A pair of unbeaten and nationally-ranked powers fell Saturday night in local showdowns.
In Virginia,
Booker T. Washington (Norfolk, Va.) snapped No. 5
Norcom's 24-game win streak.
Loyola (Los Angeles) followed suit several hours later in California with a rally that shattered No. 19
Etiwanda's 21-0 record.
Larry Rubama of The Virginian-Pilot has the story on Norcom's bitter night.
QuaShawn Valentine and Quinton Upshur combined for 30 points as Booker T. Washington upended the Greyhounds 59-54.
Virginia Tech signee
Dorian Finney-Smith had 21 and 16 rebounds for Norcom (17-1), ranked No. 5 in MaxPreps.com's Xcellent 25.
According to Eric Sondheimer of the Los Angeles Times (blog and video), a late run spurred Loyola to a 70-64 win over previously-undefeated Etiwanda at the Fairfax State Preview Classic in Los Angeles.
Etiwanda entered the game sporting a 21-0 record and received 30 points from USC signee and All-American candidate
Byron Wesley.
In another key game pitting Chicago rivals, No. 3
Simeon dominated
Whitney Young 60-39 behind 14 points and 10 rebounds from 6-foot-7 junior
Steve Taylor.
No. 6
Milton (Ga.) will likely climb after beating
Wheeler (Marietta) 77-59.
No. 11
Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.) took care of business at the Montverde Academy Invitational, beating
Huntington Prep (Huntington, W.Va.) 48-39 in the championship of an eight-team event.
No. 16
Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) avenged one of two losses this season, blowing out league rival
Orange Lutheran 84-61.
