19th Annual MaxPreps Holiday Classic at Torrey Pines
When: Friday Dec. 26 to Tuesday Dec. 30
What: National boys basketball team.
Where: Five different sites in San Diego County
Size: 77 teams, five divisions.
Division I commits: 30
Video of tournament: Click here.
National Division Finals: Eisenhower vs. Bellevue (Wash.) at Torrey Pines, 8:15 p.m.
Previous stories: Tournament Preview, Friday, Saturday, Jeremy Tyler feature/tournament notes.
Below: Full Monday results, box scores, Tuesday schedule.
Note: All schools from California unless noted.
By Mitch Stephens
MaxPreps.com
SAN DIEGO, Calif. – OK MaxPreps Holiday Classic at Torrey Pines fans. How many of you last week picked a Bellevue (Wash.) versus Eisenhower (Rialto) National Division championship game?
For all those raising hands - shame, shame, shame.
Only someone sleepy, blindfolded and picking teams out of a Tijuana sombrero could have guessed this one, but this indeed is the unlikely matchup after Bellevue and Eisenhower, each utilizing stellar point guards, posted resounding and impressive semifinal victories at Torrey Pines High School on Monday night.
Bellevue (8-1), a school much more known for its football prowess, got 26 points from super junior Aaron Bright and inspired bench play by Cam Warren, to post a 60-47 victory over a red hot Bishop O’Dowd (Oakland) squad.
Riding a 3-point barrage from Creighton-bound guard Andrew Bock (26 points), Eisenhower (11-1) held off one of the nation’s top juniors Jeremy Tyler (33 points) and San Diego, 67-58.
Bellevue and Eisenhower square off in today’s top game of the top division at Torrey Pines at 8:15 p.m.
“People around here probably don’t know much about either of us,” Bright said. “That makes it kind of fun. I know we wanted to show everyone just what we could do.”
What Bellevue did was lockdown O’Dowd’s power inside game midway through the second quarter after the Dragons had powered their way to leads of 18-7 and 26-17.
But each time impressive 6-foot-6 freshman Brandon Ashley, 6-5 senior Justin Brue or 6-5 junior Chris Martin put the ball on the floor, the Wolverines attacked and swarmed.
It led to seven O’Dowd turnovers in the final four minutes of the first half when Bellevue went on a 15-4 run to take a 32-30 halftime lead.
A beautiful dribble-drive and spectacular hanging layup by Bright finished off the run at the buzzer giving Bellevue its first lead since midway in the first quarter.
The Wolverine gave up the lead just once in the second half, 39-37, but closed that stanza with a 7-0 spurt and started the fourth with a 10-2 run and the Dragons (7-3), coming off impressive wins over defending national champion St. Anthony (Jersey City, N.J.) and Newark Memorial, were slayed.
Alex Schrempf, son of former NBA standout Detlef Schrempf, and Colton Christian, had 11 points each for the winners, while Ashley (13) and Brue (11) carried the Dragons.
“I like the ball in big situations – sure, who doesn’t,” Bright said of his play at the end of the half. “We have a lot of guys like that.”
The other pivotal play of the game came after Bellevue’s Ian Gordon tied the game 39-39 with a bucket, Warren, a 5-8 senior who started as a defensive back on the Wolverines’ state championship football team, stole the inbounds pass.
He then sent a wrap-around pass to Bright, who converted a three-point play give Bellevue the lead for good.
“That’s the kind of player (Warren) is,” Bright said. “He always comes up big in big situation. He’s a real spark.”
Christian, a 6-7 Division I prospect, added some major spark at the end of the third with a block of Brue on one end and a follow jam at the other, making it 46-39 heading into the fourth.
After two free throws by Ashley to open the final quarter, Bright keyed a 10-0 run to put this one away. He fed Matt Olson for a layup, drilled a 3-pointer and two free throws and Bellevue was on its way to the finals. Its only loss this season was 64-52 to Grant (Portland, Ore.), the defending large-school Oregon state champions, at the Les Schwab Classic.
