San Diego, CA
Carlsbad too experienced, tough for Francis Parker in battle between two of San Diego’s best
Two of the top boys basketball scorers in the county hooked up Friday night.
Carlsbad High School senior Jake Hall again proved why he ‘s chasing 3,000 career points.
Francis Parker sophomore Tavid Johnson showed why he already has more than 1,100 career points.
Playing in Francis Parker’s sparkling new Vassiliadis Athletic Center, No. 2-ranked Carlsbad, the San Diego Section Open Division champions, proved to be too deep and too experienced for sophomore-dominated Parker, pulling away just before halftime and rolling to a 75-63 nonleague win.
Hall, last year’s CIF Player of the Year, averages 29.9 points per game. He finished Friday’s tilt with 28 points as Parker bumped and grinded on him all game.
“Nothing new,” Hall said. “I’ve seen every kind of defense. Honestly, we didn’t play well, but it’s a win, and we’ll take it.”
Hall’s career point total now stands at 2,610 with as many as 20 games remaining.
Jett Kenady scored 14 points. He came out late for football after playing for the Lancers’ stellear football team.
“I’ve played enough now that I have my basketball legs,” Kenady said.
Johnson, who came into the game averaging 27.7, finished with a game-high 32 points — 20 coming in the second half.
Carlsbad (13-2) led by 20 early in the fourth quarter, but Parker (11-7) rallied and cut the deficit to eight with 1:06 to play. But a basket by Trenton Mehl, who finished with 16 points, and a pair of free throws by Jordan Garner put the game away.
“We’re a young, scrappy team,” Biddle said. “And one of our best kids (junior) Ezekiel Walker) is hurt and out for the year. We like to play up. Like to test ourselves. … We’ve already played the No. 1 team in the state (Eastvale Roosevelt) and No. 3 Bellflower St. John Bosco. So this was another good test.”
Carlsbad, ranked No. 25 in the state, got a test from Parker.
“We expected a tough game and got one,” Carlsbad coach Clark Allard said. “League (play) is right around the corner, so games like this, playing on the road, can only help. Playing a tough preleague schedule worked last year. I’m hoping the same formula works again.”
Johnson finished with a game-high 11 rebounds in addition to his 32 points. Amon Andrews backed him with 10 points.
Garner led Carlsbad with nine rebounds.
Originally Published: