It was the night before Thanksgiving and about 100 people were sitting in the Fairfax High gym bleachers to witness a memorable first dunk by a Loyola High junior Jeff Jeffery, who looks like Clark Kent with a headband but leaped like Superman.
A year ago, he was 6 feet. Now he’s 6-2 with size 13 shoes and a spring in his legs that makes him look like an elite volleyball player.
“I’m supposed to grow to 6-6,” the 16-year-old said.
He dunks for friends at lunch time in the Loyola gym. He had never dunked in a real game, so when he did so in the first quarter, the adrenaline was flowing and he picked up a technical when he turned around and gave a look to a Fairfax player that was ruled taunting. If that dunk had happened at Loyola, his classmates would be asking for autographs and treating him like a celebrity.
He finished with 12 points as 4-0 Loyola defeated Fairfax 66-51. The Cubs are trying to win as many nonleague games as possible to get them in position for an at-large playoff berth because they are in the powerful Mission League, where wins could be hard to get.
Fairfax (0-2) is still waiting for two transfer students to be cleared.
Joseph Riggins scored 16 points for Lions, who fell behind 11-0 and 15-2. Mattai Carter had 11 points for Loyola.
Loyola coach Damaine Powell was pleased with his son, Tyson, who made two threes, had a block and assist. He will get to have ice cream and pie for Thanksgiving.
St. John Bosco 74, Metamora 45: Brandon McCoy scored 22 points and Elzie Harrtington 21 points for the Braves (2-0).
La Mirada 58, Morton 48: Gene Roebuck led La Mirada with 16 points.
St. Pius X-St. Matthias 80, St. Monica 55: Jaden Erami had 22 points for PMA, which is 1-0 in the Del Rey League and 4-0 overall.
Price 53, San Pedro 44: Tyrell Miller had 20 points and 11 rebounds.
Crespi 80, Golden Valley 37: Isaiah Barnes scored 27 points for the Celts.
Chaminade 83, Valencia 63: The Eagles (5-0) received 17 apiece points from Koby Nichols and Kamden Edwards.
Shalhevet 54, Legacy Christian 48: Aiden Bitran and Sam Jacobson each scored 21 points for Shalhevet.
Rolling Hills Prep 61, South Torrance 41: Kawika Suter had 21 points for 5-0 Rolling Hills Prep.
Westlake 85, Knight 79: Austin Maziasz finished with 30 points and Trey Kostenuik had 20 points for the 5-1 Warriors.
Moorpark 78, Lancaster 69: Levi Oakes scored 30 points for Moorpark.
Tesoro 69, Long Beach Wilson 66: Nathan Draper’s 21 points lifted 4-1 Tesoro.
Crean Lutheran 57, Bakersfield Christian 54: Hunter Caplan led Crean Lutheran with 19 points.
St. Bernard 91, Verbum Dei 50: Josh Palmer scored 33 points and Caleb Versher 20 points for St. Bernard.