“This is a great win for us,” said Bellevue coach Chris O’Connor, whose team last year won the Maui Invitational. “We want to challenge ourselves in the biggest settings possible. Getting to the finals here is fantastic and to win it would be icing on the cake.”
Box score.
EISENHOWER 67, SAN DIEGO 58: Before an absolute packed house, the mighty mites from Rialto swarmed and bothered the indomitable presence of Louisville-bound Tyler, then delivered 3-point daggers at the other end, particularly Andrew Bock, who drilled six in the first half when he scored 22 of his team-high 26.
His junior brother Bryan drilled two 3-pointers himself, including a key one with 2:20 remaining, lifting the Eagles into the championship game and surely disappointing most of the hometown fans.
Eisenhower, without a player over 6-4, hit 11 of 33 3-point attempts after making 14 of them in a quarterfinal win over Rocklin. Sophomore Bernard Ireland, Nicolas Carter and Bryan Bock combined for five of those 3-pointers and 25 points for the winners.
“Those 3-pointers just rejuvenates us and get us, our fans and bench all fired up,” said Carter, who had 22 points against Rocklin. “This was a huge win for us because no one around here I think expected it.”
Alex Varner, a rugged 6-1 junior forward who spent much of his time harassing and swarming the gifted Tyler, said intensity was the key. The Eagles won the American Division here last year but to take National Division seemed a leap to most.
Even the Eagles.
“We wanted to frustrate (Tyler) and then run them to death,” said Varner, who managed just five points but helped will the victory. “I’ve played against him since I was about 12 in summer leagues and he’s always won. But tonight we were just too determined.”
Said Eisenhower coach Steve Johnson: “The kids are excited to take the next step. Two win three games in a tournament like this is great.”
It was all Andrew Bock in the first half as he scored more than half of their points. He made four 3-pointers in the second quarter, including two in the final 41.7 seconds, the latter at the buzzer from about 30 feet out.
“Those just killed us,” Tyler said.
Said Andrew Bock: “I don’t normally shoot that far out but I was just feeling it.”
Tyler was feeling it in the first half as the Eagles swarmed from every spot. San Diego found ways to lob the ball to him in the block but all of his 12 first-half points were challenged.
In the second half, San Diego coach Kenny Roy made a nice adjustment, spreading the court wide and bringing Tyler to near the top of the key. Tyler showed off some nice spin moves and easily got to the rim, scoring 14 of his game-high totals in the third quarter as the Cavers (5-2) went on a 22-12 run to close to 52-49 heading into the fourth.
“I think we all expected to come all the way back,” Tyler said. “But (Eisenhower) just seemed to want it more than we did. We closed but couldn’t finish the deal.”
Tyler, who scored 41 each of the first two games, played much from the perimeter from that point out, and three-pointers from Carter and Ireland to start the fourth set the town. San Diego eventually closed to 62-58, but the younger Bock drilled a 3-pointer and the older Bock made two free throws to seal it.
San Diego didn’t score the final 2:30.
“It’s disappointing because we wanted to play for the championship in front of our home fans,” Tyler said. “But we’re a family. We have to win together and lose together and come out strong tomorrow.”
It should be a great point guard showdown between Andrew Bock and Bright tonight.
“(Bright) is definitely a good player and they’re a very good team,” Andrew Bock said. “We just need to continue doing what we’ve been doing and we’ll be OK.”
Box score.
ROCKLIN 77, WEST VALLEY (Hemet) 57: Rocklin (10-2) was ready from the start behind 6-10 UCLA-bound Brendan Lane, who scored 23 of his game-high 29 in the first half to pounce on short-handed West Valley, which was missing 6-1 San Diego State-bound guard Eric Lawton. Lakeith Kimbrough led West Valley (6-5) was 19 points and Tyrone Richardson had 12 but Oregon State-bound post Joe Burton was held to two. Box score.
