Quarterfinals set for MaxPreps Open Division Monday

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RANCHO MIRAGE, Ca. – Do you need one example of why comparing scores with common opponents is a deceiving way to project the outcome of a basketball game?

OK, here you go:

On Nov. 28 at, during the ninth Prep2Prep Tip-Off Classic at Newark (CA) Memorial High, Hayward (CA) Moreau Catholic rallied from 16 points down in the second half to stun highly touted Chatsworth (CA) Sierra Canyon, 60-59.

Two weeks later, Mission Hills (CA) Alemany played that same Sierra Canyon squad and was tumbled by the Trail Blazers, 76-55.

So, when Coach Frank Knight’s Mariners took on Tray Meeks’ Warriors during a first-round game in the Open Division of the MaxPreps Holiday Classic at Rancho Mirage High, the former should have been considered to have a stronger upper hand, right?

Well, so much for that analysis . . .

Juniors Brandon Davis and Earnie Sears III hit back-to-back field goals – the second of those with 1:51 to go in regulation – and to put Alemany up, 63-60, and that proved to be last of the scoring Saturday as the Warriors (8-2) prevailed to advance to a quarterfinal against two-time Georgia state champion Jonesboro at 3 o’clock Monday afternoon.

The 6-foot-4 Sears (whose father and Uncle Bobby Sears played at Cal and Long Beach State, respectively) also had a huge block of a 3-point attempt by junior guard Damari Milstead (a game-high 24 points) with 1:15 remaining.

After Sears missed three consecutive free throws, the Mariners (6-2) had one last possession in order to send the game into overtime but Davis picked off a pass by Milstead.

Sophomore guard D.J. McDonald led Alemany with 17 points while 5-8 senior Shacquille Dawkins added 16.

In the other seven opening-round contests:

*Chino Hills (CA) 97, Seattle Prep 58: The Huskies, fresh off a championship win over Elizabeth (NJ) Patrick School Wednesday night in Ft. Myers (FL) during the City of Palms Tournament, rolled to 10-0 as guard Lonzo Ball scored 25 points with 10 steals, 14 assists and seven rebounds.

But, on a night when Ball and brothers LiAngelo and LaMelo were a combined 22 of 67 shooting from the field, Coach Steve Baik’s squad demonstrated why its success to much more than just “The Ball Show”:

Junior forward Elizjah Scott hit eight of nine shots (he missed his only free throw and one of his field goals came behind the arc) for 17 points to go with three assists and five rebounds.

Six-nine Onyeka Okongwu continued to like the best freshman “big” in the west with nine blocked shots – six of those in the first quarter – eight points and four rebounds.

And 6-2 sophomore Cameron Shelton – who started at times a year ago – chipped with six points, four of those coming on nifty, off (right)-handed layups in traffic.

*Milwaukee Rufus King 52, Rancho Santa Margarita (CA) Santa Margarita 47: The Generals trailed 9-zip while going scoreless over the first six minutes but pulled away down the stretch to improve to 7-0 and earn a spot in a Monday night, 7:30 quarterfinal against Chino Hills.

Junior guards Virshon Cotton and Jordan Poole scored 23 and 10 points, respectively, for the winners while sophomore forward Jordan Guest had 17 for the Eagles.

*Jonesboro (GA) 67, L.A. Windward 49: Six-five M.J. Walker came into the game touted as one of the elite prospects from the Class of 2017 and he looked every bit the part as his team improved to 8-2 with its eighth consecutive victory.

Walker, who was a highly touted football prospect before quitting that sport after his sophomore season, scored 25 points with 16 of those coming before intermission.

*Las Vegas Bishop Gorman 72, Sacramento Capital Christian 58: The Gaels broke to an 11-2 advantage but fell behind early in the second quarter before overwhelming the Cougars over the final quarter and a half.

Coach Grant Rice’s team (8-2) got 29 and 18 points, respectively, from juniors Charles O’Bannon Jr. and Christina Popoola Jr. and will play De La Salle in a 4:30 quarterfinal Monday afternoon.

*Concord (CA) De La Salle 64, Plano (TX) Prestonwood Christian Academy 47: The coach has changed (A.J. Kuhl, an alumnus, replaced Frank Allocco who is now an assistant at the University of San Francisco) but the style – and, apparently, success – has remained the same.

Running an offense that features a lot of the “Princeton” offense-looks but played with a bit more of a transition lean, the Spartans (8-0) got a combined 34 points from seniors Jordan Ratinho and Nikhil Peters to earn a their spot in Monday quarterfinals.

*Redondo Beach (CA) Redondo 77, Folsom (CA) 58: The Seahawks jumped to a 9-0 advantage and then cruised behind their backcourt play – at both ends of the floor – to improve to 8-2 and advance to a Monday 6 o’clock quarterfinal with Bentonville of Arkansas.

Junior Ryse Williams hit four 3s en route to 25 points while seniors Leland Green and Morgan Means added 14 points apiece for Coach Reggie Morris Jr.’s squad.

*Bentonville (AR) 73, St. Petersburg (FL) 70: Bentonville built a 14-point advantage in the fourth quarter then barely held on to move on in the championship side of the 16-team bracket.

Kentucky-bound guard Malk Monk – who appeared to play almost too unselfishly at times Saturday – scored 16 points but 6-5, 220-pound Tyler Robinson led the way for the squad with 20 points and 12 rebounds.

Junior forward Darius Banks of St. Petersburg was one of the more impressive players of the day with 24 points and some high-rise scores and rebounds.