Frank Burlison

DUBLIN, Ca. – All the offensive possibilities imagined by many when Caleb Foster and Mercy Miller left Virginia’s Oak Hill Academy and headed to the San Fernando Valley early in the spring were embodied on the Dublin High court Saturday night.

Foster and Miller joined another one of the most gifted high school players anywhere, Dusty Stromer, when they checked into Notre Dame High in Sherman Oaks.

And that trio and the rest of the Knights showed why they’re capable of scoring a lot of points – and in a hurry – regardless of the caliber of competition while rolling past Northern California’s top team, Modesto Christian, 98-72, in the last of the eight games played during the 15^th annual NorCal Tip-Off Classic.

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OAKLAND – The top-ranked team from Northern California hooked up against one of the four best teams from the Las Vegas area Friday night during the debut of Bishop O’Dowd High’s spiffy new Knauss Gymnasium and Steve Phelps Court.

Ring up another testimony to just how good high school basketball is in Las Vegas and near-by Henderson these days.

Coronado (from Henderson and one of those four quality programs) High had the best player on the floor during any of the four games played Friday during the first of the two-day Thanksgiving Challenge.

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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.

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FULLERTON – The Anaheim Canyon and Eastvale Roosevelt boys’ basketball team collected semifinal victories Friday to move into the Saturday night (7:30) “Rumble for Rosecrans” championship game at Sunny Hills High.

Canyon improved to 4-0 with its eased-up, 52-40 victory against Rolling Hills Prep in a game played at Fullerton High.

Six-four sophomore Brandon Benjamin – likely the most skilled and toughest “undersized” center in Southern California – led Nate Harrison’s team with 15 points, 10 rebounds and two assists.

Six-seven junior Jaden Goodall, one of the “purest” deep jump shooters in the region, hit four 3s enroute to an 18-point effort.

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SANTA MONICA – One of Southern California’s two-best high school boys’ basketball teams was missing a key element Wednesday night.

But, despite University of Notre Dame-bound forward Brady Dunlap in warm-ups and a walking boot on his left foot, the Harvard-Westlake Trailblazers clicked on enough more cylinders while beating a quality Crossroads opponent, 69-54, on the fourth night of the Westside Tip-Off Classic that is hosted by St. Monica Prep.

Coach David Rebibo’s team improved to 2-0 as senior center Jacob Huggins (11 rebounds) and junior guard Trent Perry (pictured/eight assists) scored 18 points apiece.

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