WINDWARD (Los Angeles) 57, NEWARK MEMORIAL 39: Windward (9-3), coming off a disappointing loss to Bellevue, came out strong and never trailed as it got 23 points from Michigan-bound guard Darius Morris, who exploded for 13 in the first quarter. UCLA-bound post Anthony Stover, always a defensive presence, posted 11 points. Ifeanyi Ezefor paced Newark Memorial (8-3) with 14 points. Box score.
BELLARMINE (Tacoma, Wash.) 82, SANTA RITA (Tucson, Ariz.) 76: Santa Rita’s Terrell Stoglin was the last premier player standing on the court, but Bellarmine’s Abdul Gaddy got the triple-overtime victory.
In a great individual matchup between two of the best guards in the country, senior and Washington-bound Gaddy banked home a three-pointer at the buzzer to send the game into overtime and finished with 30 points before fouling out.
Stoglin, considered one of the top juniors in the country, had seven 3-pointers and finished with 30 points also but his team ran out of gas and scored just three points in the third overtime.
Brandon Taft had 14 points for the Lions (3-4), while Andre Hatchett and Roland Jones contributed 14 points and Dominique Kelley 11 for Santa Rita (5-5).
Stoglin has now scored 80 points in three games, while Gaddy has filled it up with 81 points. Box score.
ST. ANTHONY (Jersey City, N.J.) 59, BELLARMINE (San Jose) 43: In consolation play, Villanova-bound Dominic Cheek erupted for 19 of his 21 points in the first half as the defending national champions won its second straight after a humbling 29-point loss to Bishop O’Dowd on opening night. Jamee Jackson added 17 for the Friars (5-1) and Mathew Rista 12. Freddie Eberhardt and Niya Harrison combined for 17 for Bellarmine (6-3). Box score.
FOOTHILL CHRISTIAN (El Cajon) 78, CHRISMAN (Independence, Mo.) 62: Troy Leaf, a 6-2 junior guard who has committed to San Diego State, was a model of consistency scoring eight, eight, nine and eight points each quarter en route to a game-high 33 points as Foothills Christian (10-3) rolled to the consolation victory. Teammate Jyonte Brooks added 15 helping to offset big games from Illinois State-bound standouts Jon Ekey (22 points, four 3s) and Justin Clark (18 points, 16 in the first half) for Chrisman (4-5). Box score.
PASADENA 65, RENO (Nev.) 59 (OT): Joseph Henson had 20 points and Travis Flye 15 as Pasadena (5-5) won its first game of the tournament, this one in overtime over Reno, which fought back a 15-pount fourth-quarter deficit with a 23-8 run in the final stanza. Reno (4-8) was paced by Austin Morgan (19 points) and Scott Challis (12). Box score.
Tuesday’s National Division games at Torrey Pines HS (unless noted)
Santa Rita vs. Bellarmine (San Jose), 9:10 a.m.
West Valley vs. Newark Memorial, 10:45 a.m.
Reno vs. Chrisman at Westview HS, 12:20 p.m.
FIFTH PLACE: Rocklin vs. Windward, 12:20 p.m.
Pasadena vs. Foothills Christian at Westview HS, 1:55 p.m.
CONSOLATION TROPHY: Bellarmine (Wash.) vs. St. Anthony, 1:55 p.m.
THIRD PLACE: San Diego vs. Bishop O’Dowd, 6:40 p.m.
CHAMPIONSHIP: Eisenhower vs. Bellevue, 8:15 p.m.
AMERICAN DIVISION AT CATHEDRAL CATHOLIC
MAYFAIR (Lakewood) 70, TESORO (Rancho Santa Margarita) 69: Allan Barker made seven 3-pointers and scored 25 points while teammate Kyle Richardson added 14 leading Mayfair (8-3) to the semifinal victory. Sam Ferguson added 10 points for the winners as did Garrett Jefferson. For Tesoro, Cody Wittick had 21 points, Chris Manresa 16 and Matt Bailey 11. Box score.
