the postgame medal ceremony, Coach Broumand pas sed out Clippers paraphernalia, praised all of the players for their contributions and thanked assistant coach Ollie Stokes along with Pali Rec Director Erich Haas, Rec Coordinator Bill Maniscalco and Rec League Coordinator Tony Murphy, all of whom were there Saturday to cheer the team on.     

“Kai dominated the boards, Julien hit clutch threes, Patrick gave us some amazing minutes today, Johan plays with such heart and [shooting guard] Jaden Russo has a passion for the game.”    

Saturday’s triumph capped a remarkable eight-game run for Palisades, which edged Tarzana 35-33 in the Valley Region final, then knocked off Pacific Region  winner Baldwin Hills,  46-35, last Thursday to advance to the finals against Shatto, the Griffth/Metro Region champion.

“To be No. 1 out of about 70 teams is an incredible accomplishment,” Ollie  Stokes said. “Of all the All-Star players in the L.A. area, these eight are the best!”

Harnoncourt, who played for the Lakers in the regular season, is a 4th-grader at Roosevelt Elementary while Klein (who played on the Kings) and Csiszar (who played on the Warriors), are 4th-graders at Corpus Christi. Rodriguez, Johan Stokes and Evans are 5th-graders at Marquez Elementary (Stokes and Evans played for the Rockets) while Luke Broumand and Russo are 5th-graders at Village School and played for the Timberwolves.

On hand to watch his grandson was longtime Palisadian Bob Klein, a former tight end for USC  and the Los Angeles Rams.

“We have lots of athletes in the family, Kai is just falling right in line,” he said proudly.

Palisades’ victory came nine years to the day Haas took over at the Rec Center off Alma Real and he assured the team that not one but two banners will soon be on display in the big gym.

“What an amazing journey   and to do it with your own kid is extra special,” said Cameron Broumand, who has coached over 20 girls and boys teams at the park but has yet to win a league title. “It’s a memory we’ll always share. Someday I can come back with my son and maybe his kid 20 years from now and see the banners still hanging there and know we put them there.”