Boys’ basketball: Loyola prevails in early season duel against Pacific Hills

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Thomas Welsh, a 7-foot junior center, left little doubt on Wednesday night that he’s a player on the rise for Los Angeles Loyola. He scored 18 points, including a pair of decisive dunks in the fourth quarter, to help the No. 6-ranked Cubs hold off No. 17 Pacific Hills, 79-75, in a Torrance tournament game.

Trey Mason made five three-pointers and finished with 21 points. Mason was four of four from the free-throw line in the fourth quarter. Max Hazzard was five of six from the free-throw line in the fourth quarter as the Cubs withstood Pacific Hills’ trio of outstanding guards.

Jahmel Taylor scored 25 points, Namon Wright had 23 points and Marcus Jackson 20. Loyola came back from a nine-point deficit after the first quarter.

Loyola will play Mission League rival Harvard-Westlake in Friday’s semifinals at 8 p.m. Michael Sheng scored 24 points and Derick Newton 22 in Harvard-Westlake’s 82-64 win over Australia Sharks.

-- Eric Sondheimer