DIVISION V-AA, V-A ROUNDUP : Carey Loses Battle, but Brethren Christian Wins

Brethren Christian’s Seth Carey lost the three-point shoot-out to San Pedro Mary Star’s Jeremy Prieto, seven to five, but he wasn’t disappointed.

After all, Brethren Christian won, 84-67, in a second-round Division V-AA boys’ basketball playoff game Tuesday at Los Alamitos High.

“We got the ‘W’ and that’s what counts,” Carey said.

Carey’s five three-pointers--all in the first half--helped the Warriors to an 18-point halftime lead, 46-28. He was the game’s leading scorer with 28 points.

The Warriors (20-7) will next play Van Nuys Montclair Prep (11-12) in the quarterfinals Friday. Montclair Prep beat Providence, 79-54.

“Mary Star’s defense just left (Carey) open to shoot,” Brethren Christian Coach Richard Thomas said.

Said Carey: “After I hit the first shot (of the game, a three-pointer with 7 minutes 6 seconds to play in the first quarter), the others were there so I just kept putting the ball up.”

Carey wasn’t the only Warrior having a good night. Reggie Davis and Scott Thomas each scored 20 points and pulled down nine and eight rebounds, respectively.

The Warriors first-half board play was impressive as they outrebounded the Stars, 23-11. For the game, Brethren had 37 rebounds to Mary Star’s 28.

“I was pleased with our team effort,” Thomas said. “This is the first time we have had three guys finish a game with 20 or more points.

“We didn’t go inside as much as we wanted to, but we played real good defensive pressure in spurts that forced turnovers that we took advantage of.”

Said Carey: “If we play our game, we are going to do well.”

Prieto, who scored four of his seven three-pointers in the fourth quarter, had 22 points and Paul Basich scored 15 points and had eight rebounds for Mary Star (15-8).

In another Division V-AA game:

Capistrano Valley Christian 55, Los Angeles Yeshiva 44--Troy Rodarmel had 14 points and 11 rebounds and Marquis Patterson added 14 points for visiting Capistrano Valley Christian (21-4), which will play Canoga Park Faith Baptist, a 73-64 winner over Hesperia Christian, in the quarterfinals Friday.

In Division V-A boys’ basketball:

Liberty Christian 75, Canoga Park Manoogian 60--Toby Curto led Liberty Christian with 24 points and six assists. Curto had 10 points in the third quarter to help Liberty Christian outscore Manoogian by 11 points and take a 17-point lead. Jason Trippet, who hit two three-pointers, had 16 points and five rebounds for host Liberty Christian (18-5). Koko Korbekian had 23 points for Manoogian (11-6).

Rio Hondo Prep 86, Heritage Christian 63--Tom Houser scored 18 points, Steve Acheson had 17 and Ryan Drabek had 14 for Heritage Christian (18-2), which was outscored by 13 points in the third quarter. Anthony Ervin scored 25 points and Carl Graham had 24 for Rio Hondo Prep (14-9).