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LAS VEGAS – Two Southern California-based programs were “surprise” finalists Sunday afternoon in the top divisions of the major national grassroots tournaments that were held in front of 100s of college coaches over a five-day stretch in the city.

But just one of those proved to be a stunning tournament champion.

The Cali Stars of director and Coach Julius von Hanzlik aren’t “sponsored” by an athletic apparel company, unlike dozens of programs in town for the various events that receive funding from adidas, Nike and Under Armour.

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LAS VEGAS – Morning quarterfinal action gets things under way during Sunday’s final day of the Fab 48 and Big Foot/Las Vegas Classic at, respectively, Bishop Gorman and Spring Valley high schools.

In the Fab 48’s 17U Invitational (top) bracket, Southern California-based The Truth faces a huge challenge in New York’s PSA Cardinals – led by 2019 elite point guard Cole Anthony – at 9:05 on Court 1 while Iowa’s Quad City takes on 2020 standout Anthony Edwards and his Atlanta Express squad on Court 2.

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LAS VEGAS – Their respective teams lost Friday evening.

But Ziaire Williams and Cole Bajema used the respective gymnasium floors at Bishop Gorman and Spring Valley high schools, respectively, to show a lot of college coaches why they’re two of the best high school basketball players in the west – and beyond.

The 6-foot-7 Williams, who attends Notre Dame High in the Southern California community of Sherman Oaks, scored 28 most spectacular points although his Basketball Training Institute (BTI) club dropped a 74-58 decision to Florida-based Each 1 Teach 1 during pool play of the Fab 48 Invitational Division.

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HENDERSON, Nev. – The West Coast Elite 17U squad was led by one of the nation’s best – and, perhaps, the best – point guards and one of the region’s most underrated prospects from the Class of 2019.

But those elements were quite enough to enable the Southern California-based squad to overcome WeR1 Thursday night at Coronado High in a key pool-play matchup in the Under Armour Association Finals.

The 63-58 victory moved WeR1 (made up of players from in and around Philadelphia) into a Friday afternoon (2:45) championship semifinal game against an opponent to be determined by final pool-play action Friday morning.

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LAS VEGAS – The Wednesday night basketball game in the Bishop Gorman High gymnasium did more than just “live up to” the hyperbole that had been building since the Team Takeover and Compton Magic squads proved themselves the best on the respective Nike/EYBL and adidas circuits:

It smoked that sucker.

Trailing by five points midway through the second half, the Magic got a gut-crunching 3 from out top by guard Isaiah Hill (Bakersfield Liberty) with 43 seconds to go to help send things into a five-minute overtime.

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