Charles Rich
Umar Khan found the ignition switch when things were about to become
gloomy.
The La Canada High boys' basketball player consistently slid
around the court, trying to break up passes in an effort to jump
start the Spartans' offense.
Khan had five key fourth-quarter points Wednesday to spark the
Spartans to a 51-41 victory against Hoover in a Glendale High Summer
League contest. The Spartans improved to 11-3, and the Tornadoes
dropped to 1-2.
*--*
BOX SCORE
*--*
*--*
La Canada 15 7 13 16 -- 51
Hoover 12 5 17 7 -- 41
*--*
*--*
LA CANADA
Ho 11, Cosgrove 10 and 7 rebounds, R. Anderson 8, Khan 7, Lew 6, Rawls 4, McQuay 3, Kumagai 2. * Three-pointers: Cosgrove 2
HOOVER
Abolian 14, 7 rebounds and 3 steals, Boyazhyan 12, Diaz 7 and 3 steals, Khodagholian 6, Dergevorkian 2. * Three-pointers: Abolian, Diaz
*--*
"We didn't have our legs because we've played a lot of games
lately," La Canada Coach Tom Hofman said. "We needed that spark, and
Umar gave it to us.
"Our timing was a little off on offense."
Khan's hustle rallied the Spartans, who fell behind early in the
fourth quarter. Hoover, which lost several key players to graduation
and lost veteran Coach Kirt Kohlmeier to retirement, played with some
spunk. The Tornadoes couldn't overcome La Canada's significant height
advantage.
The Tornadoes are nearing the final stages of finding a successor
to Kohlmeier, who guided Hoover to the CIF Southern Section Division
IA playoffs last season.
"All our guys can continue to do is play tough," said Hoover
acting Coach Jack Van Patten, who serves as the school's girls'
basketball coach. "We haven't been able to practice for a long time,
and I can't fault their effort."
Neither could Hofman.
"I thought Hoover outworked us," Hofman said. "Again, we were a
little tired. But Hoover did a good job of hanging in there."
Chandler Ho, a senior guard, led the Spartans with 11 points.
Teammate Ryan Cosgrove chipped in with 10 points and seven rebounds.
"Ho will be a good defender for us," Hofman said. "He just needs
to continue to take the right shots, and we have so much potential
with our offense and height."
Romik Abolian paced the Tornadoes with 14 points, seven rebounds
and three steals. Thanks to Abolian, the Tornadoes trailed, 35-34,
through three quarters.
Vardan Boyazhyan contributed 12 points and a pair of blocked shots
for Hoover.
