LONG BEACH, Ca. – Two key elements in the success the St. Anthony High boys’ basketball team enjoyed last year still reside in Long Beach.
But they’re no longer playing for the Saints.
All-CIF Southern Section Open Division selection Jadon Jones enjoyed a strong freshman season a few miles east of St. Anthony at Long Beach State while Lorenzo Marsh is playing as a senior a couple miles north at Poly High.
But Coach Allen Caveness still has a team favored to win the Del Rey League and good enough to make a run at another spot in the Southern Section’s Open Division playoffs late next month.
That was evident Friday night on Darrick Martin Court as the Saints improved to 3-0 with an eased up, 78-60, league-opening victory over the visiting Bishop Montgomery Knights.
Sophomore Will Smith powered in a layup for the Knights for the game’s first points and classmate Xavier Edmonds to put the visitors up, 4-2.
Those were the biggest – and only – leads of the night for Coach Doug Mitchell’s team as the Saints went on a 22-zip blitz while forcing turnovers that led to layups and converting four 3s in the run.
Juniors Elijah Price (6-foot-8), Kaih Williams and Jaayden Bush combined for 32 of the Saints’ points in a first half that ended with their team up, 48-21.
Price was especially emphatic during the first quarter, scoring eight points and snatching seven rebounds – often over the top of Edmonds (6-8) and another Bishop Montgomery sophomore Ashton Hardaway (6-7).
Price finished with 14 points, 10 rebounds and two blocked shots while playing just a few minutes after intermission.
Bush scored all 13 of his points (including three 3s) in the first half while Williams, who drilled a couple of 3s in the first quarter, scored just two of his 11 after intermission.
Both teams substituted often and liberally in the second half, with senior forward Trent Goldman leading the Knights (who fell to 0-4) with 11 points.
George Ashley came off the bench to lead with Saints with 17 points.
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