SHERMAN OAKS — “Huge, huge.”
That was the word Harvard-Westlake boys basketball coach David Rebibo first used to describe Isaiah Carroll’s performance Friday night.
The senior wing scored 18 points and made four 3-pointers in Harvard-Westlake’s 73-63 victory against Mission League foe Notre Dame, but it wasn’t just his scoring that made the difference in the game.
Carroll made several impact plays throughout the contest, like skying for an offensive rebound and tip-in to end the first half and hitting a corner 3-pointer to quell Notre Dame’s momentum amid a fourth-quarter comeback attempt.
On one play in the first half, he outjumped Notre Dame’s Tyran Stokes for an offensive rebound and found Barron Linnekens as he was falling out of bounds for an easy bucket.
Carroll battled on both sides of the glass, pulling down 11 rebounds in thunderous fashion, and added three steals to complete an all-around effort.
“He’s an impact player. He’s a winner. He’s as dynamic a player as we’ve coached,” Rebibo said. “And he’s just scratching the surface. I don’t think people realize, he only started playing basketball about sixth grade. He was a baseball/basketball kid and then committed (to basketball) and the sky’s the limit.”
“Rebounding, defense, effort, those predicate my game,” Carroll said, “and the rest will take care of itself. I was doing all those things and the shots were just falling tonight. The shots, the highlights, that’s all that. But those little plays, those are what won us this game. Offensive rebounds, extra possessions, those are all things that win you a game, win you a championship game.”
Harvard-Westlake (22-1, 4-0) got out to a blistering start, outscoring Notre Dame (18-4, 3-1) 29-7 in the first quarter.
An impressive team defensive effort helped the Wolverines maintain their double-digit advantage through the first three quarters. However, Stokes and Notre Dame were able to piece together a late comeback.
But once again Carroll stepped up, hitting a 3-pointer that halted Notre Dame’s fourth-quarter counter when the Knights brought the score within single digits.
“It was a 10-point game at the end,” Carroll said. “Basketball is a game of runs. It’s just about staying disciplined during it and how you respond to it. We stayed disciplined. We stayed poised. And you know, that’s all you can do.”
Nikolas Khamenia finished with 18 points and seven rebounds and Joe Sterling added 18 points for Harvard-Westlake.
Stokes led Notre Dame with 26 points and NaVorro Bowman had 16 points.
Lino Mark, who returned to action earlier this week for Notre Dame after missing three weeks due to injury, started the game but left in the middle of the first quarter. He did not return.
The two teams could potentially meet again in the Mission League Tournament to close the regular season.
Harvard-Westlake will host Sierra Canyon on Tuesday, with first place in the Mission League on the line. Sierra Canyon (18-3, 4-0) defeated St. Francis 77-48 on Friday.
Notre Dame will be on the road Tuesday against Chaminade.