It was quite a day for girls’ and boys’ basketball teams in Southern California on Wednesday.
Etiwanda (9-0) proved it’s not only the best girls’ basketball team in California but maybe the nation by winning the prestigious Nike Tournament of Champions in Arizona. The Eagles defeated Oklahoma Classen 53-51 by rallying in the second half. Kennedy Smith scored 16 points and tournament MVP Daisia Mitchell had 11 points, six assists and three steals.
Smith and freshman Aliyahna Morris joined Mitchell on the all-tournament team.
He will be mad at me for writing this before the game, but I have to coach my own game lol… Underrated how many coaches he has helped along the way, I am certainly one of them… Congrats Coach https://t.co/PlMWaas0Bi
— Matt Dunn (@CoachDunn10) December 23, 2021
In boys’ basketball, Damien coach Mike LeDuc picked up his 1,000th victory when his team defeated Glendora, the school he used to coach for and hadn’t been back to in seven years 82-47
Damien is off to a 14-0 start this season. Spivey Word made sure his coach would have a night to remember. He scored 32 points.
Boys’ basketball
Bishop Montgomery 68, Heritage Christian 41: Tournament MVP Will Smith scored 16 points in the championship game of the Mission Prep tournament.
Crenshaw 54, Palos Verde 50: The Cougars advanced to the championship game of the San Pedro tournament behind junior AJ Robinson, who scored 33 points.
Servite 73, Murrieta Mesa 29: Tyler Small scored 42 points.
Loyola 78, Aquinas 46: The Cubs improved to 14-1. Parker Jones led the way with 25 points.
Colony 90, Temple City 60: The Titans (10-0) will meet Loyola in the tournament championship game. Jaden Henley had 19 points and six rebounds.
Shalhevet 67, Quartz Hill 58: Avi Halpert finished with 47 points in the overtime victory.
Mayfair 50, Fairfax 44: Desman Botts had 11 points for Mayfair.
Granada Hills 82, Santa Clara 49: Khalil Forrester led the Highlanders with 23 points.
Long Beach Poly 60, Beverly Hills 54: Gabe Cummings scored 23 points and freshman Jovani Ruff had 17 points for Poly in a semifinal game of the Serra tournament.
Riverside Poly 67, Diamond Bar 48: The Bears (13-1) advanced to the championship game of the Covina tournament.
Sierra Canyon 52, Paul VI (Va.) 49: In Hawaii, the Trailblazers earned a tournament championship. Ramel Lloyd finished with 20 points and was named MVP.
Crespi 66, St. Bonaventure 43: Peyton White scored 18 points.
St. John Bosco 76, Long Beach Wilson 31: Elsie Harrington led the Braves with 19 points.
Saugus 65, Capital Christian 62: Nathan Perez scored 29 points in the overtime win.
Santa Margarita 80, San Gabriel Academy 54: Rockwell Reynolds had 18 points for 11-0 Santa Margarita.
Girls’ basketball
Santa Ana Mater Dei 56, Canada Crestwood Prep 55: Caia Elisaldez led the 8-3 Monarchs with 18 points.
Windward 62, Lubbock-Cooper (Texas) 55: The Wildcats won their final game in Arizona. Skye Belker had 29 points
Chaminade 64, Palisades 40: Jessa Thurman scored 15 points in the semifinals of the Santa Barbara tournament of champions.
Camarillo 52, St. Joseph 50: The Scorpions received 37 points from Gabriela Jaquez to advance to the championship game against Chaminade in Santa Barbara.
Boys’ soccer
Servite 6, Placentia Valencia 0: Kevin Sanchez and Dylan Graham each had two goals.
El Camino Real 6, Taft 1: Anthony Villa scored two goals.
Girls’ soccer
El Camino Real 3, Santa Barbara 0: The Royals won at the Thousand Oaks tournament.