National No. 1 Chino Hills celebrates a big win over No. 6 Sierra Canyon and a section title Saturday night.
Photo by Louis Lopez
We're running out of creative ways to describe the excellence of the nation's No. 1-ranked high school basketball this season.
Saturday night in front of over 10,000 fans at the Honda Center in Anaheim,
Chino Hills captured the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Southern Section Open Division title with a 105-83 win over No. 6
Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth).
A week ago in the semifinals, the Huskies blasted 11-time state champion Mater Dei (Santa Ana) by 52 points in a game that was played under mercy rules the entire fourth quarter.
Against Sierra Canyon, the Ball brothers were once again in the lead for Chino Hills. Junior
LiAngelo paced the scoring with 31 while freshman
LaMelo pumped in 26.
Then there was MaxPreps National Player of the Year candidate
Lonzo, who piled up 20 points, 17 rebounds and 10 assists. The 6-foot-6 point guard will play next season at UCLA.
Chino Hills (30-0) has topped the 100-point mark 16 times this season – including all four outings in the CIF Southern Section Open Division playoffs.
For Sierra Canyon (26-4), Saturday night's onslaught must have been a shock to the system after competitive contests earlier this season against national No. 2
Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) and No. 3
Montverde Academy (Fla.). Chino Hills raced to a 9-0 lead and led 26-8 after eight minutes.
Brackets for the CIF state championship will be announced Sunday night.
Lonzo Ball added to his national POY resume with a triple-double against Sierra Canyon.
Photo by Louis Lopez
Chino Hills head coach Steve Baik looks on.
Photo by Louis Lopez
LiAngelo Ball goes up for two of his game high 31 points.
Photo by Louiz Lopez
Unheralded but indispensable wing Elizjah Scott takes flight for a dunk against Sierra Canyon.
Photo by Louis Lopez
Onyeka Okongwu – one of two freshmen in the Chino Hills starting lineup – uses his 6-foot-9 frame to power up for two.
Photo by Louiz Lopez
Ball brothers (from left) Lonzo, LaMelo and LiAngelo celebrate a section title at the Honda Center.
Photo by Louis Lopez