RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA, Ca. – The Santa Margarita High boys’ basketball team missed out on a spot in the CIF Southern Section playoffs during the 2019-20 season.
That isn’t likely to be the case during Season II under Coach Justin Bell.
The Eagles improved to 3-0 while cruising past visiting San Gabriel Academy, 64-30, Tuesday night.
Bell has a roster deep in size and backcourt skill and experience.
And that roster is going to become even more formidable this weekend.
Transfers Luke Turner (6-foot-7, Rancho Christian) and Coby Barnes (6-3, Clovis Buchannan) become eligible on Friday for the team’s home game with Murrieta Valley. The Eagles play host to Temecula Valley Saturday.
Turner (pictured) was a three-year key performer on teams that played in the Open Division playoffs and is one of the better still-unsigned frontcourt players in the Southern California Class of 2021.
Barnes signed with Pt. Loma Nazarene in November.
Veterans Jake Blazona (a senior point guard) and Jack McCloskey (a 6-4 junior who missed the later part of last season with a knee injury) did a fine job of orchestrating the Eagles’ and another three-year varsity performer, Aldo Ruiz Ortiz, hit a couple of 3s.
Turner’s 6-1 brother, Jack, scored 13 points (with three 3s) off the bench to demonstrate why he’s one of the better freshmen in Southern California.
Underclass frontcourt players combined for 35 points, with sophomore Rockwell Reynolds hitting all seven of his shots for 14 points and junior Ryan Evans coming off bench for eight points, six rebounds and two blocked shots.
Santa Margarita opens Trinity League on April 21 (Wednesday) at home against St. John Bosco.
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