Burlison on Basketball

Frank Burlison | High School Basketball | College Basketball

Bishop Montgomery 5-0 after win at Redondo Monday night

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REDONDO BEACH – The Bishop Montgomery High boys’ basketball program may still be a year away from being a strong contender for a slot in the CIF Southern Section’s Open Division playoffs.

But Coach Doug Mitchell’s club, a bit more than two weeks into the 2024-25, campaign have demonstrated that they’ve made considerable progress over last season.

The Knights got strong contributions from multiple players – notably twin sophomore forwards Tarron (19 points and eight rebounds) and Terron (11 and six) Williams – to pull away from Leuzinger, 57-48, Monday night at Redondo Union High in one of the opening games of the four-day, Ryse Williams PAC Shores.

The Knights – 5-0 after the win over the 1-3 Olympians – didn’t qualify for the CIF Southern Section playoffs last season after going 11-16 (overall) and 1-9 (Del Rey League).

And this is a program that, in Mitchell’s first 35 years as its coach, had consistently been among the best in California, winning seven CIF Southern Section titles and four state championships.

Barring the unforeseen, though, Mitchell could have a roster gifted enough to challenge defending champion St. Pius X/St. Matthias and second-place St. Anthony for a Del Rey title this season.

And that’s with just three seniors among the 15 players – eight of those being  freshmen and sophomores.

One of those seniors, guard Denis Woods, was a steadying influence when fellow 12th grader and starting guard, Christian Hall, went out with an injury a minute and a half into the second quarter and didn’t’ return.

Woods hit four free throws in the fourth quarter (he finished with 12 points), and had five assists, two of those leading to fourth-quarter 3s by Terron Williams and freshman guard Austin Kirksey.

Leuzinger, which dropped a 70-67 decision to Mater Dei Friday night, missed six fourth-quarter free throws and consistently failed to convert on close-in shot attempts.

The Olympians hung tight, though, via the scoring (18 points) and rebounding (eight) of senior forward Joshua Garland.

Leuzinger is back in action at Redondo Tuesday for a 4 o’clock game with Crean Lutheran in the auxiliary gymnasium while Bishop Montgomery returns for a Wednesday night (6:30) clash with Heritage Christian.

In another game at Redondo Monday night, Rancho Christian – under first-year coach Jalen Lake – improved to 3-3 with its wire-to-wire, 71-35 victory against Santa Monica.

Turning in another terrific performance for the Eagles was a senior guard currently – but not for long – operating under the radar of most college basketball coaching staffs in the region.

The left-handed Jayden Smoot (pictured) scored 21 points – 12 of those coming via quick-released jumpers from behind the 3-point arc – via a nifty combination of power, explosion and skill.

He also dropped 17 (in a loss to Crespi) and 32 (in a win over Oak Hills) in the first week of the season.

Lake suited up just eight players Monday night – none of them taller than 6-5 freshman Hudson Hoopingarner – but will get “bigger” and “better” when, as expected, Aquinas transfers John Odhimabo (a 6-9 senior) and Daniel Wol (6-8 sophomore) become eligible on Dec. 27 following their CIF-mandated “Sit Out Period”.

*Junior guard Cowelti Webb scored 19 points as Lynwood knocked off West Covina, 56-44, for the Knights’ first win in four games under new coach Chris Camper.

*St. Monica had too much for Paramount, 89-30, in the first game played Monday as Crossroads’ transfer Solo Bailey led the way with 14 points.

The Mariners will play Millikan (a 55-53 winner over Oakwood Monday) Wednesday in a 5 o’clock semifinal of the eight-team Ryse Williams bracket (the other games are “Showcase” contests).

In the other semifinal at 3:30 Wednesday, Mayfair (86-37 over L.A. University) plays Gardena Serra (50-46 over Mary Star).

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