Frank Burlison

SPRINGFIELD, Ma. – He was his Little Rock Christian High team’s top player and leader scorer as a freshman and sophomore.

But, even after sparkling efforts at the Pangos All-American Camp in Las Vegas last June and with the Bradley Beal Elite 16s on the Nike/EYBL circuit in July, the 6-foot-2 Layden Blocker had no illusions about his “role” would be upon enrolling at “national” prep school Bel Aire (KS) Sunrise Christian School for his junior year season and academic year.

“I knew I wasn’t going to get to shoot and score as much (as he did at LR Christian),” he said, after he and his Sunrise teammates had edged Lincolnton (NC) Combine Academy, 72-68, Saturday in one of the three contests decided in overtime during the eight-game, Hoophall Classic schedule played in Blake Arena on the Springfield College campus.

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SPRINGFIELD, Ma. – Not quite 48 hours and 3,000 miles removed from a superb effort in a Trinity League victory, the Mater Dei High basketball team wasn’t quite as sharp Friday night during its Spalding Hoophall Classic game Friday night at Springfield College.

The Monarchs, who knocked off previously unbeaten Santa Margarita Wednesday night, didn’t play with nearly the same level of execution at both ends of the floor while handling Manchester (CT) East Catholic, 73-58.

Junior Zack Davidson (17 points and nine rebounds) and freshman Tre Bartlett (10 points, 14 rebounds and three assists) continued to play as well as should be expected from a couple of guys who are rapidly developing into one of the upper-tier pair of posts on any team in California.

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RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA, Ca. – The Mater Dei High boys’ basketball team – some 10 hours before it was set to board a Boston-bound flight at LAX for its next game – looked every bit like the solid favorite to win another Trinity League championship Wednesday night.

Coach Gary McKnight’s team trailed just once – at 2-zip, after a Kyle Evans layup on the first possession of the contest – while cruising past the host Santa Margarita Eagles, 64-46.

The victory improved the Monarchs to 2-0 in league (they won at Orange Lutheran to open Trinity play Friday night) and 16-2 overall.

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SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, Ca. – Approximately 48 hours after stumbling its way to only 42 points, the JSerra High boys’ basketball team was much more efficient – and productive – in its second Trinity League contest Friday night.

The host Lions, whose half-court and transition offense production was ground to a near-halt by the Santa Margarita Eagles Wednesday, fell behind by 10 points early in the second quarter but tied the score at intermission before pulling away down the stretch for a 63-52 victory over the St.

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SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, Ca. – It was “opening night” for the Trinity League boys’ basketball season.

And on a Wednesday night when the two other “openers” were postponed because of COVID protocol issues, it was a couple of teams that hadn’t played since Dec. 21 and ’22 because of their own COVID “status” that tipped things off at JSerra High.

The host Lions and visiting Santa Margarita Eagles had only resumed “in-gymnasium” practice on Monday and the lack of little in the way of on-court time – relative to “sharpness” and “execution” – was apparent, for both teams, at times.

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