Boys’ basketball: Ryan Bailey faces his old team on Wednesday

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Ryan Bailey was a standout guard at Los Angeles Loyola and became a trusted Cubs assistant coach to Jamal Adams. Now comes the pupil-versus-mentor game.

Bailey, in his second season as coach at Brentwood, will take on Loyola and Adams on Wednesday night at 6:30 in a quarterfinal game of the Santa Monica tournament.

There will be lots of smiling, teasing and handshakes before the game, but once the jump ball happens, the competitiveness of everyone involved will be on display.

Bailey is one of the top young coaches around. He has Brentwood off to a 5-0 start. Loyola is 5-0 and expected to be a Southern Section 1AA title contender.

Loyola’s players know Bailey well. They’re not about to let their old friend walk off the court victorious. But it’s a great opportunity for Brentwood to show how far the program has come.

-- Eric Sondheimer