LONG BEACH POLY 75, BINGHAM (South Jordan, Utah) 66: A 23-13 run in the third quarter proved decisive for Poly (9-2), which had big games from Michael Mayes (16 points), Shelton Boykins (13 points), Ronald Nezey (12 points) and Julian Camper (13 points). Bingham (5-4), which exploded for 28 points in the second quarter, got 14 first-half points by Nate Ginsberger and big games from Ben Clifford (12 points) and Remington Peck (12 points). Box score.
XAVARIAN (Brooklyn, N.Y.) 66, FRANCIS PARKER 38: Jamel Fuentes led four players in double figures with 16 points as the New York squad raced to a 21-3 lead after the first quarter and was never challenged. Immanuel Thomas, Justin Exam and Yandell Denis scored 12 points each for the winners. Parker dropped to 1-6. Box score.
DON BOSCO PREP (Ramsey, N.J.) 88, SIMI VALLEY 71: In consolation play, Mike Dudas scored 16 of his team-high 18 points in the third quarter when Don Bosco erupted for 36 points. Bosco (2-1) had other big games from Yuri Wright (15 points), Vaughn Gray (17 points) and Brandon Beckford (11 points). Paul Williams led five players in double figures for Simi Valley (10-3) with 16 points. Box score.
Other consolation games
Luezinger (Lawndale) 77, College Park (The Woodlands, Texas) 52. Box score.
Long Beach Jordan 64, Cleveland (Reseda) 58. Box score.
Ironwood Ridge (Tucson, Ariz.) 72, College Park 56. Box score.
Roosevelt 46, St. George 43. Box score.
High scorers
25 – Allan Barker (Mayfair)
23 - Will Ervin (Long Beach Jordan)
22 – Prince Obasi (Cleveland)
21 – Jerry Evans (Luezinger), Cody Wittick (Tesoro).
Tuesday’s American Cup Division at Cathedral Catholic (unless noted)
St. George’s vs. College Park, 9:10 a.m.
Roosevelt vs. Xavarian, 10:45 a.m.
Cleveland vs. Van Nuys, 12:20 p.m.
CONSOLATION TROPHY: Long Beach Jordan vs. Leuzinger, 1:55 p.m.
College Park vs. Simi Valley, 5:05 p.m.
CHAMPIONSHIP: Long Beach Poly vs. Mayfair at Torrey Pines HS, 5:05 p.m.
Ironwood Ridge vs. Don Bosco Prep, 6:40 p.m.
THIRD PLACE: Bingham vs. Tesoro, 8:15 p.m.
GOVERNER’S CUP DIVISION AT RANCHO BERNARDO
MARANATHA 70, LINCOLN 48: Chen Cai broke loose for 27 points and David Parker added 17 as Maranatha (9-3) breezed into the championship by scoring 59 points over the last three quarters. A 20-6 run in the third quarter put the game away. Box score.
APPLE VALLEY 59, RANCHO BERNARDO 58: A remarkably tight semifinal game throughout came down to a final shot and Apple Valley, behind 19 points by Absabm Smith, 14 from Kamani Lane and 11 by Daryon Mosley prevailed. The winners (10-2) made nine 3-pointers, including five from Smith. Tanner Clayton had a game-high 24 points for Rancho Bernardo and 10 by Brian Hagan. Box score.
PONDEROSA (Shingle Springs) 47, SAN MARCOS 41: In consolation play, Steve Lackey scored a season-high 27 points including 19 in the second half as Ponderosa (9-3) moved into the consolation championship. Tyler Arsting Stall drilled three 3-pointers for the winners, who gave up a combined 14 points in the middle quarters. Justin Rubinstein scored all 10 of his points in the fourth quarter for San Marcos. Box score.
More consolation scores
Spanish Springs 64, Huntington Park 42. Box score.
