Notebook / Ray Ripton : Bel-Air Prep Cagers Edge the Champs in Tougher League

Last year the Bel-Air Prep boys basketball team reached the Small Schools Division final before losing to Whitney, and this year the Bruins were moved up to the 1-A Delphic League, which has been dominated by Crossroads for five years.

Last week Coach Mike Whiting’s Bruins justified their elevation to a stronger division as they edged Crossroads, 51-50, on the latter’s home court at Santa Monica High School. Senior forward Derrick Thornton led the Bruins with 21 points.

Bel-Air didn’t just upset a league power. Since 1982, Crossroads has been in five straight CIF-Southern Section finals, has won three CIF championships, including two Small Schools and one 1-A title, and has been a Division III state finalist twice.

As the week began, the Bruins were 3-1 in Delphic League play (7-6) overall, and Crossroads was 2-1 and 9-5. In the CIF sportswriters’ poll, Crossroads dropped from second to fifth in 1-A while Bel-Air was listed among others just outside the top 10.

Yeshiva ran its undefeated streak to seven games in boys basketball in the Small Schools Division after Liberty League wins over First Lutheran, 78-41, and Holy Martyrs, 63-56. In the CIF poll, the Panthers rose from ninth to sixth in their division.

Men’s crews from Oxford and Keio University of Japan have confirmed their entries in the fourth annual UCLA Crew Classic, which will be held April 18 at La Ballona Creek in Marina del Rey.

Angels pitcher Don Sutton will be the featured speaker at the Loyola Marymount baseball team’s annual Hot Stove League Banquet at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Amfac hotel in Westchester.