Prep Basketball Roundup : Tower and Kutas Lead the Lions

Chris Tower and Eric Kutas scored 14 points each to lead Westminster High School to an 84-50 victory over Buena Park Monday night in the first round of the Santa Ana tournament at Santa Ana High School.

The Lions (4-0) built a 28-13 lead and extended it to 43-19 by halftime.

Mark Austin added 12 points for Westminster.

Kevin Graddy was the only Buena Park player scoring in double figures with 23 points. However, the Coyotes (1-2) were playing without leading scorer Gary Hunter, who was sick.

In the Beverly Hills tournament:

Mater Dei 70, Thousand Oaks 45--The Monarchs (5-0) outscored the Lancers, 19-8, in the second quarter to take a 31-18 halftime lead in first-round action.

Kevin Rembert led all scorers with 15 points and Mike Hopkins added 13.

Mater Dei controlled the inside play, as center Char Ruppel had 11 points and 11 rebounds. Point guard Mark Ramstack effectively ran the offense, finishing with seven assists.

In the La Quinta tournament:

Huntington Beach 87, El Modena 78--Rich Hughes scored 21 points and Andy Thompson 19 to lead the Oilers (2-2) in first-round play. Robbie Dietsch scored 28 points for the Vanguards (1-2).

La Quinta 72, West Torrance 66--Arri Buford scored 21 points and Kenny Bennett 20 to lead the Aztecs (3-2). Buford also had 10 rebounds and Bennett 6 assists.

In nonleague play:

Estancia 54, Anaheim 31--Mark Rupsa scored 18 points to lead the Eagles (4-1) at Anaheim.

Estancia led, 27-19, at halftime, but scored the first eight points of the third quarter. Marcus Mitchell had 10 points for the Colonists (1-1).

In girls’ action:

In the Brea-Olinda tournament:

Katella 65, Whittier 29--Joni Easterly had 27 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Knights (5-0) in first-round play.

Katella led, 22-9, after the first quarter and 43-13 at halftime. Melissa Gardner added 12 points and 8 rebounds.

In the Beverly Hills tournament:

Estancia 89, Santa Monica 25--Shawn Newbern scored 21 points and Patrice Lumpkin 19 to lead the Eagles (3-0). Newbern also had seven rebounds and five assists, and Lumpkin had six rebounds.

In the Artesia tournament:

Carson 39, Mater Dei 37--The Monarchs were outscored, 24-10, during the second and third quarters in first-round action.

Claudia Morris led Mater Dei (3-1) with 15 points. Teammate Kelly O’Brien had 10 points and 8 rebounds.

In nonleague play:

Maranatha 35, Orange Lutheran 31--The Minutemen controlled the rebounding to hold off the Lancers (1-1) at Maranatha. Evon Alva and Michelle Alva had nine rebounds each and Kristen Hauge eight. Hauge also had five steals and five assists.

Maranatha’s Kelly Nosse led all scorers with 15 points. Devon Koster led Orange Lutheran with 10 points.

Capistrano Valley Christian 32, San Clemente JV 23--Sophia Kollias scored 12 points to lead Capistrano Valley Christian (1-0) over the host Tritons.