PREP BASKETBALL TOURNAMENTS : Orange Classic Gets a Northern Exposure

Defending Washington state champion Kentridge is the favorite to win the 28th Orange Holiday Classic, scheduled to begin today at Hutton Sports Center.

Kentridge is led by returning 6-foot-7 center Jeremy Flagel, the most valuable player in the state tournament last year. Kent-Meridian, last year’s runner-up in the state tournament, is also entered along with Alberta, Canada, McCoy.

Among the top local teams entered are Santa Margarita, Kennedy and Marina. Santa Margarita recently finished third in the Coca-Cola/Converse tournament, defeating Long Beach Poly, 65-56. Point guard Adam Dzierzynski is the Eagles’ top player.

Kennedy, the runner-up in the Southern Section Division II-A playoffs, is led by returning all-section forward Jeff Cummins. Marina was co-champion of the Sunset League last year and is led by 6-foot-6 junior forward Eric Endsley.

Other top players scheduled to compete include forward Brian Finneran (Santa Margarita), forward Pat Kunz (Kennedy), guard Chris Bradshaw (Saddleback), forward Trigg Garner (Laguna Beach), guard Jared Winger (Foothill) and guard Matt Keim (Marina).

The championship game is slated for 8:30 p.m. Wednesday. Defending champion Capistrano Valley is not entered this year. The first-round pairings:

Today: 10 a.m.--Loara vs. Laguna Beach; 11:30--Orange Lutheran vs. Kennedy; 1:10 p.m.--Santa Margarita vs. Foothill; 2:50--Laguna Hills vs. Orange; 4:30--Oxnard Santa Clara vs. Fountain Valley; 6:10--Marina vs. Saddleback; 7:50--Washington Kent-Meridian vs. LB Wilson; 9:30--Alberta McCoy vs. Washington Kentridge.

Sonora and North Hollywood Campbell Hall are the co-favorites in the third Carl’s Jr. Holiday tournament beginning today at the Century High gymnasium.

Sonora has three starters returning from a team that finished 15-11 last season, including three-time all-league guard Chris St. Clair.

Campbell Hall is the defending Southern Section Division V-AA champion and features 6-11 junior center Alex Lopez and guard C.J. Thompkins.

Trabuco Hills withdrew from the Above the Rim Tournament in San Diego and replaced the Century junior varsity in the Holiday Classic. The Mustangs, led by point guard Brett Poulos, open against Los Amigos.

Top players scheduled to compete include guard Boun Malapha (Anaheim), forward Chris Campbell (Sonora), center Pedro Garcia (Santa Ana), forward Cornel Archer (Garden Grove), center Jeff Madland (Westminster), forward Scott Thomas (Brethren Christian) and forward Darvin Thompson (Century).

The championship game is scheduled for 8:40 p.m. Saturday. The first-round pairings:

Today: 9 a.m.--Cypress vs. Santiago; 10:40--Santa Ana vs. Costa Mesa; 12:20 p.m.--Trabuco Hills vs. Los Amigos; 2--Buena Park vs. Westminster; 3:40--Brethren Christian vs. Century; 5:20--North Hollywood Campbell Hall vs. Santa Fe Springs St. Paul; 7--Garden Grove vs. Villa Park; 8:40--Anaheim vs. Sonora.

Long Beach Jordan is the top-seeded team and Irvine is seeded second in the Coast Christmas tournament beginning today at the Estancia High gymnasium.

Jordan was a semifinalist in the Southern Section Division I-AA playoffs and recently won the El Dorado Co-ed tournament. Three-year starting guard Everett Ratleff is the team’s top player.

Irvine finished third in the Daily Pilot Tipoff tournament and features returning all-league forward Eric Ambrozich. Defending tournament champion Estancia is also entered.

Among the top players scheduled to compete are guard Anthony Porter (Santa Ana Valley), guard DeJuan Matthews (Tustin), guard Jeff Carr (Mission Viejo), forward Aaron Aguilera (El Modena), center Kyle Murphy (Edison), guard Mike Oliver (Esperanza) and guard Jim Faulkner (Estancia).

The championship game is scheduled for 7:45 p.m. Wednesday. The first-round pairings:

Today: 9 a.m.--Long Beach Jordan vs. Savanna; 10:40--Santa Ana Valley vs. Tustin; 12:20 p.m.--Mission Viejo vs. Newport Harbor; 2--El Modena vs. Edison; 3:40--Esperanza vs. Santa Maria Righetti; 5:20--Glendale Hoover vs. Corona del Mar; 7--Estancia vs. Parkrose, Ore.; 8:40--Dana Hills vs. Irvine.

Bellflower St. John Bosco, the top-ranked team in the Southern Section Division IV, is the favorite to win the 28th Pepsi/Brea-Olinda Christmas Tournament which began Wednesday at Brea-Olinda.

St. John Bosco recently won the Concord De La Salle Invitational, where forward James Cotton was named the tournament’s most valuable player.

Other top players scheduled to compete include guard Jelani Gardner (St. John Bosco), forward Helmut Bustamante (Rancho Alamitos), forward Rusty Volkert (La Habra), swingman Chris Remala (El Dorado), forward Brian Johnson (St. Anthony), forward Mark Stenner (Troy) and forward Mario Bertuol (Sunny Hills).

The tournament also has an international flavor with Maple Ridge of British Columbia, Canada entered. The championship game is at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday. The pairings:

Today: 3 p.m.--Compton vs. Long Beach St. Anthony; 4:45--Rancho Buena Vista vs. Troy; 6--Sunny Hills vs. La Mirada; 8:15--Brea-Olinda vs. British Columbia Maple Ridge.