SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO – The host JSerra Lions wrapped up the four-game, inaugural SoCal Challenge High School Tip-Off Saturday event by holding off San Diego Torrey Pines, 56-48.
Juniors Aidan Fowler (23 points and three assists) and Sebastian Rancik (12 points, 10 rebounds and six blocked shots) led the way as the Lions improved to 3-0 after also beating a couple of teams in El Paso earlier in the week.
Another Trinity League member, St. John Bosco, opened things Saturday afternoon by easing past Sacramento Capital Christian, 67-52.
The Braves (2-0) got 26 points from junior Jack Turner (pictured), 13 and 11, respectively, from sophomores Elzie Harrington and Kade Bonam, along with 12 from 6-9 transfer senior Xinyi LI.
And Harvard-Westlake improved to 3-0 (it knocked off Venice and Crossroads earlier in the week at St. Monica during the Westside Tip-Off) by cruising past Bakersfield Christian, 71-38.
Coach David Rebibo’s Wolverines were playing without a starter (Notre Dame-bound Brady Dunlap/injured left foot) and their first sub (junior guard Christian Horry/illness).
But the Wolverines weren’t noticeably impacted at either end of the floor and got double-figure scoring out of five players, with junior guard Trent Perry scoring 10 points and helping his teammates his teammates get quality shots (10 assists).
The top-ranked team from the central portion of the state, Santa Maria St. Joseph, faced the toughest competition from the four clubs that won Saturday.
The Knights, playing in their season-opener, held a seven-point lead at intermission before taking control in the second half for a 68-48 decision against Liberty Magnet from Baton Rouge, LA.
And – not surprisingly – the player doing most to take control was the 2021-22 California Freshman of the Year, 6-6 Tounde Yessoufou.
The Nigerian scored 28 points and grabbed a dozen rebounds.
Seniors Caedin Hamilton and Luis Marin scored 11 and 10 points, respectively.
Freshmen guard Julius Price scored all eight of his points in the fourth quarter for the Knights while 6-9 classmate Abdoul Bare had a couple of buckets to go with three rebounds and two blocks.
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