Boys’ basketball: Kris Yanku leads Taft into tourney semifinals
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Junior guard Kris Yanku scored 25 points to help Woodland Hills Taft advance to the semifinals of the Mission Prep tournament with a 52-44 win over San Joaquin Memorial. Taft is 6-1 and will unveil 6-foot-8 Compton transfer Anthony January on Monday.
In the San Fernando Valley tournament, Sherman Oaks Notre Dame (6-1) defeated Crescenta Valley, 67-52. Johnathan Bell had 29 points and Kennedy Edwards 24 points and 12 rebounds. Encino Crespi (7-0) defeated Chatsworth, 66-31. Michael Avery and Michael Milligan had 13 points apiece. Alemany (5-1) defeated Oak Park, 71-55. Bear Henderson had 21 points and 11 rebounds.
Van Nuys Grant, a City Section Division III team, knocked off Crenshaw, 64-53. Gor Plavchyan had 16 points and 10 rebounds. Travis Wilson added 13 points. Grant will play Alemany on Monday. It was the first time Grant has beaten Crenshaw in school history. The Lancers were 0-4 lifetime.
Westlake defeated Verdugo Hills, 64-45. Josh Brooks had 24 points. University defeated Sun Valley Poly, 53-36. Malik Spears finished with 18 points.
In the Mission Prep tournament, unbeaten Riverside North defeated unbeaten Brentwood, 55-51, despite 25 points from junior Leland King.
In the City of Palms Classic in Florida, Elijah Brown had 20 points and Xavier Johnson 18 points and 12 rebounds in Mater Dei’s 76-70 win over Lake Wales.
In a nonleague game, St. John Bosco defeated Bishop Montgomery, 71-68. Daniel Hamilton made a three-pointer at the buzzer for the victory. Isaac Hamilton had 34 points.
In the Palos Verdes tournament, Harvard-Westlake defeated Lawndale, 65-63. Derick Newton scored 21 points and Zena Edosomwan 17.
In the Pacifica tournament championship game, Oxnard defeated Chaminade, 78-58.
In Hawaii, Fairfax defeated Kahuku, 65-30. Taj Adams and Reggie Theus Jr. haad 13 points apiece.
Freshman Marcus LoVett scored 57 points to help Burbank Providence defeat Santa Maria St. Joseph, 85-74, in overtime.
-- Eric Sondheimer