Hercules 69, Van Nuys 55. Box score.
St. John Bosco 59, Villa Park 56. Box score.
Peninsula 68, Brea Olinda 48. Box score.
San Bernardino 70, Bishop Alemany 67. Box score.
High Scorers
27 – Steve Lackey (Ponderosa)
24 – Tanner Clayton (Rancho Bernardo)
20 – Cameron Broomi (Van Nuys), Andrew Menard (Peninsula), Devonte Chattman (San Bernardino), James Harper (San Bernardino).
Tuesday’s Governor’s Schedule at Rancho Bernardo
Van Nuys vs. Huntington Park, 8 a.m.
Hercules vs. Spanish Springs, 9:35 a.m.
San Marcos vs. Bishop Alemany, 11:10 a.m.
CONSOLATION TROPHY: Ponderosa vs. San Bernardino
Peninsula vs. Villa Park, 2:20 p.m.
Brea Olinda vs. St. John Bosco, 3:55
THIRD PLACE: Rancho Bernardo vs. Lincoln, 5:30 p.m.
CHAMPIONSHIP: Apple Valley vs. Maranatha, 7:05 p.m.
SENATOR’S CUP DIVISION AT LA COSTA CANYON
LIBERTY (Henderson, Nev.) 64, EL TORO (Lake Forest) 54: After being outscored 16-4 in the third quarter, Liberty (7-1) bounced back with a 21-point fourth quarter to win the semifinal game. Kenneth Peters, a 6-1 senior, had 20 points and Milos Knezevic 14 for the winners. KC Bierlich had 14 points, Donavan Jackson 11 and Christian Bussjaeger 10 for El Toro. Box score.
FOLSOM 71, MESA (Ariz.) 57: Folsom (11-1) opened on a 23-13 run in the first quarter and never looked back en route to the semifinal victory. Kori Babineaux led a balanced scoring attack for the winners with 18 points, Brandon Babineaux added 12, Patrick Akins 11 and Tony Johnson 11. Mesa (8-4) got 21 points from Donte Medder, 14 by Mahammad Sabn and 12 from Blondy Baruti. Box score..
RESEDA 88, ARROYO VALLEY (San Bernardino) 64: In consolation play, Ryan Watkins exploded for 34 points, including 20 in the third quarter when Reseda scored 33 points. Rasheen Harris added 17 for the winners, while Eric Marshall paced Arroyo Valley with 23. Box score.
Other consolation scores
Birmingham (Lake Balboa) 69, Mission Prep (San Luis Obispo) 59. Box score.
Cienega 56, Catalina Foothills (Tucson, Ariz.) 42. Box score.
La Costa Canyon 61, Bakersfield Christian 51. Box score.
Carlsbad 63, James Logan (Union City) 58. Box score.
Pacific Hills 69, La Verne Lutheran 46. Box score.
High scorers
33 – Ryan Watkins (Reseda)
25 – Dennis Kramer (La Costa Canyon)
23 – Eric Marshall (Arroyo Valley)
22 – Tanael (Carlsbad), Alex Osbourne (Pacific Hills)
21 – Robbie Souza (Mission Prep), Colby Herron (Bakersfield Christian), C.J. Cooper (La Verne Lutheran), Donte Medder.
20 – Kenneth Peters (Liberty).
Tuesday’s Senator’s Cup Division at La Costa Canyon
Catalina Foothills vs. Mission Prep, 8 a.m.
Cienga vs. Birmingham, 9:35 a.m.
Arroyo Valley vs. La Verne Lutheran, 11:10 a.m.
CONSOLATION TROPHY: Reseda vs. Pacific Hills, 12:45 p.m.
Bakersfield Christian vs. James Logan, 2:20 p.m.
La Costa Canyon vs. Carlsbad, 3:55
THIRD PLACE: El Toro vs. Mesa, 5:30 p.m.
