Another boys’ basketball tournament rundown
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Here’s a quick catch-up on some of the big-name regional holiday tournaments:
CHAMINADE: I was impressed with Chaminade‘s gutsy performance against Lancaster in the semifinals, but I wasn’t so thrilled with how it surrendered a late-game lead in its 54-52 tourney championship loss to Gardena Serra on Saturday. However, the Eagles illustrated this week they can be a Mission League playoff contender thanks to having a couple of talented players -- Alex Piner and Craig Kisylia. And Thursday’s game against Crespi will offer a great chance at redemption.
HART: It must be nice to have a guy like Michael Montgomery on your side. The Indians’ best two-sport star had his biggest game of the season Saturday night as Hart won its own tournament for the first time since 2001 with a 62-54 victory over Crescenta Valley. Montgomery finished with a jaw-dropping 36 points and 16 rebounds, and he did it while jumping around on a slightly sprained ankle and a sore knee. I’m sure Jim Ozella is thrilled.
SANTA BARBARA: I hope I haven’t jinxed San Marcos. After blogging about their 11-game winning streak a few days back, the Royals dropped two straight games, including a 72-66 OT loss to Corona del Mar on Saturday for third place in the Green Division. But I shouldn’t feel too bad -- the Brian Pearson-led boys held their own against divisional runner-up Santa Monica and actually led the Sea Kings until things fell apart in the fourth quarter. I’m confident they’ll break this two-game slide against Camarillo on Wednesday. Also, Bobby Hillard scored a season-high 31 points to push Oak Park to the Gold Division title.
VALLEY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY: Tyler McGrath is one of the players to watch in the Tri-Valley League this season, and he put on a show this weekend in Santa Maria. The 6-foot-2 guard averaged more than 16 ppg in four games as Oaks Christian took the tourney title with 79-53 victory over Matt DeMarcus and rest of the Santa Ynez hoopsters. The Lions have won six straight.
VENTURA: James Staniland and Co. proved why the Cougars are the second-best team in Ventura County (sorry, but Simi Valley takes the cake) with a dominant, 58-32 victory over a solid Buena team in the Ventura Kiwanis tournament title game. Tournament co-MVPs James Ennis and Staniland are one of the best scoring duos in the Southland, and don’t be surprised if the Cougars make another divisional title run like they did in the spring of ’06.
-- Austin Knoblauch
