2A BOYS: Agassi Prep boys upset Needles in 2A Southern League title game

The Needles (Calif.) boys basketball team was nearly untouchable during the regular season, running and gunning to a 14-0 record in the Class 2A Southern League.

But against Agassi Prep on Saturday, the Mustangs’ fast break came to a halt in the title game of the league tournament at Desert Oasis.

The Stars imposed a half-court game and dominated the paint for a 74-64 win to clinch the South’s No. 1 seed for next week’s state tournament.

“We tried to cut their fast break down,” Agassi Prep sophomore post player Quincy Brown said. “We knew if they got their fast break going, it would be an easy win for them.”

Brown had 19 points, 17 rebounds and four blocks for Agassi Prep (16-10), which outrebounded Needles 40-22.

“He had his game tonight,” Agassi Prep coach David Claerbaut said. “Good things happen when we get the ball to Quincy.”

DeShawn Battle scored 27 points and Jacoby Whitehead 17 for the Stars, who committed only 12 turnovers.

Agassi Prep will face North No. 2 seed Rite of Passage in a state semifinal at 8 p.m. Friday at Sierra Vista. The title game is at 5 p.m. Saturday at Orleans Arena.

Stevie Kidd had 18 points, six rebounds, five blocks, four assists and three steals for Needles (29-6), which had a 19-game winning streak snapped. The Mustangs hadn’t lost since an 82-67 defeat at the hands of Shadow Ridge on Dec. 29.

Anthony Ramos (13 points), Darra Russell (12 points, nine rebounds) and Michael Hills (10 points) also scored in double figures for Needles.

The Mustangs will face North No. 1 Incline in the semifinals at 4:40 p.m. Friday at Sierra Vista.

“I feel really sorry for the next team we play,” Needles coach Jeff Plank said. “It’s going to be a No. 1 seed from the North coming down, and I feel sorry for them because we’re going to come out and play a lot harder, a lot better and more skillful.”

Needles entered averaging 83 points per game in its last seven outings.

“It was all on stopping their transition,” Claerbaut said. “They’re deadly in transition. It was all on cutting that down.

“Kidd and Russell are great players. We put our best defenders (on them).”

One day after holding Lincoln County sharpshooter Dantley Walker to 19 points, Agassi Prep 6-foot-3-inch center James Turner held Russell to 12.

“Turner is an unheralded star on this team,” Claerbaut said.

Agassi Prep led by as many as 15 points in the third quarter, and Needles never got closer than seven afterward. Both Kidd and Russell fouled out.

“Agassi came out to play,” Plank said. “They’re very capable of competing like that. They’re a very good ball club.

“I’m sad for the kids, but you have to fail to succeed in life. We failed tonight. It’s something that we’ve got to let go.”

Agassi Prep avenged a pair of losses to Needles during the regular season — 44-32 on the road and 64-60 at home.

“We needed to be able to prove we can play with them,” said Claerbaut, who wouldn’t be surprised if they met again in the state title game. “Now we’re going to have to be able to do it again.”

Agassi Prep starting point guard Aerontay Shepherd suffered a sprained left ankle in the final two minutes and had to be helped off the floor. He did not return.

Claerbaut said Shepherd’s ankle was sprained “pretty bad” but didn’t appear severe.

“It’ll be iced,” Claerbaut said. “It’ll take a few days. He’ll be sore, but he’s a gamer.”

As the trophy presentation began, Shepherd watched from the bench with his leg propped up. That’s when Battle came to help him onto the floor to pose for team photos.

“We try to be strong as a unit,” Brown said. “We’re a family. We need each other when we go to state next week.”

Added Claerbaut: “This team has come together in just a wonderful way. They played intelligently; they played together and with a real spirit of closeness.”