Sunny Hills Tournament : Lancers Topple Magnolia

Steve White, Sunny Hills High School basketball coach, believes his team is one of the best in Orange County.

The Lancers went out and attempted to prove their coach correct Friday night with a convincing 86-74 victory over Magnolia to win their own tournament at Sunny Hills High School.

“We are a good ballclub,” White said. “Our team is well-balanced and has some experience. I feel we are as good as anybody in the area.”

Sunny Hills (4-1), which returns all five starters, had little trouble with Magnolia.

The Lancers were able to open a 16-point (51-35) halftime lead, and they increased it to 24 points (61-37) midway through the third quarter.

Forward Brian McCloskey was the Lancers’ leading scorer with 20 points and was also named the tournament’s most valuable player. Center Marcus Hopkins added 18 points.

The Sentinels (3-2) were led by forward Mike Goff, who was the game’s leading scorer with 33 points, 22 from the free throw line, and 13 rebounds. Goff was coming off a school-record 53 points the night before in an overtime victory over Brea-Olinda.

Brea-Olinda 64, Canyon 59--Sophomore Keith Walker made both ends of two one-and-one opportunities in the final minute for the Wildcats in the third-place game.

Walker finished with 17 points and 5 rebounds and Matt Chamberlin added 12 points and 7 rebounds for Brea-Olinda (2-2).

Ralph Pacheco scored 17 pointsfor Canyon (2-3).

El Modena 84, La Quinta JV 55--Twelve players scored for El Modena in the seventh-place game.

Nate Bogan led with 12 points, Russ Weitl and Robbie Pietsch had 11 each and Brain Bullock had 10 for El Modena.

Orange 64, Sunny Hills JV 47--John Rodriguez scored 23 points and Tom Ghasemi had 18 to lead the Panthers. Gene Schutt led the Sunny Hills JV with 18 points. Orange lead at halftime, 28-23.