The Long Beach Poly Jackrabbits basketball squad stepped up to bat on Saturday night in the LBC and beat Orange Lutheran (70-62). LB Poly traveled up the road to Long Beach Jordan High School to host the second round of the CIF Southern Regional State High School Hoops Tournament.
Orange Lutheran and senior human-highlight reel Gabe York were primed for the matchup vs. the ESPN FAB50 No. 26 ranked Jackrabbits. Things got off to a close start, however, juniors Roschon Prince and Jordan Bell led the charge and made work of the Lancers in the paint for most of the night. Although York finished the game with 28 points, he didn't heat up until late in the fourth quarter.
York stepped back and hit two deep NBA-range triples and brought Orange Lutheran to within 7 points of the lead early in the fourth. Shortly after the Arizona Wildcats 2012 commit hit his second bomb from long distance, there was an issue with the Jackrabbits' scorekeeper, which led to a two-minute delay in the action. This stoppage of play undoubtedly gave Long Beach Poly the rest needed to keep up their pressure defense in the fourth, and the Jackrabbits were able to immediately halt York's hot streak from beyond the arc.
LB Poly's junior leader Roschon Prince took over from there. Prince finished with 29 points to lead all scorers, and camped out at the free-throw line for a great portion of the evening. Each time the 6'5" Long Beach Poly forward touched the ball in the paint, there wasn't much Orange Lutheran's defense could do to stop him.
The final score of 70-62 came courtesy of Gabe York's fourth quarter barrage, in which the senior poured in 15 points. LB Poly led 53-38 at the end of the third quarter of action. Long Beach Poly will face Bullard (Fresno) in the next round of the CIF State Division I High School Basketball Playoffs. Bullard upset LA City Section Champions Taft High School (70-63).
