Crespi boys basketball races past Bishop Amat to begin state playoffs

ENCINO — Crespi’s boys basketball team took control early and never let up against against Bishop Amat on Tuesday night in the opening round of the CIF state playoffs.

The Celts raced ahead in the first quarter and stormed to the finish for an 83-66 victory in the Division II contest at Crespi High.

Bishop Amat (29-6) trailed 24-10 at the end of the first quarter. Crespi (21-13) used a 9-0 scoring run in the first quarter to build its double-digit lead.

Offensive rebounds helped the Celts score points early in the contest. Crespi pulled down four offensive rebounds in the first quarter, all of which led to second-chance points.

Crespi senior Christian Tshina-Nzambi, who said he didn’t want to see high school career come to an end Tuesday, provided a huge boost off the bench with 16 points and six rebounds.

“We were ready,” Tshina-Nzambi said of the team’s hot start. “With all the practices and learning from coach (Derek Fisher), I mean, he’s an amazing coach. We’re also looking forward to winning championship and getting a ring.”

The senior grabbed three of Crespi’s 16 offensive rebounds, including a put-back and a great save on the baseline that found Isaiah Barnes who buried a 3-pointer off the pass.

For Tshina-Nzambi, the aggressive rebounding is just part of the team’s identity.

“That’s overall, just us playing our game and learning,” Tshina-Nzambi said. “We’re just trying to rebound the ball at a high level.”

Bishop Amat showed much better intensity in the second quarter, but still had trouble dealing with Crespi’s physicality.

The Celts continued to feast on the offensive boards and their full-court press created some trouble for the Lancers, leading to Crespi’s 44-29 lead at halftime.

Bishop Amat’s Omar Cox-Labomme got going in the second quarter, as he scored nine of his 17 points.

Bishop Amat sophomore Aiden Shaw led all players with 25 points. Shaw was steady throughout the game, as he scored on drives and made shots from all over the half court.

Crespi was led by junior Isaiah Barnes with 20 points.

Barnes and Shaw went back-and-forth early in the third quarter with one highlight play after another. Midway through the third Shaw had seven of his team’s 10 points while Barnes scored had 10 of Crespi’s 12 points.

Barnes got little resistance as he attacked the basket. Jasiah Williams got similar results in the second quarter, where he also added three straight makes for the Celts.

Williams added nine points and seven rebounds while junior Rodney Mukendi finished with 14 points and 11 boards.

Crespi got back into the win column Tuesday and knocked off the section’s Division 2 champ in Bishop Amat.

Crespi will host Damien on Thursday at 7 p.m. in the regional quarterfinals.

“This was a big one because we played as a team,” Tshina-Nzambi said. “Now we’re gonna have confidence going into any other game thinking we can match with the best, even in the Open Division.”