PREP BASKETBALL ROUNDUP : St. Bernard No Match for Morningside, 86-78

Morningside High’s new basketball uniforms finally arrived Thursday, just in time for the Monarchs’ game against St. Bernard in the semifinals of the Pacific Shores tournament.

So the Morningside players finally looked like a team, although they had been playing like an excellent team for a week despite having to wear practice jerseys.

The Monarchs then steamrolled host St. Bernard, 86-78, at Mira Costa High.

“Our philosophy is based on three concepts--playing unselfish basketball, playing tough basketball and playing smart basketball,” Morningside Coach Carl Franklin said. “So far, we haven’t put all three together for a perfect game, but we made the right adjustments tonight.”

For the second consecutive year, defending champion Morningside (5-0) will meet Lakewood in the final. The championship game is Saturday at 8 p.m.

Power forward Arthur Savage led Morningside with 24 points and added seven rebounds. Monarch swingman Keenan Jourdan scored 23 points and was the game’s leading rebounder with 14.

Shooting guard Stais Boseman finished with 18 points for Morningside and was spectacular in the open court with eight steals.

The Monarchs started quickly, racing out to a 45-27 lead at the half and wearing down St. Bernard’s post players. The Vikings’ best player, forward Wyking Jones, drew his third foul early in the half and was held to 14 points.

The Vikings (3-2) had other players who had foul trouble, too. St. Bernard’s best outside shooting threats, guard Barry Harper (nine points) and forward Chris Keldorf (six points), fouled out early in the fourth quarter.

“We’re a pretty shallow team as far as depth goes,” St. Bernard Coach Jim McClune said. “If you don’t have all your horses it’s hard to play an awfully good game.”

Swingman Rick Famuyiwa led St. Bernard with 24 points.

Lakewood 81, Carson 61--The Colts (3-2) went through a streak of cold shooting and the Lancers (3-1) cruised to an easy victory at Mira Costa High.

“We missed everything, but we missed an inordinate amount of layups,” Carson Coach Richard Masson said. “I hope we don’t shoot like that all year.”

Unfortunately for Carson, Lakewood found the range early in the game--especially shooting guard Mike Fields, who made three three-point shots in the first half and finished with a game-high 27 points.

Carson mounted a late rally, pulling to within eight early in the fourth quarter. But Lakewood’s top shooter, Belgian exchange student Pascal Angillis, made three three-point baskets in the final quarter to seal the victory.

Angillis finished with 13 points, and Lakewood point guard Greg Williams added 12.

Carson had three players in double figures--William Thomas and Rudy Washington with 16 apiece and small forward Justin Evans with 12.