Archives

LA VERNE, Ca. – The busiest boys’ high school basketball team was back at it Saturday afternoon.

The host Damien Spartans used a 28-point second quarter – by way of 10 of 14 from the field, including four 3s – to coast to an 80-61 victory over the Orange Lutheran Lancers.

Coach Mike LeDuc’s team improved to 15-0 behind a balanced scoring attack led by 6-foot-8 sophomore Jimmy Oladokun (pictured), with 20 points that he coupled with 11 rebounds.

Returning starters Malik Thomas (18), R.J. Smith (eight) and Chris Nickelberry (6) – who make up on of the better set of perimeter players in California – combined for 32 points.

[Click to continue reading]

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.

[Click to continue reading]

GARDEN GROVE, Ca. – Steve Singleton has had a lot of quality teams during his six seasons as the head coach of the Eastvale Roosevelt High boys’ basketball program.

Notable among those are the Matt Mitchell– and Jemarl Baker-led team that won a State DI title four years ago, and the one that was the runner-up in the State Southern Regional DII championship game.

Neither of those, though, had the number of quality jump shooters that were on display for the Mustangs during their 84-53 victory over host Orangewood Academy Wednesday evening.

[Click to continue reading]

COMPTON – Considering that it hadn’t played a game in exactly 14 months, it should come as no surprise that the Long Beach Poly Jackrabbits initially struggled in its Moore League game with Compton Wednesday night at Centennial High.

The hosts (the game was moved to the other Compton Unified School District high school because the Compton campus is undergoing reconstruction) led the Jackrabbits, 24-21, after a turnover-plagued first 16 minutes of action.

“We’ve only had nine practices,” Poly Coach Shelton Diggs said afterward, echoing what a lot of coaches are saying since the return to the “new normal” of COVID-19 high school hoops.

[Click to continue reading]

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.

[Click to continue reading]