Boys’ basketball: Football players join teams

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Basketball coaches are always keeping their fingers crossed during football season that players won’t get injured, and those football teams eliminated from playoff consideration on Friday helped out lots of basketball coaches who had players playing multiple sports.

Two basketball programs who should benefit most from early football exits are Encino Crespi and Los Angeles Loyola. Crespi’s basketballl team could get as many as eight varsity football players out for practice this week. Loyola should pick up tight end John Young, a UCLA football commit.

Coaches with lots of basketball players on the football team usually delay their season openers as long as possible. Crespi doesn’t open its season until Dec. 7. Most teams begin the week of Nov. 30.

-- Eric Sondheimer