HS HOOPS: Cool ending: H.W. comes back as Loyola loses its touch

For nearly 26 minutes, undefeated Loyola High of Los Angeles was shooting the lights out at Harvard-Westlake of Studio City. Every time the host Wolverines would pull close, Loyola would make a key shot to spark another run to lead by as many as 10 points.

Then something odd happened. The visiting Cubs forgot how to put the ball in the basket, failing to convert a field goal over the final six minutes, 22 seconds, as Harvard-Westlake rallied for a 74-70 Mission League boys' basketball victory Monday before a roaring overflow crowd that celebrated by storming the court.

The result: Loyola (14-1, 3-1) is undefeated no more, and Harvard-Westlake (11-4, 3-0) finds itself in first place.

"I never lost faith," said Harvard-Westlake's Erik Swoope, who scored 33 points and totaled eight rebounds.

"We're like a family. I had complete confidence we were going to pull it out."

After winning 14 in a row to start the season, Loyola learned what it feels like on the other side.

"We just got cold. We couldn't buy a shot," Loyola's Julian Harrell said. "Of course it's tough to lose for the first time. You always want a perfect season. You can't win them all, but I've got to give Harvard-Westlake credit. They were ballin', and we stopped attacking the basket and settled for jump shots."

Nate Bulluck scored on a driving layup to give Harvard-Westlake its first lead, 67-65, with just over two minutes remaining.

With 36 seconds left, Loyola's Miles Cartwright hit a free throw to cut the lead to 71-70, but Swoope answered with a fast-break layup off an assist from Austin Kelly, followed by a free throw by Damien Cain with six seconds left.

Loyola missed two 3-pointers in the final seconds.

Cain finished with nine points, 18 rebounds and six blocks. Bulluck added 14 points, and Kelly had 13 points and seven assists.

Cartwright scored 25 points for Loyola, and Ryan Oliver added 14 points (including four 3-pointers), and Herald had 11 points, seven rebounds and three assists.

With Harvard-Westlake trailing by eight points with six minutes left, Loyola's 6-foot-10 Tony Wroblicky went to the bench with his fourth foul, and that proved a key turning point. His foul put Harvard-Westlake in the bonus, and the Wolverines hit four free throws over the next two minutes.

Once Wroblicky took a seat, Swoope scored 11 points down the stretch.

After starting the season 2-4, Harvard-Westlake has won nine in a row.

Of Loyola's 14 consecutive victories coming in, 11 were by 15 points or more.

The Cubs have won three section titles, the last in 2003. Harvard-Westlake has won eight section titles,
-- Gerry Gittelson

Loyola 18-18-20-14-70
H.W. 14-15-21-24-74
Loyola: Miles Cartwright 25, Ryan Oliver 14, Harrell 11, Young 7, Wroblicky 6, Stein 5, Childress 2.
HW: Erik Swoope 33, Bulluck 14, Kelly 13 and seven assists, Cain 9 and 18 rebounds and six blocks, Barnum 3, Burton 2.
R: L 14-1, 3-1; HW 11-4, 3-0