PREPS : Rough Road Schedule Awaits Morningside

The Morningside High boys’ basketball team took an important step toward the Ocean League title Friday night with a 66-64 victory over Mira Costa.

But Coach Carl Franklin is not ready to celebrate.

“The most important thing is that we won at home,” he said.

Franklin is worried about the next two weeks when the the Monarchs (10-6 overall, 2-0 in league play) play five games on the road, starting with league games against Beverly Hills on Wednesday and Culver City on Friday. They will also visit Centennial in a nonleague game Jan. 29 and league rival Redondo on Jan. 31 before their rematch against Mira Costa on Feb. 5 in Manhattan Beach.

“I tell people this is a very good basketball league and they don’t believe me,” he said. “I think this game shows you how close these teams really are.”

That is one reason why Franklin does not expect it to be any easier when the Monarchs meet Mira Costa next month.

“Last year we split and I have the utmost respect for them,” he said. “You know it’s going to be a competitive game over there.”

But for the moment, Franklin was content to revel in a hard-earned victory.

“I think it’s an extremely good win for the team,” he said. “Any time you can win a game by a narrow margin like that, it’s important for your team’s confidence.”

Franklin is pleased with the play of guard Stais Boseman and center Pauliasi Taulava, both of whom joined the team late after playing for the football team. Taulava scored 18 points and Boseman 17 against Mira Costa.

“I think football is finally behind them,” Franklin said. “They’re definitely basketball players now.”

With guard Donminic Ellison and forward Corey Saffold playing well, Franklin is optimistic the Monarchs can mature at an opportune time.

“I think we’re progressing,” he said. “There are some things we still have to learn how to do and we’ve got a tough road trip ahead. But this is a nice place to start.”

Mira Costa Coach Glenn Marx said he was expecting the worst against Morningside.

After all, the Mustangs were without two starters.

Center Frank Zeno missed the game because of a knee injury and guard Josh Branca sat out after suffering a minor concussion in practice during the week.

Fortunately for Marx, the Mustangs have one of the deepest teams in the area. Sophomore guard Shane Willis and freshman guard Phil Fonua took control against the Monarchs. Willis scored 23 points and Fonua, recently called up from the junior varsity, added 12.

“Not bad for a sophomore and a freshman,” Marx said.

Considering that Zeno and Branca will be returning to practice Monday, Marx was anything but disappointed with his team’s narrow defeat.

“It was a great sign for the program to see the way the kids played despite being short-handed,” he said. “We played a great game against a very good basketball team. I think this is a pretty good indication of what we can do.”

Marx thinks the game should end any skepticism about his team, which is 13-4 overall and 1-1 in league play.

“I think a lot of people were still wondering if we were for real or not or if we could compete for our league title,” he said. “I think this was your answer.”

Marx was already looking forward to the rematch against Morningside.

“I know those guys (Morningside) aren’t going to be looking forward to the game at our place,” Marx said. “They escaped with their lives tonight.”

It was expected to be a big season for Bishop Montgomery boys’ basketball team.

Unfortunately for the Knights, it did not go as smoothly as anticipated early in the season.

But Bishop Montgomery appears to have regrouped since the start of Mission League play. The Knights are 9-8 overall and 3-2 in league play.

Both of their league losses have been by two points or less. The Knights lost road games to Crespi, 57-55, on Jan. 8 and St. Paul, 47-46, Friday.

Coach Doug Mitchell said the Knights may have struggled early because of transfers Andre English (6-7) at center and Ian Patel (6-5) at forward. English transferred from Ribet Academy and Patel from St. Bernard.

“The guys that are new didn’t get a chance to play summer ball with us and that is so important in today’s game,” Mitchell said.

He also said that sophomore point guard Kareem Mutrie has improved considerably since the start of league play.

“He has the talent but he’s just a sophomore and it has taken time for him to get going,” Mitchell said.

Bishop Montgomery should also benefit from having a favorable schedule the rest of the season.

“We have five of our last seven games at home,” Mitchell said. “So that should work in our favor.”

All things considered, Mitchell thinks the team is headed in the right direction.

“We’re getting better and that’s what we want to do,” he said. “We want to peak for the playoffs.”

Two of the most improved boys’ basketball teams in the South Bay have been South Torrance and Serra.

Friday night, South improved to 14-3 with an 84-68 victory over North Torrance in its Pioneer League opener and Serra improved to 10-10 and 2-1 in the Camino Real League with an 87-74 win over St. Monica.

South, which finished 9-16 last season, is already assured of its first winning season since 1978.

The Spartans will be challenged Friday when they play host to Centennial at 7:30 p.m. in a league game. Centennial (13-5, 2-0) defeated Torrance, 70-64, on Friday.

Serra, which was 6-18 last season, will travel to league rival St. Anthony--ranked No. 2 in the Southern Section Division IV--at 7:30 p.m. Friday.