Frank Burlison

LAS VEGAS – Backcourt play decided outcomes — and provided the “wow” factor — on Tuesday’s second day of the high school edition of the 12^th Tarkanian Classic, at and near Bishop Gorman High.

San Diego St. Augustine (55-52 over Las Vegas Arbor View), Downey St. Pius X/St. Matthias (81-69 against Sandy/UT Alta), Scottsdale/AZ (toppling the host Gaels, 81-65) and NorCal’s Ross Branson (via a 76-68 decision over Ft. Lauderdale Calvary Christian Academy) each collected Platinum Division second-round wins on Bishop Gorman’s main gymnasium floor.

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LAS VEGAS — The Ft. Lauderdale Calvary Christian High boys’ basketball team rallied — in decisive fashion — to collect one of the eight first-day victories in the Platinum Division of the 12^th Tarkanian Classic Monday at Bishop Gorman High.

Southern California-based powerhouse Corona Centennial led the Eagles 22-5 after the first quarter before being outscored over the final 24 minutes by 26 points as the team from Florida pulled off the upset, 55-46, and moved into Tuesday’s second round against another California squad.

Five-foot-eleven freshman point guard Cayden Daughtry — who turned 14 years old last April 9 — directed the stunning comeback while scoring 16 points (including seven consecutive free throws) and handling all defensive pressure the Huskies threw at him with equal elements of calm and efficiency.

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LAS VEGAS — The high school portion of the 12^th Tarkanian Classic tips off Monday morning, with its top-tier Platinum and Ball Dawgs brackets represented by nine states among the 32 teams.

Those two 16-team divisions will compete thru Thursday in tournament host Bishop Gorman High’s main and auxiliary gymnasiums, with the event’s other six divisions at area high schools.

All the action will be streamed lived and archived by BallerTV.

Platinum play gets underway in the main gym at 9 in the morning, when two-time, San Diego Section Open Division champion St.

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BEVERLY HILLS — Justin Pippen’s 3 from the left wing against the Redondo Union zone put Sierra Canyon High’s basketball team ahead to stay with 2:46 remaining and started a 10-1 closeout to a 68-59 victory over the Seahawks Saturday night at Beverly Hills High.

The 6-foot-4 Pippen (who finished with 23 points, seven assists and six steals) seemingly made ever critical play at both ends of the floor on a night when the Trailblazers needed them to hold off Redondo (6-1) and improve to 8-1.

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Ten nights after taking on the No. 1 team in the state, the La Mirada High boys’ basketball squad takes on No. 2 St. John Bosco Friday night (6 o’clock) during the semifinals of the Braves’ Varsity Winter Classic on the SJB campus.

Coach Randy Oronoz’ Matadores improved to 10-1 Wednesday night with their 74-54 decision against Hesperia (1-4), behind the 27 points — including  three 3s — from 6-foot-5 freshman Gene Roebuck (pictured) and 17 from 6-3 junior Julien Gomez.

The Scorpions of Coach Bobby Tossetti (who got 11 points from freshman forward Jasiah Williams and 10 from junior guard Mark Jones) have played one of the state’s toughest schedules, having also lost to Roosevelt, St.

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