Boys’ basketball: Crespi is 5-0 after holding off West Ranch, 74-71

It was a game of twists and turns and players who had momentum, then did not.

Crespi started poorly, falling behind, 17-6, while Alex Morales of West Ranch made four three-pointers and had 14 points in a nonleague game on Thursday night at Crespi. Then the Celts went on a 19-2 surge to take the lead. Then West Ranch rallied to go back on top behind Ryan Beddeo, who finished with 25 points.

But in the end, Crespi prevailed, 74-71, thanks to a strong second half by De’Anthony Melton, who scored all 18 of his points in the third and fourth quarters.

Crespi improved to 5-0. Also making major contributions was improving 6-foot-6 junior Mitch Mykhaylov, who finished with 16 points, and sophomore Ethan Moss, who added 11 points, including three threes. Mike Krkeyan chipped in with 12 points.

Beddeo fouled out late in the fourth quarter as the result of being part of a double technical. Morales finished with 20 points, making six threes. West Ranch dropped to 2-5.

In another game, Sherman Oaks Notre Dame was beaten by Stockton St. Mary’s, 81-58. Gave Rishwain scored 22 points.

In the University tournament, Alex Copeland scored 25 points in Harvard-Westlake’s 63-45 win over St. Monica. Dorsey defeated North Hollywood, 67-46. University defeated St. Bernard, 73-59, with Cushan Allen scoring 25 points and Dwight Murray 20.

Taft defeated Sun Valley Poly, 62-59, on a buzzer beater by Darius Henderson, who finished with 30 points.

Twitter:@LATSondheimer