High School Boys’ Basketball : Strong Finish Enables Bell-Jeff to Notch 14th Victory

Powered by Nick Sanderson’s 29 points and Greg Dunn’s 20, Bell-Jeff High rolled to an 84-65 victory over St. Genevieve in a San Fernando Valley League game at Harvard on Tuesday.

Despite the win, however, Bell-Jeff Coach Joe Dunn was not pleased with the play of the Guards (14-1, 2-0 in league play).

“We’ve yet to put together four good quarters this season,” Dunn said. “I know it sounds funny to hear a coach complain when he’s 14-1, but I’m always looking ahead. Sooner or later, we’re going to run into a team that plays well for four quarters.”

With guard Chris Dyer getting into early foul trouble, Bell-Jeff struggled in the first half.

The Guards trailed St. Genevieve, 24-18, midway through the second quarter before reeling off a 12-4 streak to end the quarter.

In the second half, Bell-Jeff began to pick up the defensive intensity and it paid off in the fourth quarter when the Guards outscored the Valiants, 33-19.

Sanderson scored 15 points in the final quarter and 21 points in the second half. Dyer scored 11 of his 13 points in final 2 periods.

Mike Cassidy had 21 points and 10 assists for St. Genevieve (1-1 in league play).

Burroughs 75, Alhambra 67--Trailing, 64-59, with 5 minutes to play, Burroughs went on a 16-3 tear to win the Foothill League game at Alhambra.

Marnie Calderon’s 3-point shot with 3:30 left gave the Indians a 66-65 lead they never relinquished. Calderon also had 8 assists.

All-Foothill League forward Dan Murphy scored a game-high 25 points--10 in the fourth quarter--and grabbed 14 rebounds for Burroughs (10-5, 2-0). Teammate Tom Clemons had 11 points and 9 rebounds.

Burroughs made 12 of 15 free throws in the final period and 20 of 30 in the game.

Chaminade 56, Harvard 45--Chris Bruckner scored 7 of his game-high 28 points in the fourth quarter and teammate Pete Miller scored 8 of his 12 in the fourth quarter as Chaminade pulled away in the San Fernando Valley league game at Chaminade.

Leading, 41-38, at the end of the third quarter, Chaminade spread the court in the fourth period as Miller and Bruckner took charge, scoring all of the Eagles’ points.

Bruckner, a 6-5 senior forward, made 11 of 14 field-goal attempts and 6 of 7 free throws and also had 10 rebounds.

Miller added 7 assists for Chaminade (6-6, 1-1).

Mike Beckwith scored 24 points for Harvard but was held to 2 points in the second half as Chaminade’s Colin Havert hounded him after halftime.

Teammate Rick Osterloh added 13 points for Harvard (0-2 in league play).

Agoura 56, Calabasas 54--The Chargers outscored the Coyotes, 19-5, in the final period to come from behind in the Frontier league game at Calabasas.

Eric Fuller scored 12 points for Agoura (3-8, 1-1) and Tim Friedlander had a game-high 23 points for Calabasas.

Quartz Hill 72, Canyon 69 (OT)--Shawn Klezovich scored off a turnover to send the game into overtime and then made 3 free throws in the extra period to hold off Canyon in the Golden League game.

Canyon led by as many as 15 in the second half.

Hart 70, Burbank 64--Brett Wilson scored 12 of his game-high 27 points in the fourth quarter to lead Hart (8-7, 2-0) to the Foothill League victory.

Wilson, playing in the low post, hit 10 of 17 field-goal attempts. Michael Ohlman scored 9 of his 14 points by hitting 3 of 4 from 3-point range.

Burbank fell to 0-2 in league play and 2-12 overall.

Montclair Prep 97, Marshall Fundamental 80--A second-quarter full-court press by Montclair Prep forced Marshall Fundamental into 6 turnovers, turning a 6-point lead into a 16-point advantage.

Montclair Prep also converted 36 of 48 free throws, many deriving from fast break fouls and fourth-quarter desperation fouls.

J. T. Billingslea and James Gerber scored 25 and 26 points, respectively, for Montclair Prep.

Village Christian 62, L.A. Baptist 56--Senior forward Mike Curl scored 11 first-quarter points, leading Village Christian to a 10-point lead it never relinquished.

Village Christian, took only 6 3-point shots, opting to take advantage of L. A. Baptist’s sagging zone by pounding the ball inside.

Buckley 45, Providence 38--Senior forward Todd Steinman scored a game-high 12 points to lead Buckley (4-4, 1-0) in a Delphic League opener at Buckley.

Grace Community 77, Newbridge 51--Grace Community (7-3, 2-0) received a total of 52 points from starting guards Scott Lechuga and Anthony Serra in the Westside League game.

Highland Hall 73, Oak Hill 55--Robert Ramirez hit 6 3-point shots and scored 25 points for the Hawks (6-3, 2-0) in the Westside League game at Highland Hall.

Mike Smith scored 25 points for Oak Hill (5-4, 1-1).

L.A. Lutheran 52, Antelope Valley Christian 44--Junior forward Stephen Willweber had team-highs with 16 points and 13 rebounds to lead L. A. Lutheran to a nonleague win at home.

West L.A. Baptist 61, West Valley Christian 60--Despite 27 points from sophomore center Chris McWhorter, West Valley Christian lost its second consecutive Westside League game by 1 point.