Frank Burlison

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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SANTA MONICA – The No.’s 6-, 16- and 28-ranked teams in the BurlisonOnBasketball SoCal Top 60 opened their seasons with wins Wednesday during the third night of the Westside Tip-Off Classic at St. Monica Prep.

Playing in the day’s finale, the No. 6 St. Bernard Vikings – who won the CIF Southern Section Div. 1 title last spring – pulled away late in the third quarter to come away with a 74-54 decision against L.A. Westchester.

That was before No. 16 Rancho Cucamonga (the CIF SS 3AA champion last season) held off a furious fourth-quarter rally by Newport Beach Sage Hill to prevail, 84-74.

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SANTA MONICA – True “Westside programs” won their season-openers Tuesday during the second day of the St. Monica Prep-hosted Westside Tip-Off Classic.

Los Angeles Windward, in its first game under Coach D.J. Gay (a former standout point guard at Sun Valley Poly and San Diego State, who coached in San Diego for several year), knocked off the host Mariners, 56-50.

Guards Gavin Hightower (one of the better sophomores in SoCal) and Luke Samman (the only senior on the Wildcats’ roster) made numerous big shots and big “plays” in the closing minutes to help their team bag the victory.

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