LAS VEGAS – Wednesday’s opening round of action set the table for some high-powered quarterfinal action Thursday during the Platinum Division of the third Tarkanian Classic at Bishop Gorman High.
That competition gets underway at 12:30 in the afternoon in the school’s “main” gymnasium, with the Southern California matchup of Redondo Beach Redondo Union and Chino Hills.
Redondo (which knocked off Philadelphia Constitution Wednesday, 72-64) and Chino Hills (84-73 over San Diego-based Foothills Christian) played in the California Interscholastic Southern Section Division Open semifinals on March 4.
Chino Hills prevailed, 70-61, and then fell to eventual national champion Santa Ana Mater Dei four nights later in the championship game, 48-44.
The Huskies are led by siblings Lonzo (a 6-5 junior who is committed to UCLA) and LiAngelo Ball (a 6-4 sophomore) with Redondo featuring two of the better underclassmen in this event in 6-2 junior Leland Green and 6-9 sophomore Billy Preston.
The second tilt, at 1:50, has Corona (CA) Centennial taking on West Linn (OR).
Centennial, led by SMU-bound point guard Sed Barefield, pounded Las Vegas Clark Wednesday, 76-50.
West Linn (64-49 over Utah’s Lone Peak Wednesday) has a terrific backcourt in New Mexico-bound Anthony Mathis and junior Payton Prichard, which helped the team win a state title last March.
The host Gaels (74-57 over Los Angeles Windward Wednesday) and their potent post punch of Chase Jeter and Stephen Zimmerman will be challenged by one of the region’s best big juniors, 6-9 De’Ron Davis, and his Aurora (CO) Overland teammates at 5:50.
Overland outlasted Bountiful of Utah Wednesday, 63-53.
And in the division’s final quarterfinal Thursday, Plano (TX) Prestonwood Christian Academy hooks up with Putnam City (OK) West at 7:10.
PCA held off Pasadena (CA) Maranatha and its terrific guard Tyler Dorsey Wednesday, 56-53, while PCW toppled Long Beach (CA) Poly, 63-57.
There were dozens of NCAA programs represented by coaches on hand all day Wednesday and it will be status quo over the next three days of the event, as well.
Check my @FrankieBur Twitter handle of updates throughout Thursday.
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