Boys’ basketball: Alpha League is showing its power
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Three Alpha League teams will be going for championships this week, including an all-Alph 5A final on Friday matching Van Nuys Montclair Prep and Chatsworth Sierra Canyon. Los Angeles Windward, the league champion, will face Orange Lutheran in the 4AA final on Wednesday.
Montclair Prep and Sierra Canyon split their two-game league series, and the big question is which team benefits from playing on a big court. The game is set for Santa Ana Mater Dei.
Sierra Canyon has relied on sophomore guard Jahmel Taylor, who is averaging 21.3 points but must show he can make his threes in almost an arena setting.
Montclair Prep’s top scorers are guard Trey Dickerson at 17.6 and 6-7 Charles Lockett Jr. at 14.1.
Windward faces the toughest task, because Orange Lutheran is one of the most talented teams, having knocked off Santa Ana Mater Dei and Westchester this season. But the Wildcats thrive in an underdog role and came close to beating defending state Division II champion San Diego Lincoln, so they don’t fear playing top competition.
-- Eric Sondheimer