Boys’ basketball: Jordan beats Cabrillo at Pangos Dream Classic

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Led by senior center Stephan Heard, Long Beach Jordan survived a third-quarter surge from Long Beach Cabrillo to win, 78-69, in the opening game of Saturday’s Pangos Dream Classic at Long Beach City College.

It was the Moore League opener for both teams and they played like it. Jordan, ranked No. 23 by The Times, led 41-28 at halftime, but Cabrillo cut the deficit to 56-52 after three quarters. The Panthers, however, opened the lead back up to 10 points midway through the final quarter and maintained at least a seven-point margin the rest of the way.

Heard led Jordan (11-3, 1-0) with 19 points and Raynard Tyler added 14. Tony Bell scored 23 points and Christian Verdugo added 19 for the Jaguars. Sophomore center Jovan Pearson started but got into early foul trouble and did not score for Cabrillo (4-8, 0-1), the host school for the 15th annual event.

‘We’re proud to be the host this year and we’re trying to upgrade our program to a contender in the Moore League,’ Cabrillo Head Coach Jim Nielsen said.

La Verne Lutheran and Brentwood are on the court warming up for the second of a five-game slate.

-- Steve Galluzzo