Tournament Schedule Heats Up

Lakewood High School, with four returning starters from a team that finished 19-10 last season, is the top-seeded team in the 14th Santa Ana Elks basketball tournament scheduled to begin tonight.

Cousins Brian Camper (6-foot 5-inch forward) and Victor Camper (6-9 center) lead the Lancers, who reached the 5-A division semifinals last year.

Among the top players competing in the 8-team tournament are forwards Marcus Hopkins and Walter Mitter of Sunny Hills, guard Carlos Palomino of Los Amigos and forward Oscar Wilson of Santa Ana.

The championship game is scheduled for 8 p.m. Friday.

The first round-pairings:

Tonight: La Serna vs. Lakewood at 6:15, Tustin vs. Sunny Hills at 8.

Tuesday: Orange vs. Buena Park at 6:15 p.m., Los Amigos vs. Santa Ana at 8.

Brea-Olinda and Corona del Mar high schools are the favorites in the Laguna Beach tournament, which will begin with 4 games today.

Three starters return for both teams. Brea-Olinda’s top players include all-league forwards Matt Chamberlain and Keith Walker. Corona del Mar features center Brian Spratt and guard Matt Cwiertnia.

Among the top players scheduled to compete are center Jeff Von Lutzom and forward Shane Bowers of Charter Oak, center John Lloyd of Dana Hills, guard Chris Sheff of Laguna Hills and guard Andy Thompson of Huntington Beach.

The championship game of the 12-team tournament is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Saturday.

Today’s first-round pairings:

Huntington Beach vs. Lynwood at 3 p.m., Serra vs. Dana Hills at 4:30, Whittier vs. St. John Bosco at 6, Charter Oak vs. Laguna Beach at 7:30.

El Modena High School, with three returning starters, is the favorite in the Valencia tournament, which will begin tonight at two sites.

El Modena features center Robbie Pietsch and forward Ramsey Rycraw. Pietsch averaged 14.3 points per game as a junior and Rycraw averaged 10.2 points.

The championship game of the 11-team tournament is scheduled for 8 p.m. Friday.

Tonight’s first-round pairings:

At Esperanza: El Monte vs. Troy at 6:15, La Habra vs. Esperanza at 8.

At Valencia: Sonora vs. El Modena at 6:15, Canyon vs. Valencia at 8.

Estancia and Fullerton high schools are the favorites in the 23rd Garden Grove tournament, which begins tonight.

Estancia has six returning lettermen, including all-league guard Mike Curtis. Fullerton features forward Pete Bach.

The championship game of the 8-team tournament is scheduled for 8 p.m. Friday.

The first-round pairings:

Tonight: Western vs. Fullerton at 5:45, Magnolia vs. Bolsa Grande at 7:30.

Tuesday: Estancia vs. Pacifica at 5:45, Loara vs. Garden Grove at 7:30.