Chatsworth boys basketball loses battle with Westchester in City Open Division final
LOS ANGELES — Chatsworth’s Alijah Arenas stood in front of Westchester forward Tajh Ariza, arms spread wide. Ariza’s eyes were somewhere else, though. He maintained an aggressive stance, then fed the ball to Jordan Ballard, who swiftly reached for a layup.
The Comets used this chemistry throughout the evening but it peaked with a scoring run in the third quarter. The burst of offense allowed Westchester to beat Chatsworth, 65-55, in the CIF L.A. City Section Open Division boys basketball final Friday evening.
Westchester wins 65-55 against Chatsworth in the CIF L.A. City Section Open Division boys basketball final at Los Angeles Southwest College on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Chatsworth wins the lose ball during their 55:65 loss against Westchester in the CIF L.A. City Section Open Division boys basketball final at Los Angeles Southwest College on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Westchester’s Tajh Ariza drives to the basket against Chatsworth in the L.A. City Section Open Division boys basketball final at Los Angeles Southwest College on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Chatsworth’s Alijah Arenas wins the rebound against Westchester’s Jordan Ballard in the CIF L.A. City Section Open Division boys basketball final at Los Angeles Southwest College on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Westchester’s Tajh Ariza drives to the basket against Chatsworth in the L.A. City Section Open Division boys basketball final at Los Angeles Southwest College on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Westchester’s Gary Ferguson wins the fight for the lose ball against Chatsworth in the L.A. City Section Open Division boys basketball final at Los Angeles Southwest College on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Westchester wins 65-55 against Chatsworth in the CIF L.A. City Section Open Division boys basketball final at Los Angeles Southwest College on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Westchester wins 65-55 against Chatsworth in the CIF L.A. City Section Open Division boys basketball final at Los Angeles Southwest College on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)-
Westchester wins 65-55 against Chatsworth in the CIF L.A. City Section Open Division boys basketball final at Los Angeles Southwest College on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Westchester wins 65-55 against Chatsworth in the CIF L.A. City Section Open Division boys basketball final at Los Angeles Southwest College on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Westchester’s Jordan Ballard drives to the basket against Chatsworth in the L.A. City Section Open Division boys basketball final at Los Angeles Southwest College on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Westchester’s Tajh Ariza drives to the basket against Chatsworth in the L.A. City Section Open Division boys basketball final at Los Angeles Southwest College on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Westchester wins 65-55 against Chatsworth in the CIF L.A. City Section Open Division boys basketball final at Los Angeles Southwest College on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Westchester’s Gary Ferguson passes the ball against Chatsworth in the L.A. City Section Open Division boys basketball final at Los Angeles Southwest College on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Westchester’s Jordan Ballard drives to the basket against Chatsworth in the L.A. City Section Open Division boys basketball final at Los Angeles Southwest College on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Westchester’s Tajh Ariza drives to the basket against Chatsworth in the L.A. City Section Open Division boys basketball final at Los Angeles Southwest College on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Westchester’s Tajh Ariza drives to the basket against Chatsworth in the L.A. City Section Open Division boys basketball final at Los Angeles Southwest College on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Westchester wins 65-55 against Chatsworth in the CIF L.A. City Section Open Division boys basketball final at Los Angeles Southwest College on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
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Westchester wins 65-55 against Chatsworth in the CIF L.A. City Section Open Division boys basketball final at Los Angeles Southwest College on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
“There were two teams left in the City and we were one of them,” Chatsworth head coach Sam Harris said. “It didn’t feel good. We made some bonehead plays down the stretch and it got the best of us.”
Arenas scored 14 points in the fourth quarter for a total of 33 points in front of a standing-room crowd at L.A. Southwest College. Cheerleaders had to be moved off of the bleachers to accommodate the 1,600 ticket holders.
Taj Unuakhalu added 12 points for the Chancellors (22-8) and Caleb Gore chipped in 10 points.
Ariza scored 21 points for Westchester (22-9).
Chatsworth, which was appearing in its first championship game since 2021, will still compete in the CIF State playoffs. Brackets will be released on Sunday afternoon.
“Last year we lost in the semifinals and we ended up in the state championship,” Harris said. “Just the same objective. We’ve got state and we’re going to try to make a run that way.”
The score rested at 28-28 at halftime but Westchester went on an 11-0 scoring run to pull ahead 41-30 in the third quarter. Ariza was the primary scoring threat while Ballard, who previously played for Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks, was often freed up to make his own moves.
“We didn’t say anything, but Alijah’s been struggling with his knee,” Harris said. “He wasn’t right, so that took a big hit defensively because he’s such a big guard and so dynamic on defense. We had to shift things around.”
Arenas, a USC commit and McDonald’s All-American, suffered the injury during the semifinal matchup against Palisades and was expected to be healthy for the finals.
Westchester controlled the game early, starting with the opening tip. Ballard went in for a layup in the first 30 seconds before Arenas went up and over a defender for a layup and Chatsworth’s first points of the game before the clock had reached the 7-minute mark.
Arenas made long and short passes to teammates while taking care of the ball himself and even throwing down the night’s first dunk after a bounce pass through the paint from Telekom Philips. Arenas had 13 points in the first half.
“I don’t have to say anything to him,” Harris said of Arenas. “He knows the magnitude of it. He’s developing and becoming a lot better on defense. He was ready for it.”
Westchester led 15-12 at the end of the opening frame but Chatsworth was able to tie the game at 28-all by halftime. Caleb Gore made his shot and the and-one free throw after to even the score with 1:23 left on the clock.
Chatsworth lost in the Open Division semifinals last season before going on to reach the CIF State Division IV championship game. Harris has faith that the Chancellors can do it again.
“I’m proud of the guys,” he said. “They fought, they battled. They’re one of the better teams we’ve had at Chatsworth. Our first time in the Open Division (finals), so that’s something to be proud of.”