CHAMPIONSHIP: Folsom vs. Liberty, 7:05 p.m.
MAJOR’S CUP DIVISION AT WESTVIEW
TORREY PINES 67, PALM DESERT (Hemet) 43: After losing four close games last year in the National Division, the host Falcons have made mince meat of the newly-formed Major’s Division this season.
The way Torrey Pines (11-1) has been playing, winning tournament games by 26, 19 and 24, it probably could have competed for a National Division finals spot. Being good hosts, however, the Falcons welcomed others into the top division while winning convincingly at this level.
They should have their hands full in today’s 3:30 p.m. home championship game against Chaparral (Temecula), which has also dominated throughout. Torrey Pines’ young guards – it features freshman (Joe Rahon) and two sophomores (Nick Kerr and Max Heller) among others – will be tested.
On Monday, Rahon, the younger brother of current Santa Clara University freshman standout James Rahon, had 16 points, to go along with a game-high 19 from three-year starter Trevor Newquist and 6-6 senior Collin Porter (11 points).
“I’ve been very pleased with our progress,” head coach John Olive said. “We have a lot of interchangeable parts and we’re very deep. We also have some spurt-ability.”
The Falcons showed the made-up spurt word right from the get-go, running off 18 straight points beginning midway through the first quarter. Two minutes into the second quarter they were up 27-6 and this one was pretty much done.
Lindquist, who also stars on the Torrey Pines soccer team (both during the winter season) and senior guard Spencer Klein buried a pair of 3-pointers and Porter pounded down low with three buckets and a pair of free throws during the run.
Before the half was over, the Falcons showed off some athleticism to compliment their crisp offense and long-range shooting, with a pair of impressive dunks.
The 6-3 Lindquist, who has a soccer scholarship to St. Mary’s, made a steal, dribble drive and dunk and 6-7 senior forward Ramsey Hopkins, a standout hurdler and jumper on the track team, took a perfect all-oop feed from Klein and slammed down two more leading to a 41-17 halftime edge.
Palm Desert (7-5), which got 12 points each from Wesley Davis and Alex Anderson, played tough the second half but never really threatened.
Box score.
CHAPARRAL 74, CATHEDRAL 55: Mitchell Anderson scored 13 of his game-high 29 points in the fourth quarter as Chaparral won a semifinal game going away. It plays in today’s championship game at Torrey Pines at 3:30 p.m. Xavier Johnson and Jordan Hinzman scored 12 points apiece for the winners while Nick Madden (17 points) and Chase Novak (14 points) paced Cathedral. Box score.
Other consolation scores
Lakeside (Lake Elsinore) 56, Rancho Buena Vista 51. Box score.
Westview 42, St. Joseph (Santa Maria) 39. Box score.
La Jolla 54, Bingham 2 (Jordan, Utah) 41. Box score.
Temecula 73, J. Serra 49. Box score.
Vista Del Lago (Folsom) 74, Otay Ranch (Chula Vista) 54. Box score.
High scorers
29 – Mitchell Anderson (Chaparral)
27 – Swanson (Lakeside)
24 – Lescault (Vista Del Lago)
21 – Devin Dyer (Temecula)
Tuesday’s Mayor’s Cup Division schedule at Westview (unless noted)
St. Joseph vs. Apple Valley, 9:10 a.m.
Westview vs. Francis Parker, 10:45 a.m.
La Jolla vs. Temecula Valley, 3:30 p.m.
Bingham (2) vs. J. Serra at Cathedral High, 3:30 p.m. .
CHAMPIONSHIP: Chaparral at Torrey Pines, 3:30 p.m.
Rancho Buena Vista vs. Otay Ranch, 5:05 p.m.
CONSOLATION TROPHY: Lakeside vs. Vista Del Lago, 6:40 p.m.
THIRD PLACE: Palm Desert vs. Cathedral, 8:15 p.m.
E-mail Mitch Stephens at mstephens@maxpreps.com.
