LeBron Erupts for 52 as SVSM Rips Westchester

TRENTON, N.J. -- After serving a one game suspension last Sunday, LeBron James (right) made up for lost time by erupting for 52 points on Saturday night as St. Vincent-St. Mary (OH)coasted to a 78-52 victory over Westchester H.S. of Los Angeles (CA) on Saturday night at the Prime Time Shootout.

James was stunningly efficient en route to his 52 point effort. He knocked down 6 of 11 three pointers, and 21 of 32 shots from the floor overall. Simply put, he couldn't be guarded, hitting a variety of fadeaway jumpers from all spots on the floor and doing his usual handiwork in transition and on the glass.

When Westchester bolted out to a 6-2 lead out of the gate that included throw downs by sophomore swingman Marcus Johnson and 6-8 UCLA bound forward Trevor Ariza, it looked as if the Fighting Irish might be in for a battle.

But James put any of that notion to rest, scoring 33 first half points as St. Vincent-St. Mary blew out to a 41-24 lead at the break.

When James opened the second half with back to back slams off steals, it was clear that the Comets were in for a long evening.

The only suspense concerned whether James could eclipse the 50 point plateau. That was answered in the fourth quarter, when James hit a free throw to reach 50 and then a fadeaway jumper at the 3:37 mark for his 52nd point and a 78-43 Irish lead.

Not surprisingly, no other SVSM player hit for double figures. Cory Jones came the closest, hitting a trio of three point baskets on the way to nine points.

Ariza and forward Scott Cutley (Kent State), who took turns trying to guard LeBron, led the Comets with 12 and six points, respectively. Guard Bobby Brown also added 10 for Westchester.