Crenshaw High’s AJ Robinson able to go distance in playoffs

Who knew that studying find out how to end a three-mile cross-country race interprets to the fourth quarter of an in depth basketball sport, when stress is constructing, stamina is being examined and adversity is usually peaking.

“It helped us a lot,” All-City guard AJ Robinson of Crenshaw High stated in explaining how operating cross nation within the fall boosted the basketball staff to a 23-3 file within the common season and a spot on this week’s City Section Open Division playoffs.

“Completing those three miles makes you feel so accomplished. That was adversity. We know how to keep our composure. When one loses composure, we pull them back in. When we’re in tight games, calls aren’t going our way and fans are getting in our heads, we know how to keep our composure.”

It’s a wide-open discipline within the Open Division, from No. 1 Harbor City Narbonne to No. 8 Westchester. Usually throughout playoff time, a person participant or two elevates their staff into rivalry.

Robinson is a kind of able to stepping ahead to get the No. 6-seeded Cougars some wins. They open on Friday at No. 3 Fairfax.

Although Robinson isn’t associated to the nice Jackie Robinson, he’s worn No. 42 whereas enjoying on sports activities groups since he was a 5-year-old in soccer to honor the Dodgers nice who broke baseball’s colour barrier.

“Wearing 42 is a tribute to excellence,” he stated.

Robinson, a 5-foot-9 senior, has a excessive sport of 37 factors whereas averaging 18 factors and practically six assists. He takes costs and understands the position of some extent guard.

“Over the years, I’ve been working on understanding when I have to score and when to give the ball to teammates,” he stated. “I know their strengths and weaknesses and ways to put them in the best position to score. Playing point guard is 90% mental.”

Crenshaw coach Ed Waters stated his staff’s conditioning exhibits as a result of the Cougars are averaging 20 factors within the first quarter and the identical within the fourth quarter, beginning contemporary and ending robust.

“One of the things about cross country, no matter what, you finish,” he stated. “It doesn’t matter about the times, go through the process.”

Robinson, with a 3.7 grade common, intends to offer it his greatest on this playoffs.

“I know someone has to do the dirty work,” he stated. “I’m going to do it. We bring the defense every single night.”

Among the City Section gamers to observe within the playoffs:

• Keyon Kensie, Taft: The 6-7 Kenzie began the season enjoying for a prep faculty (Donda Academy in Simi Valley) and has come on robust, averaging 25.2 factors for a Toreadors staff that may strive to not be eradicated by King/Drew for the third time in 4 years.
• Marcus Adams Jr., Narbonne: The main candidate for City Section participant of the yr is decided to finish his highschool days with a championship. The 6-8 ahead has a excessive sport of fifty factors this season.
• Anthony Hrboka, San Pedro: The 5-10 three-point taking pictures sensation helped beat Birmingham in a regular-season sport. This time the Patriots know they need to do a greater job placing a hand in his face in a rematch sport.
• Darius Carr, Fairfax: The 6-3 wing is one other switch from a prep faculty (Southern California Academy) who grew to become eligible at midseason and led the Lions to an unbeaten file within the Western League. Carr vs. Robinson ought to be a terrific particular person matchup.