Verbum Dei Beats Garces, 84-70

In winning back-to-back Southern Section Division IV-A championships, the Verbum Dei High boys’ basketball team has had several players step up in key game situations.

Thursday night in a semifinal game against Garces High, it was Deon Williams’ turn.

The 6-foot-2 point guard had five steals and scored 15 of his 17 points in the second half as Verbum Dei beat Garces, 84-70, at Compton College to advance to the Southern Regional Division IV Finals for the second consecutive season.

“I just tryed to be active, get steals and score points,” Williams said. “We thought we would just come out and run (Garces), but they played hard.”

Garces also played well. Well enough to pull within nine points, 75-66, on a three-point shot by Matt Pearl with 2:38 remaining in the fourth quarter.

But a driving layup by Williams extended the Eagles’ lead to 82-68, as part of a 9-4 Verbum Dei run to close out the game.

“They gave us a wakeup call,” Verbum Dei Coach Mike Kearney said. “We are a pretty deep team and the guys coming off the bench gave us a lift.”

Just as the second half belonged to Williams, the first half showcased guard Hasani Acklin and forward Andre Larry.

“I was in a good flow in the first half,” said Larry, who scored 10 of his 15 points in the first two quarters. “In the second half, everyone picked it up.”

Hasani Acklin scored 17 of his 18 points in the first half.

Center Mike Mariani led the way for Garces with a game-high 22 points and eight rebounds.

Verbum Dei played San Diego Lincoln yesterday (See Sports, Section C).

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Verbum Dei 103, Holtville 53-- The Eagles made 18 steals and forced 30 turnovers in a Southern Regional Division IV first-round game Tuesday at Compton College.

Verbum Dei outscored Holtville, 34-7, during one stretch in the first half to mount a 40-18 lead.

Husani Acklin, one of four Verbum Dei players in double figures, led the Eagles with 17 points. Hassani Acklin and Phillip Blackmon each added 13 points for Verbum Dei. Holtville was led by Xavier Ramos’ 12 points.

Records: Verbum Dei 23-5; Holtville 21-6.