For Paez, Cleveland Is Not a Nice Place to Visit

Marc Paez used to coach the boys’ basketball team at Cleveland High in Reseda. He left the job after last season to take over at Banning.

Friday night at 7:30, the two teams meet in the first round of the L.A. City Section 4-A Division playoffs, bringing Paez back to Cleveland to play the North Valley League champions.

If anybody knows the Cleveland players, it’s Paez.

“I haven’t talked to any of them since the season started,” Paez said. “But I know (forward) Brandon Martin is one of the best players in the City as a junior. He has no weaknesses. He is similar to Jabari Anderson in the kind of threat he is. He poses a big threat. And their point guard, Ken Collier, is as quick a player as there is in the City.”

This extended scouting report might help Banning (5-18), which placed last in the four-team Pacific League and is a longshot to get past the first round despite having the City’s leading scorer. The 6-foot-3 Anderson is averaging 36 points.

“Unfortunately, we are balanced too,” Paez said in a deadpan manner. “Jabari gets 35 points and everyone else gets six.”

However, third-seeded Cleveland (19-5) is playing without 6-5 forward Kayeed Murray, who was ruled academically ineligible last week. Cleveland has gone 1-1 since he was sidelined.

“We would need Jabari to get his 35 or 40, and for everyone else to step up a level to have a chance,” Paez said.

Following are the other first-round L.A. City 4-A games involving area teams. All games are at 7:30 p.m. Friday:

Dorsey (7-16) at Westchester (18-7)--Westchester Coach Ed Azzam hopes to muscle his way through the playoffs. The Comets’ starting lineup averages 6-4. Center LeRoi O’Brien (6-8) solidifies the Comets’ half-court defense. Azzam also can go to sixth man Monty Cotwright, a 6-9 junior. Guard James Gray provides balance from the outside. Dorsey will rely on center Juan Harris and guard Lynell Wiggins to try and stop the City’s fifth-ranked team.

Kennedy (9-14) at Carson (15-9)--Fourth-seeded Carson tied San Pedro for the Pacific League title and won a coin flip to gain the league’s top entry into the playoffs. Coach Richard Masson said he will vary defenses, mixing a match-up zone with a man-to-man scheme. Forward Rudy Washington and guard Tyrone Smith provide the bulk of the scoring. Carson started the season pressing, but has now switched to a slower, half-court game.

Narbonne (9-13) at Washington (19-4)--Narbonne Coach Bob Hoppes knows that if his team cannot handle Washington’s full-court pressure, his team will be blown out quickly. However, if the guards can get the ball to forward D’Mitri Rideout (22.4 points), Narbonne might have a chance to be competitive. Also, Washington is playing without 6-7 center Barnabas James, who is academically ineligible. The Generals are 0-2 since he was sidelined, including an 84-78 loss Tuesday to San Pedro that would have given them a share of the Southern League title and a shot at the No. 1 seed.

Granada Hills (18-5) at San Pedro (20-5)--San Pedro does not start a player taller than 6-3. But their backcourt of 5-7 Gary Herrera and 5-8 Devon Hamilton is averaging 10 three-point baskets a game. Inside, 6-3 forward Jerry Wells does a competent job and leads San Pedro in scoring. The Pirates are expected to utilize a full-court press if they fall behind Granada Hills, the North Valley League third-place finisher.