Boys’ basketball: Some surprises after first week of action
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There were some surprise teams having big weeks after the first full week of action in boys’ basketball.
Corona Centennial, 9-17 last season, showed that it’s much improved after knocking off Etiwanda and Inglewood en route to winning the championship of its own tournament. Sophomore guard Sedrick Barefield and senior Sam Finley were outstanding for the Huskies.
Orange Lutheran won the El Modena tournament behind MVP Payton Banks, defeating Anaheim Canyon in the final, 72-53.
La Verne Damien is 5-0 after defeating Thousand Oaks, 60-56, in the championship game of the Sierra Vista tournament. Sophomore guard Jeremy Hemsley has scored 100 points in five games.
Westlake won the Simi Valley tournament, an indication the Warriors could be a Marmonte League title threat. They play a good Hart team in a Crescenta Valley tournament game on Thursday.
Westchester put up a strong fight against No. 1-ranked Long Beach Poly before losing in the championship game of the Redondo tournament. The Comets are hosting their own tournament this week.
Riverside North received 30 points from Dorian Butler to defeat Rancho Cucamonga in the championship game of the Serrano tournament.
Alemany and Chaminade make their season debuts in the Santa Monica tournament this week, with a Loyola-El Camino Real confrontation looming. St. John Bosco debuts in the El Rancho tournament. Taft and Bishop Montgomery debut in the Westchester tournament.
For the record: An earlier version of this blog had Rancho Cucamonga winning the Serrano tourament. It was Riverside North.
-- Eric Sondheimer