Frank Burlison

LAGUNA NIGUEL, Ca. – It’s down to two, baby . . . as in “Just two more weeks of the ‘regular’ boys’ high school basketball season” in Southern California.

Of course, there’s been nothing “regular” about the 2020-21, pandemic-modified season – starting with it not beginning until near the middle of June with the Southern Regional Championships.

The most “significant” (relative to possible league titles and CIF Southern Section Division make-up and seedings) last week were, with updated BurlisonOnBasketball 21 for 2021 ratings were:

No. 3 Mater Dei over No.

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ONTARIO, Ca. – The first three games served as appetizers to what proved to be the “main course” of the annual boys’ basketball Rolling Hills Prep State Preview Saturday.

And that finale, pitting the teams rated No.’s 12 (Chaminade) and 19 (the host Colony Titans) in last week’s BurlisonOnBasketball “21 for 20021”, proved quite tasty indeed for any hoopsters’ palette.

The Titans, behind the play of Santa Clara-bound point guard Brenton Knapper and a precocious sophomore class, burst out to a 15-point edge in the closing moments of the first half before falling behind and then pulling the win out, 72-69.

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ETIWANDA, Ca – The Etiwanda High boys’ basketball team hit two quarter buzzer-beating 3-pointers Friday night in its Baseline League game against the Damien High Spartans.

The first of those, from about 40-feet out by sophomore guard Jimmy Baker, stunned the pandemic-reduced sparse crowd.

The second, from about 20 feet away by senior post Darvelle Wyatt after a pass from classmate Jahmai Mashack, ignited a Wyatt-led sprint by the winning Eagles into their team room, along the baseline and near the Spartans’ bench.

The 56-53 decision gave Coach David Kleckner’s team a second down-to-the-wire victory over the Spartans – who’ve won the other 20 games on their schedule against non-Etiwanda competition.

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SANTA ANA, Ca. – The host Mater Dei Monarchs got into a 10-point hole late in the second quarter of their Trinity League showdown with the St. John Bosco Braves Wednesday night.

But their half-court defense tightened and, at the other end of the floor, the Braves never really got a handle on keeping the ball out of Harrison Hornery’s hands.

Led by the USC-bound Hornery’s 24 points (10 of those in the fourth quarter), the Monarchs improved to 16-0, overall, and 5-zip in league, with their 57-54 victory.

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CERRITOS, Ca. – Tuesday night the Heritage Christian High boys’ basketball team got a chance to showcase what it’s capable of when it’s at full strength.

Coach Paul Tait’s Warriors improved to 13-3 overall, and 3-1 in the Olympic League, with their 77-66 victory over the host Valley Christian Defenders.

The Warriors went to their bench early and often – five reserves played – but all of their scoring came from their starters, with 6-foot-5 uber freshman Isaiah Elohim (pictured) scoring 13 of his game-high 22 points after intermission.

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