Ethan Hill wasn't feeling good, but that didn't stop him from playing an important role in Brentwood's 70-60 win over rival Crossroads.
Brentwood's Ethan Hill was so sick before Monday night's basketball game against Crossroads that he searched for an open urgent care to give him an IV.
By the game's end, when Brentwood came back from an 11-point deficit to defeat rival Crossroads 70-60, the 6-foot-7 Hill was using all of his final energy to dance with the delirious student section that got loud and boisterous and helped inspire the Eagles' rally.
"I feel horrible," Hill said as he rested on the floor of the team room afterward blowing his noise. "I'm so fatigued."
Somehow, he played the entire fourth quarter and made five consecutive free throws to help hand Crossroads its first Gold Coast League loss.
Final. Brentwood 70, Crossroads 60. pic.twitter.com/3uyQgoUdjF
— eric sondheimer (@latsondheimer) January 27, 2026
One hero for Brentwood was junior guard AJ Okoh. He finished with 24 points. Crossroads (14-11, 5-1) could not stop him from driving in the second half.
"One of the best point guards in the country," Brentwood coach Ryan Bailey said. "He doesn't back down from anyone."
Brentwood (22-3, 4-1) lost to Crossroads 72-56 on Jan. 9 in one of its worst performances of the season. This time, the Eagles, in front of their home crowd, were determined not to let their former player, Shalen Sheppard, get out of the gym with a win.
AJ Okoh three. Brentwood down seven. pic.twitter.com/wYJsy62tZd
— eric sondheimer (@latsondheimer) January 27, 2026
The emotions twice resulted in technical fouls against Brentwood players for taunting. At the end of the game when the buzzer sounded, officials ejected Sheppard and Brentwood's Ryan Howard when they got into a little wrestling match. Crossroads, which starts four sophomores, received 16 points from Evan Willis and 14 from Sheppard.
Brentwood fell behind 32-23 at halftime. That caused Bailey to give a fiery halftime talk.
"I was proud how they fought," Bailey said. "We had a little halftime speech and they responded and the home crowd was phenomenal."
Augustus Sugarman aided the comeback with two three-pointers and two free throws in the fourth quarter. There were seven lead changes to start the fourth quarter until Brentwood pulled away.
This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Category: General Sports
