Boys’ basketball: Santa Monica is a team on the rise

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With victories this spring and summer over Los Angeles Fairfax, Woodland Hills Taft, Huntington Beach Ocean View and Thousand Oaks, Santa Monica is showing that it could be one of the top teams in Southern Section Division I next season.

Santa Monica’s latest victory came in overtime Sunday in the Crespi tournament, with Corey Walker making a three-pointer with five seconds left to give his team a 61-59 victory over Thousand Oaks. Walker finished with 16 points, including three three-pointers.

Walker, Solomon Singer and James Montgomery make up a guard trio that Coach James Hecht is having fun guiding. Santa Monica was 22-9 last season and returns seven players.

‘The guys really care about each other and play hard for each other,’ Hecht said. ‘It’s only summer, but we’re trying to get better every day. It’s definitely a good confidence builder.’

Santa Monica opens play in the Fairfax tournament Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. against Los Angeles Dorsey.

-- Eric Sondheimer