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Boys’ basketball: La Verne Lutheran takes 35-32 lead

Los Angeles Times staff writer Ben Bolch
By Ben Bolch
Staff WriterFollow

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BAKERSFIELD--This may not break a record for the lowest-scoring state championship, but it is shaping up to have one of the best finishes.

La Verne Lutheran took a 33-32 lead on a floater by Carl Cooper with 55 seconds left, and after Ross Branson’s Tyler Gaffaney airballed a three-point attempt, the Bulls had to foul Kevin Payne. Payne made both free throws to give the Trojans a 35-32 lead with 25 seconds remaining.

Adam Boone missed a three-point attempt, but the Bulls got the rebound and have one more shot with 10 seconds to go.

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--Ben Bolch

Varsity Times Insider
Ben Bolch

Ben Bolch has been a Los Angeles Times staff writer since 1999. He is serving his second stint as the UCLA beat writer, which seems fitting since he has covered almost every sports beat except hockey and horse racing. Bolch is also the author of the recently released book “100 Things UCLA Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die.” He previously covered UCLA basketball from 2010-11 before going on to cover the NBA and the Clippers for five years. He happily traded in gobs of hotel points and airline miles to return to cover UCLA basketball and football in the summer of 2016. Bolch was once selected by NBA TV’s “The Starters” as the “Worst of the Week” after questioning their celebrity journalism-style questions at an NBA All-Star game and considers it one of his finer moments.

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