Chatsworth boys basketball loses battle with Westchester in City Open Division final

LOS ANGELES Chatsworths Alijah Arenas stood in front of Westchester forward Tajh Ariza, arms spread wide.

Arizas eyes were somewhere else, though.

He maintained an aggressive stance, then fed the ball to Jordan Ballard, who swiftly reached for a layup.The Comets used this chemistry throughout the evening but it peaked with a scoring run in the third quarter.

The burst of offense allowed Westchester to beat Chatsworth, 65-55, in the CIF L.A.

City Section Open Division boys basketball final Friday evening.Westchester wins 65-55 against Chatsworth in the CIF L.A.

City Section Open Division boys basketball final at Los Angeles Southwest College on Friday, Feb.

28, 2025.

(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)Chatsworth wins the lose ball during their 55:65 loss against Westchester in the CIF L.A.

City Section Open Division boys basketball final at Los Angeles Southwest College on Friday, Feb.

28, 2025.

(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)Westchesters Tajh Ariza drives to the basket against Chatsworth in the L.A.

City Section Open Division boys basketball final at Los Angeles Southwest College on Friday, Feb.

28, 2025.

(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)Chatsworths Alijah Arenas wins the rebound against Westchesters Jordan Ballard in the CIF L.A.

City Section Open Division boys basketball final at Los Angeles Southwest College on Friday, Feb.

28, 2025.

(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)Westchesters Tajh Ariza drives to the basket against Chatsworth in the L.A.

City Section Open Division boys basketball final at Los Angeles Southwest College on Friday, Feb.

28, 2025.

(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)Westchesters Gary Ferguson wins the fight for the lose ball against Chatsworth in the L.A.

City Section Open Division boys basketball final at Los Angeles Southwest College on Friday, Feb.

28, 2025.

(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)Westchester wins 65-55 against Chatsworth in the CIF L.A.

City Section Open Division boys basketball final at Los Angeles Southwest College on Friday, Feb.

28, 2025.

(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)Westchester wins 65-55 against Chatsworth in the CIF L.A.

City Section Open Division boys basketball final at Los Angeles Southwest College on Friday, Feb.

28, 2025.

(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)-Westchester wins 65-55 against Chatsworth in the CIF L.A.

City Section Open Division boys basketball final at Los Angeles Southwest College on Friday, Feb.

28, 2025.

(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)Westchester wins 65-55 against Chatsworth in the CIF L.A.

City Section Open Division boys basketball final at Los Angeles Southwest College on Friday, Feb.

28, 2025.

(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)Westchesters Jordan Ballard drives to the basket against Chatsworth in the L.A.

City Section Open Division boys basketball final at Los Angeles Southwest College on Friday, Feb.

28, 2025.

(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)Westchesters Tajh Ariza drives to the basket against Chatsworth in the L.A.

City Section Open Division boys basketball final at Los Angeles Southwest College on Friday, Feb.

28, 2025.

(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)Westchester wins 65-55 against Chatsworth in the CIF L.A.

City Section Open Division boys basketball final at Los Angeles Southwest College on Friday, Feb.

28, 2025.

(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)Westchesters Gary Ferguson passes the ball against Chatsworth in the L.A.

City Section Open Division boys basketball final at Los Angeles Southwest College on Friday, Feb.

28, 2025.

(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)Westchesters Jordan Ballard drives to the basket against Chatsworth in the L.A.

City Section Open Division boys basketball final at Los Angeles Southwest College on Friday, Feb.

28, 2025.

(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)Westchesters Tajh Ariza drives to the basket against Chatsworth in the L.A.

City Section Open Division boys basketball final at Los Angeles Southwest College on Friday, Feb.

28, 2025.

(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)Westchesters Tajh Ariza drives to the basket against Chatsworth in the L.A.

City Section Open Division boys basketball final at Los Angeles Southwest College on Friday, Feb.

28, 2025.

(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)Westchester wins 65-55 against Chatsworth in the CIF L.A.

City Section Open Division boys basketball final at Los Angeles Southwest College on Friday, Feb.

28, 2025.

(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)Show Caption1 of 18Westchester wins 65-55 against Chatsworth in the CIF L.A.

City Section Open Division boys basketball final at Los Angeles Southwest College on Friday, Feb.

28, 2025.

(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)ExpandThere were two teams left in the City and we were one of them, Chatsworth head coach Sam Harris said.

It didnt feel good.

We made some bonehead plays down the stretch and it got the best of us.Arenas scored 14 points in the fourth quarter for a total of 33 points in front of a standing-room crowd at L.A.

Southwest College.

Cheerleaders had to be moved off of the bleachers to accommodate the 1,600 ticket holders.Taj Unuakhalu added 12 points for the Chancellors (22-8) and Caleb Gore chipped in 10 points.Ariza scored 21 points for Westchester (22-9).Chatsworth, which was appearing in its first championship game since 2021, will still compete in the CIF State playoffs.

Brackets will be released on Sunday afternoon.Last year we lost in the semifinals and we ended up in the state championship, Harris said.

Just the same objective.

Weve got state and were going to try to make a run that way.The score rested at 28-28 at halftime but Westchester went on an 11-0 scoring run to pull ahead 41-30 in the third quarter.

Ariza was the primary scoring threat while Ballard, who previously played for Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks, was often freed up to make his own moves.We didnt say anything, but Alijahs been struggling with his knee, Harris said.

He wasnt right, so that took a big hit defensively because hes such a big guard and so dynamic on defense.

We had to shift things around.Arenas, a USC commit and McDonalds All-American, suffered the injury during the semifinal matchup against Palisades and was expected to be healthy for the finals.Westchester controlled the game early, starting with the opening tip.

Ballard went in for a layup in the first 30 seconds before Arenas went up and over a defender for a layup and Chatsworths first points of the game before the clock had reached the 7-minute mark.Arenas made long and short passes to teammates while taking care of the ball himself and even throwing down the nights first dunk after a bounce pass through the paint from Telekom Philips.

Arenas had 13 points in the first half.

@haleymsawyer Alijah Arenas throws down the first dunk of the game but Chatsworth boys basketball still trails Westchester 15-12 at the end of the first quarter in the CIF L.A.

City Section Open Division championships.

#dunk #journalism #reporter #sports #sportsreporter #basketball #highschoolbasketball #sanfernandovalley #818 #818valley original sound Haley Sawyer I dont have to say anything to him, Harris said of Arenas.

He knows the magnitude of it.

Hes developing and becoming a lot better on defense.

He was ready for it.Related ArticlesHigh School Sports | Banning girls basketball overwhelms San Fernando in final quarter to win City Division II crownHigh School Sports | Harbor Teacher Prep girls basketball defeats Sylmar for first City Section championshipHigh School Sports | Hot shooting carries Pilibos past La Mirada in Division 4A girls basketball finalHigh School Sports | Daily News previews of the CIF-SS, L.A.

City boys and girls basketball finalsHigh School Sports | Daily News high school basketball: Championship schedule for CIF-SS, City teamsWestchester led 15-12 at the end of the opening frame but Chatsworth was able to tie the game at 28-all by halftime.

Caleb Gore made his shot and the and-one free throw after to even the score with 1:23 left on the clock.Chatsworth lost in the Open Division semifinals last season before going on to reach the CIF State Division IV championship game.

Harris has faith that the Chancellors can do it again.Im proud of the guys, he said.

They fought, they battled.

Theyre one of the better teams weve had at Chatsworth.

Our first time in the Open Division (finals), so thats something to be proud of..

This article has been shared from the original article on dailynews_com, here is the link to the original article.