Uncategorized

STUDIO CITY – The Harvard-Westlake High boys’ basketball team spotted visiting St. John Bosco the game’s first seven points and finished with 20 turnovers in a State Open Southern Regional quarterfinal on the Wolverines’ homecourt Wednesday night.

Ultimately, though, the hosts’ half-court defense was too stout, the playmaking of 6-foot-8, McDonald’s All-American Nikolas  Khamenia too fined-tuned and the Wolverines’ jump shooting too crisp for the visiting Braves, 70-55.

The win against the defending State Division I champions (who finished 26-7) advanced Coach Dave Rebibo’s squad (31-2) another step on the road to Sacramento and a March 15 opportunity to win a third consecutive State Open crown.

[Click to continue reading]

Tuesday night’s first round of the California State Boys Basketball Regional Division I playoffs went to script – with one notable exception.

The Santa Margarita High Eagles – who played in the CIF Southern Section’s Open Division and was awarded the No. 2 seed in the division by the state office Sunday afternoon – were stunned by visiting and 15 seed Torrey Pines of San Diego, 66-59, as junior forward Trent Green scored 21 points.

The upset by the 24-6 Falcons means that No. 7 seed Mira Costa (which rallied to beat another CIF SS squad, Crean Lutheran, 61-48, Tuesday night to go to 30-4) will get to stay on its home court in Manhattan Beach Thursday night for a second-round/quarterfinal game with Torrey Pines.

[Click to continue reading]

LAGUNA NIGUEL – The State CIF Office in Sacramento released the State Regional playoff basketball brackets late Sunday afternoon.

And, oh my goodness . .  . the South’s Open Regional field could not be more challenging for all concerned – top seed Eastvale Roosevelt included.

From my perspective, the state’s five-best teams – along with San Diego Open champion Montgomery (29-2) – make up the South bracket.

Those are Roosevelt (32-2 after its CIF Southern Section Open win over Notre Dame Saturday night in Ontario), Central Section D-I champion Santa Maria St.

[Click to continue reading]

ONTARIO – The Roosevelt High boys’ basketball team’s “Big 3” – with a lot of help – was plenty good enough Saturday night in the Toyota Arena to give the Mustangs their first-ever CIF Southern Section Open Division championship.

Seniors Brayden Burries, Myles Walker and Issac Williamson combined for all but 21 of their team’s points in the 74-67 victory over Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks.

Along with all the championship hardware they left the building with for the short drive back to Eastvale, the Mustangs (32-2) undoubtedly also earned the No.

[Click to continue reading]

ONTARIO –  The “rubber match” between San Joaquin League boys’ basketball rivals Pacifica Christian of Newport and Fairmont Prep of Anaheim was held in the Toyota Arena.

The regular season split left the Tritons and Huskies as the league’s co-champions.

But Fairmont Prep 64-60 victory in overtime Saturday did more than just give the Huskies a 2-1 seasonal advantage over the Tritons:

It gave Coach Joedy Gardner’s program its first-ever CIF Southern Division 2AA championship.

Senior guard Oliver Jones’ two free throws with 6.8 seconds remaining put the game into overtime, and his six points – a layup to start the extra period and four free throws– secured the victory.

[Click to continue reading]