Compton boys basketball top Poly, may have share of Moore League title

COMPTON >> It’s been a historic couple of years for the Compton boys basketball team. Last season, the Tarbabes won their first CIF-SS championship in more than 40 years, and on Tuesday night, they likely clinched a share of their first Moore League title since current NBA player DeMar DeRozan was a star there. Compton pulled a surprising upset of Long Beach Poly, coming back in the fourth quarter to win, 66-54.

“It’s our first (title) since 2008, and we’re going to have to share it with Poly, but it’s not going to say ‘shared’ up there,” said Tarbabes head coach Tony Thomas, pointing up at the team’s Moore League title baer.

Compton and Poly are now tied for first place in the league with two losses apiece. The Jackrabbits have actually clinched at least a share of the title since they’re done with their league schedule, while Compton will have to take care of business against Wilson on Thursday to bring the baer home. The Bruins are 0-11 in league play.

It was a wild game between the two likely CIF-SS Open Division selections, with the Jackrabbits coming from behind in the third quarter by lulling the Tarbabes to sleep with a zone defense. That, coupled with a big quarter from Jeremiah Sadler (10 points) pulled Poly from a seven-point halftime deficit to a 41-36 lead.

Poly led 49-42 early in the fourth quarter and appeared to be on cruise control. That’s when Compton slowed the tempo down and started picking apart the Jackrabbits’ zone. The Tarbabes went on a 16-0 run that included 11 consecutive points from Raysean Scott.

The Tarbabes have been known for years as a talented team that struggled to out-execute opponents down the stretch, and Thomas said his team doubled down on shedding that reputation this week.

“We watched film until a half hour before the game started,” he said. “I even came out of retirement and practiced with them, to get out on the court and show them how to beat the zone.”

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