After routing Beverly Hills for its first Ocean League victory the Santa Monica High boys basketball team appeared to be back on track.
But on Friday night, January 23, the Vikings absorbed a surprising defeat, leaving them with a 1-3 record in league play.
Culver City, which had an 0-3 league record, came into the Samohi gym and emerged with a 52-46 victory.
Samohi led by one point after three quarters but Marquel Carter, Culver City’s star quarterback during football season, scored eight quick points. He made a three-point shot, stole the ball and made a layup, then hit another three-pointer.
“We’ve struggled here in the past and Santa Monica usually does something different or better in the second half,” said Culver City Coach Jon Chapman. “But it didn’t happen this time.
“We shot well and played defense as well as we have all season.”
Two night earlier Samohi went to Beverly Hills and won, 74-28. Now Inglewood and Morningside have 4-0 league records., Hawthorne is 2-2 and Culver City and Santa Monica are tied for fourth place.
