L.A. Baptist Shuns Conservative Ways

When you talk about boys’ basketball in the Alpha League this season, you need talk about only one team.

“L.A. Baptist is heads and tails above the rest of the league,” Village Christian Coach Brian Gibson said.

The defending league champion Knights have employed first-year Coach Bob Chevalier’s up-tempo style of play and are not expected to face much of a challenge in league, much the same way they have not faced much of a challenge in winning 10 of their first 11 games.

Chevalier served as an assistant under longtime Knight Coach Maury Neville since 1984. Before that he played for Neville at L.A. Baptist.

Surprising then, that Chevalier’s style differs so greatly from Neville’s, an Indiana native who preaches half-court basketball.

“It’s just my style to run,” Chevalier said. “I’m an L.A. born and raised basketball fan. The easier the baskets the better. I sat next to [Neville] for 10 years and learned so much from him. My style is just different.”

Different, but it works.

L.A. Baptist has averaged 75 points a game and its victories have come by a average margin of 17 points. The Knights have entered three tournaments and reached the final in all three. They won the Fillmore tournament, finished second in the Valencia tournament and played in their tournament final Saturday night.

Jermaine Sweet, a 6-foot all-league senior guard, was the team’s leading scorer averaging 16.1 points last season and is averaging more than 25 points a game this season. He owns the school record with 40 points in a game.

Aaron Davis, a 6-1 all-league guard, and 6-5 center Amir Law also are averaging in double figures.

Point guard Ara Veney is the school’s all-time assist leader and guard Tim Maynard has been solid all season.

The knock on L.A. Baptist has been its schedule. The Knights have not played any teams ranked in the Times’ Top 10, nor are they scheduled to. But L.A. Baptist, a school of fewer than 500 students, has defeated Granada Hills and Canyon, schools of more than 2,000 students.

“There’s some truth to that,” Chevalier said of the claim that his schedule is easy. “We just play the schedule we made last year. I’m not claiming we should be ranked, but I also think we’re not getting enough respect.”

The Knights should cruise through the Alpha League because no other team in that league will be able to match their talent.

Marshall, last year’s runner-up, lost its top three players and has a new coach.

Village Christian, the third-place team a year ago, lost its top two scorers.

Frazier Mountain, a newcomer to the league, and Vasquez, in its second season, are expected to struggle for victories.

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AT A GLANCE

* THE PROVEN: Jermaine Sweet and Aaron Davis were all-league selections for L.A. Baptist last season. Point guard Ara Veney of L.A. Baptist was second in the Southern Section with 185 assists last season. Derek Dawson, a 6-foot-1 junior guard, led Maranatha in scoring last season with 19 points a game. Village Christian’s Matt Thorpe, a 6-3 forward who was an all-league selection last season, is averaging 17 points and seven rebounds.

* THE PROMISING: Village Christian’s Ryan Vivian has helped fill in at the Crusaders’ depleted guard positions. Vasquez guard Joel Roberson averaged 13 points in his first varsity season last year. Senior Amir Law has emerged a force in the post for L.A. Baptist.

* FAST FACT: L.A. Baptist’s up-tempo play benefits Davis, the Alpha League’s 100-meter track champion.