With preseason tournaments wrapped up as we head into the New Year, it’s time for league play to start around the Southern Section.
No. 1 Bishop Montgomery (13-0) – Another tournament, another MVP honor for Lamond Murray Jr. Bishop Montgomery leapfrogged to the No. 1 spot after an impressive showing in the Seahawk Classic. The Knights defeated Price, 75-39, in the championship game. Bishop Montgomery concluded the tournament winning games by an average of 48 points. Tennessee Christian Brothers, Seattle Prep, Westchester, and Serra have all suffered losses to Bishop Montgomery this season. The Knights will host Palos Verdes on Wednesday.
No. 2 Long Beach Poly (12-1) – The Jackrabbits went to Texas for the 55th Whataburger Basketball Tournament and came back with the Orange Division title. Tournament MVP Roschon Prince scored 19 points and had eight rebounds in the 51-40 win over Texas Plano East in the final. Jordan Bell added 14 points and six blocks. The Jackrabbits will resume Moore League play against Long Beach Jordan on Jan. 7.
No. 3 Mater Dei (14-0) – The Monarchs knocked down 13 3-point shots in the final of the Orange Holiday Classic last Saturday while easily defeating Tustin, 77-55. Stanley Johnson was named Tournament MVP for the second consecutive time. He finished with 27 points and 12 rebounds in the championship game. Elijah Brown knocked down six of Mater Dei’s baskets beyond the arc and registered a double-double with 26 points and 11 rebounds. The Monarchs open up Trinity League play on Wednesday at JSerra. The two teams faced each other earlier this season in the championship game of the Jim Harris Memorial Ocean View Tournament of Champions - an 87-66 win for Mater Dei.
No. 4 St. John Bosco (8-1) – The idle Braves remain in the No. 4 spot. The winners of the Chick-Fil-A Classic open up Trinity League play on Wednesday against Orange Lutheran.
No. 5 Etiwanda (8-2) – Like St. John Bosco, the Eagles were idle last week as well. It was much needed time off in hopes of having a healthy Jordan McLaughlin (ankle) back in time to take on Riverside King on Saturday.
No. 6 Corona Centennial (15-1) – The Huskies didn’t come close to the 93 points per game they averaged the week prior but they still played well enough to take home the Oaks Christian Holiday Hardwood Invitational championship by defeating Santa Monica, 80-69, in the final. Guard Sam Finley was named tournament MVP. Corona Centennial will have the week off before opening Big VIII League play at Corona on Jan. 8.
No. 7 Chaminade (11-2) – After cracking the Top 10, Chaminade hosted and won their own Christmas Classic and faced little resistance. Jack Williams had 20 points and 22 rebounds in the championship game, an 85-73 win over Westlake. The Eagles will take on Burbank Providence on Saturday at the Showdown at College of the Canyons.
No. 8 Loyola (10-2) – The Cubs dropped five spots from No. 3 last week after suffering back-to-back losses in Palm Springs last week. After an 18-day layoff, Loyola won its first two games, defeating Madison Ridgeland Academy easily and narrowly getting past Illinois De La Salle. The finish, however, wasn’t as strong. The Cubs dropped their final two games of the tournament, a two-point loss to the Harrison Twins and Texas Fort Bend Travis and a 10-point loss to league rival Harvard Westlake. That marked the second meeting of the season between Loyola and Harvard Westlake, with the Cubs taking the earlier meeting, 80-61. They’re still scheduled to meet twice in Mission League play.
No. 9 Mission Viejo (15-1) – Palm Springs was unkind to the Diablos as well, as it was the site of their first loss of the season. Mission Viejo was rolling right along until they ran into Carlsbad La Costa Canyon on Saturday and fell 70-58. Evan Zeller was held to just 15 points and the Diablos turned the ball over 20 times in the loss. They’ll have some time to regroup before opening South Coast League action against Aliso Niguel on Jan. 9.
No. 10 Pacific Hills (10-2) –The Bruins make their Top 10 debut after defeating Arizona Corona del Sol, 63-58, in the championship game of the VisitMesa.com
