Top-ranked squads tussle at Take Flight Challenge 18

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NORWALK, Ca. – A Friday night game pitting the top-ranked teams in Southern California highlights the 12-game, “Take Flight Challenge 18” to be held Friday and Saturday at Cerritos Community College.

Bishop Montgomery (12-0) and Sierra (Canyon (9-1 before its Wednesday night game with Cantwell-Sacred Heart) are scheduled to tip off at 7:30 as the fourth game to be played Friday.

Sierra Canyon lost every key player from the squad that was beaten by eventual CIF Southern and State Open Champion Bishop Montgomery last March in USC’s Galen Center.

But the Trailblazers, under first-year Head Coach Andre Chevalier, have a multitude of transfers, including the sons of former NBA players Scotty Pippen Jr. (pictured), K.J. Martin and Terren Frank.

The most notable of those transfers, 6-foot-6 Cassius Stanley (a two-year standout at Harvard-Westlake), was scheduled to make his debut vs. Cantwell-Sacred Heart after his state-mandated 30-day sit-out period as a result of not making a change of family residence upon his transfer.

The Knights have another gifted roster that includes college-bound seniors in David Singleton (UCLA) and Fletcher Tynen (Boston University).

The game could provide a nice showdown between two of the most underrated point guard prospects in the Class of 2019 in Pippen and Bishop Montgomery’s Josh Vazquez.

In another potential nifty showdown on Friday, Camarillo faces Windward at 5:30.

Camarillo is paced by one of the west’s best in the Class of 2019 in Jaime Jaquez Jr. while Windward is led by UCLA-bound senior Jules Bernard.

Saturday’s action is split into sessions, the first tipping at 9:30 a.m. and the second at 4 p.m.

Among the four games in the second Saturday session, Santa Margarita (11-3 before its Trinity League opener at Mater Dei Thursday night) faces Crossroads (7-5) – both were Southern Section Open participants last spring – at 7 o’clock and Sierra Canyon is back to take on Josh Christopher-led Mayfair at 8:30.

Crossroads has one of the most gifted front-court seniors in California in 6-9 Shareef O’Neal, the son of Hall of Fame center Shaquille O’Neal.

Santa Margarita finished third in the Classic at Damien last week. The Eagles are one of 12 teams in this event that were part of the Damien tournament.

Admission, per session, is $15 for adults and $10 for seniors, high school students (with ID) and children (8-12).

All-session passes are $30, and VIP/courtside seating is $50 per session.

Complete schedule

Friday

4 p.m., Leuzinger vs. Brentwood; 5:30, Camarillo vs. Windward; 7, Redondo Union vs. St. Bernard; 8:30, Sierra Canyon vs. Bishop Montgomery.

Saturday

9:30 a.m., View Park vs. Heritage Christian; 11, Serra vs. Campbell Hall; 12:30 p.m., Dominguez vs. Beverly Hills; 2, Vista vs. Santa Monica; 4, Los Altos vs. Maranatha; 5:30, Culver City vs. Loyola; 7, Crossroads vs. Santa Margarita; 8:30, Mayfair vs. Sierra Canyon.