JD Wyatt’s 35 points propelled the Poly Parrots to a 66-53 victory against the No. 1-seeded Granada Hills Highlanders Wednesday evening, setting up an all East Valley League final against Grant in the LA City Section Division 1 Playoffs.

Backed by a lively band of travelling support, the fifth-seeded Parrots held the lead they took in the first quarter throughout the entire game to secure their 14th consecutive win.

“For our crowd to be there at an away game means a lot,” said JD Wyatt. “That really motivated us to get that win.”

After a rough beginning to the game, Quian Khawaja got the ball rolling for the Parrots, scoring five straight for Poly to keep them in the game. A catalog of missed shots from the Highlanders allowed the Poly to take the lead with a 14-0 run. Khawaja would end the quarter as he started it, draining a three with just seconds on the clock to give his team a 19-8 lead.

“I think everything was a component,” said Highlanders head coach Jonathan Bent. “Environment was something that we’re gonna have to survive, right? We didn’t do a good job surviving the environment, so I think that’s where the nerves came in.”

Granada Hills mounted a comeback attempt in the second quarter, cutting their 11 point deficit to just five, but were unable to keep JD Wyatt away from the charity stripe. Seven of his 13 points during the second quarter came from the free throw line.

“If [JD Wyatt] is jumping, we’re behind him,” said Bent. “It’s a foul every time. He had great body control, made his free throws.”

Poly headed into the break with a 33-23 lead, restoring their double-digit lead just before halftime.

The Highlanders came into the third quarter much like they did in the second, erasing the Parrots lead and bringing them within one possession of the lead before Poly could score. The competitors went back and forth for a couple possessions before JD Wyatt pulled his team away once again, scoring a long three just before the buzzer sounded to end the quarter.

“We knew they were gonna try to make a run,” said Parrots head coach Joe Wyatt. “We just said we had to match their energy when we came out. They came out, had a little run and we came down and matched them shot for shot.”

In an attempt to find a way back into the game, the Highlanders turned to freshman guard Jacob Reyes, whose gritty defensive plays and four points in the quarter brought Granada Hills within two possessions of the Parrots.

“He has no fear, no fear,” said Bent. “He was beating himself up after the game, man, but he was great. He was excellent. For him, that’s just a little taste.We’re excited for what he can potentially bring down the line.”

Any chances of a comeback were squashed, however, as JD Wyatt caught fire in the fourth. After draining two momentum shifting threes earlier in the quarter, JD Wyatt scored 11 points including a fastbreak dunk – a dagger which sent the sea of Poly supporters behind their bench into a frenzy.

“We made a surge, but it’s hard when you’re chasing the whole game,” said Bent. “It’s hard, and then obviously [Khawaja], [JD Wyatt], they’re great players. They’re great players.”

Poly will meet Grant in the final Mar. 1 at 4:00 at Pasadena City College, looking to beat them for a third time this season.

“It’s tough playing a team three times, but I think we should get them,” said JD Wyatt. “We just have to stick to our gameplan, don’t let them rush us.”