The day after Christmas isn't just for finding great Christmas sales or getting cash back on gifts. It's also the first chance for high school basketball players who had to sit out the first half of the season after transferring to make their debut.
At the Classic in Damien, Loyola gained an early advantage with a 67-51 win over Bakersfield Christian on Friday. The top two scorers were players from the sit-down period. Deuce Newt, a transfer from Campbell Hall, scored 24 points, and Omari Cuff, a transfer from St. Pius X-St. Matthias scored 17 points.
No team has waited more patiently than the Corona Centennial girls basketball team. Knowing that top transfer students wouldn't be eligible until Dec. 26, the Huskies didn't play a game until Friday's 90-31 win over Camarillo. Perhaps this is the trend of the future. Centennial is 1-0 and expected to make the Southern Section Open Division playoffs.
Can we say that he is created for the playoffs?
Boys Basketball
Crean Lutheran 62, Meridian (ibid.) Owyhee 59: The Saints upset the team that beat Harvard-Westlake last week in Hawaii. Hunter Kaplan scored 20 points.
Crespi 73, Layton (UT) Christian 70 (FROM): The Celts won in overtime. Isaiah Barnes had 28 points, nine rebounds and five assists.
Redondo Union 110, Fresno Clovis North 56: CJ Madison scored 30 points for the Sea Hawks.
St. John Bosco 56, Utah American Fork 39: Christian Collins led the Braves with 27 points.
Arcadia 64, Mayfair 59: Owen Eteuati-Edwards scored 22 points for Arcadia to set up Saturday's showdown with San Gabriel Academy.
Academy of San Gabriel 66, Palisades 57: Freshman Zach Arnold scored 14 points for San Gabriel Academy.
57 Moorpark, 47 Fairfax: Sophomore Logan Stotts scored 16 points for Moorpark.
Bogart (Ga.) North Oconee 65 St. Pius X-St. Matthias 64: Freshman Darrellreon Morris scored 21 points in the loss.
Milken 65, Bishop Alemany 55: Grayson Coleman scored 24 points on Milken's 7-7 shooting. Sophomore Ethan Frank, a transfer from Crespi, made his season debut for Milken, scoring nine points and driving in seven runs.
ETivanda 53, San Joaquin Memorial 50: Armaun Pollock's 14 points helped the Eagles (15-0) remain undefeated.
Mira Costa 55, La Costa Canyon 44: The Mustangs improved to 14-1 with the win in Carlsbad. Jayden Keinsinger scored 20 points.
La Habra 63, Washington Prep 48: Asen Jimenez finished with 27 points for La Habra.
St. Francis 68, Burroughs 23: Luke Paulus scored 23 points for St. Francis.
Bishop Montgomery 73, Sylmar 41: Twins Terron and Tarron Williams combined for 30 points and 18 rebounds.
Harvard-Westlake 70, Germany Urspring 44: Joe Sterling made seven threes and finished with 31 points.
Brentwood 62, Taft 52: Ethan Hill finished with 22 points and 11 rebounds.
Mater Dei 98, Otay Ranch 50: Zain Majeed, a transfer from IMG Academy, scored 20 points in his Mater Dei debut.
Sherman Oaks Notre Dame 55, Idaho Lake City 45: Josiah Nance, back from injury, scored nine points for the Knights as they slowly worked him back into shape. Navorro Bowman led the way with 17 points.
Thousand Oaks 68, Davis Sr. 61: The Lancers remained undefeated behind Dylan McCord, who made seven threes and scored 36 points.
Viewpoint 67, Washington Roosevelt 43: Solomon Clanton Jr. scored 21 points.
Rolling Hills Prep 51, California 50: Carter Fulton scored 27 points in 11-2 Rolling Hills Prep.
Calabasas 85, Eastside 58: Tristan Cordero scored 28 points and Calvin Goetz had 27 points for the Coyotes.
Greenhouse 68, Preparing for Democracy 64: Running Bryson scored 23 points and Jayden Bales had 22 points for San Diego.
St. Bernard 65, Washington Mount Sea 64: Brandon Granger scored 34 points for St. Bernard.
Women's basketball
Troy 57, King/Drew 46: Mei-Ling Perry led the way with 24 points in Troy's 10-3 run.
Sierra Canyon 82, Rancho Cucamonga 36: Sophomores Rosie Oladokum and Cherry Hatter each scored 18 points for the Trailblazers.
