Boys’ basketball: A sleeping giant has awaken at Gardena Serra

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

Lack of chemistry, unselfishness, failure to execute _ there were all kinds of issues going on at Gardena Serra this season.

But Coach Dwan Hurt kept holding team meetings, kept talking and somehow, the Cavaliers got their act together and won the Southern Section 4AA championship.

‘Finally, a couple words got through,’ he said.

Now Serra (25-6) is seeded No. 1 for the Division IV state playoffs as it bids for a third state title under Hurt.

It has been an interesting year. One of Serra’s best players, Chris Sandifer, a transfer from Price, left the team earlier in the season and checked out of Serra on Monday.

Ajon Efferson, a transfer from Pasadena, has become a key figure in the Cavaliers’ rise after learning how to play with returning point guard Ellis Salahuddin. Perhaps their acceptance of each other has been most important in fueling the Cavaliers’ resurgence.

‘Ellis started to believe in himself,’ Hurt said.

Tavrion Dawson, a 6-foot-7 junior, has been Serra’s most consistent player all season.

If Serra is going to make it to Sacramento, it probably will have to figure out how to beat rival Bishop Montgomery. Serra is 0-2 against the Knights this season, but their 72-66 loss on Jan. 30 turned out to be a positive development. That’s when the Cavaliers began their turnaround. The ‘light bulb’ started coming on, Hurt said.

‘I continue to talk to them about buying into the system,’ Hurt said.

-- Eric Sondheimer