No. 1 Long Beach Poly girls lose

Just when you think everything is in order and No. 1-ranked Long Beach Poly girls’ basketball team is back to being unbeatable… .

Unranked Long Beach Millikan defeated the Jackrabbits, 51-46, Monday night, winning on Poly’s court for the first time since 1999. Courtney Clements, one of those players who Poly Coach Carl Buggs says keeps him awake at night, scored 15 of her 19 points in the second half to lead the Rams (11-2).

Clements missed much of the first half because of foul trouble. “Those other kids held down the fort while she was on the bench,” said Buggs, whose team led at halftime, 27-23.

Ranked No. 1 in the Southland by The Times and No. 4 in the nation by USA Today, Poly (9-2) got 12 points from Jasmine Dixon, but she was the only player in double figures.

After falling behind for the first time since the first quarter, 45-43, Poly was unable to keep pace at the free-throw line. Millikan made six of eight free throws to close the game and end Poly’s aura of Southland invincibility.

The last time the Jackrabbits lost on the court to a local team was to Lynwood, 52-44, on March 3, 2006, in the Division I-AA title game; Poly went on to win the state title.

Millikan, which trailed by as many as 10 in the third quarter, made 17 of 20 free throws in the second half.

The most telling statistic may have been that Poly had only seven offensive rebounds.

“We got a lot of good looks, but missed too many shots inside,” Buggs said. “I give Millikan the credit. They played with a lot of intensity and they made plays when they had to.”

–Martin Henderson

Boys’ Basketball

A three-person state CIF appeals panel will hear on Friday the appeal of former Sylmar High boys’ basketball players Mat and Willie Hankins, who were declared ineligible by City Section Commissioner Barbara Fiege after transferring to Van Nuys.

The Hankins brothers enrolled after former Sylmar assistant Charles White was named coach at Van Nuys. Under a new CIF transfer rule, players are not allowed to follow a former coach to his new school.

Mat Hankins, a senior, was an All-City guard two seasons ago as a sophomore. Willie Hankins is a junior guard. Another former Sylmar player declared ineligible at Van Nuys, junior Victor Rudd, is waiting for his appeal hearing.

If the Hankins’ appeal is rejected, their father, Bill, is expected to seek an injunction in court.

–Eric Sondheimer

Football

Darrell Scott of Ventura St. Bonaventure was named running back of the year, and quarterback Matt Barkley of Santa Ana Mater Dei was named junior of the year by the Maxwell Sports Club and Sportlink.

The Maxwell Club has been honoring collegiate and professional football players since 1935 and has expanded to honor high school players beginning this season – naming 11 winners:

Quarterback: Terrelle Pryor, Jeannette High in Jeannette, Pa.; running back: Scott; wide receiver: DeVier Posey, Cincinnati (Ohio) LaSalle; tight end: Kyle Rudolph, Cincinnati (Ohio) Elder; offensive lineman: Michael Brewster, Orlando (Fla.) Edgewater; kicker: Blair Walsh, Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) Cardinal Gibbons.

Defensive lineman: Marcus Forston, Miami (Fla.) Northwestern; Iinebacker: Arthur Brown, Wichita (Kansas) East; defensive back: Patrick Johnson, Pompano Beach (Fla.) Blanche Ely; punter: Ben Buchanan, Westerville (Ohio) Central. Outstanding junior: Barkley.

Transfers

Cade Kreuter, a starting outfielder last season at Valencia as a sophomore and the son of USC baseball Coach Chad Kreuter, has transferred to Hart.

Kreuter is likely to be restricted to playing junior varsity this season because the family did not change residences, according to Hart Coach Jim Ozella.

– Eric Sondheimer