SANTA ANA – Foothill was missing two starters going into a crucial Crestview League boys basketball game against La Habra.
Danny Kennard was not one of those two.
Kennard, a 6-foot-11 senior, scored 22 points with seven rebounds and blocked four shots Tuesday to lead the Knights to a 61-55 win over La Habra at Foothill High.
It was Foothill’s first league win in the Crestview League, a five-team league that from top to bottom is the best league in Orange County that is not the Trinity League. All five teams are in the Orange County top 15. Four of the league’s coaches have been Orange County coach of the year.
Foothill is 1-1 in league. The Knights lost to Crean Lutheran in their league opener last week 61-60. They are No. 14 in the Orange County Top 25 and are 14-7 overall.
La Habra, a CIF champion last season, is 2-2 in the Crestview League. The Highlanders beat Cypress and Crean Lutheran in their first two league games and now have lost two league games in a row, including an 81-64 loss to Canyon and former county player of the year Brandon Benjamin last Friday. La Habra, No. 7 in the county rankings, are 18-6 overall.
Foothill on Tuesday was missing injured seniors Kai Nixon, the Knights point guard, and forward Blake Pearson.
“Kai is our primary ball-handler,” Kennard said. “That was important, especially playing against La Habra. They pressure the ball a lot, so we were worried about that but our guys came through.”
Foothill senior guards Noah Arakalian, mostly, and Lorenzo Turner and junior guard Braeden Davidson brought the ball up the floor effectively. Foothill made only nine turnovers, two in the second half.
Kennard scored 15 points in the second half. He was 5 for 6 at the free-throw line in the fourth quarter.
Davidson was 3 for 3 on 3-point shots in the first quarter. The Knights took a 23-14 lead into the second quarter. La Habra went on a 7-0 run to start the second quarter, outscored the Knights 15-6 in the second quarter and it was 29-29 at halftime.
Kennard’s smooth play around the basket, especially his ability to easily shift from his strong hand, his right hand, to his left when going up for a shot helped him score eight points in the third quarter and lead Foothill to a 49-46 lead going into the final quarter.
La Habra struggled to score in the fourth quarter, making only 3 of 14 shots. Foothill was 8 for 10 on free throws to hold on for the victory.
“We made a lot of stops tonight which helped,” Foothill coach Yousof Etemadi said “And made some free throwns down the stretch.”
Highlanders All-County junior point guard Acen Jimenez scored a team-high 17 points but was unable to take over the game, something of which he is very capable.
“He’s the head of the snake,” Etemadi said of Jimenez. “He’s really crafty and understands how to play the game.”
La Habra shot 19 for 49 from the floor 39 percent. The Highlanders were 6 for 27 (22 percent) on 3-point shots.
Foothill was 19 for 42 from the floor (45 percent) and 7 for 16 (49 percent) on 3-pointers.
Foothill plays at Cypress in a league game Friday. Cypress lost in overtime to Crean Lutheran on Tuesday.
La Habra’s next game also is a league game at Cypress, on Jan. 21.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Danny Kennard leads Foothill to a critical win in Crestview League boys basketball )
Also on site :
- ‘This is about more than burgers and fries’: Boycott of McDonald’s to begin this week
- Country Superstars Announce Christmas Residency at Ryman Auditorium
- Trump announces Iran and Israel have agreed to a “Complete and Total CEASEFIRE"