Leron Black did it again.
The 6-foot-7 rebounding dynamo scored nine points in a pivotal second quarter and finished with 22 points as White Station (Tenn.) overwhelmed Westchester (Calif.) 65-41 on Saturday in the final of the ‘Iolani Classic.
Despite playing in just two games, Black was selected the most outstanding player. Chris Chiozza, the near-flawless point guard, was picked most valuable player. Black also grabbed 10 rebounds in the title game — one night after a 20-rebound performance in the semifinals — and was named the most outstanding player of the tournament.
Without Black, the athletic, quick Spartans were notably different in the first two games. They came to the tourney ranked No. 7 nationally by MaxPreps and looked every bit the part with their aggressor on the floor.
Nych Smith tallied 10 points and Curtis Phillips added eight for the visitors from Memphis.
The Spartans were dominant for much of the night on the defensive end, taking the hot Comets of Westchester out of any kind of flow. Black, Davell Roby (6-5) and LaDarius Coleman (6-6) patrolled the paint while Chiozza led a pesky backcourt.
Westchester shot 1-for-9 in the opening quarter but was down just 13-7 before Black took over in the key. He hit a follow shot and a layup, then took a lob from Roby for a rim-rocking dunk.
White Station finished the half with an 11-0 run, getting a follow tip-in by Dalvin Foster at the buzzer.
Layon Gooden led Westchester, of Los Angeles, with 11 points.
The Comets got no closer than 15 the rest of the way in a game that never felt like a championship battle.
"I feel like we played real well," said Black, who missed the first two games of the tourney due to a suspension. "We’ve been playing together since we were 14 and won the state title."
Coach Jesus Patino’s team got its closest challenge, 56-51, from Mount Vernon (N.Y.) in the quarterfinals, though West Linn (Ore.) provided a scare in the semifinals before falling to the Spartans 66-54.