BOYS’ BASKETBALL / CHAMINADE TOURNAMENT : Chaminade Rides Boards to Victory

It is often said that basketball games are won on the boards.

Such was the case for Chaminade, which won its annual Christmas Classic with a hard-fought 50-46 victory over Marshall.

With his team ahead by two points and 11 seconds remaining, Chaminade guard Torey Ellis out-reached three Barristers for an offensive rebound, and was fouled. The freshman then sank two free throws and the Eagles (8-3) were home free.

“Our guy had the position, he just didn’t get the job done,” Marshall coach Henfred Brard said. “If we get that rebound, it’s a different game.”

Chaminade was led by tournament MVP Mike Yang, who finished with 15 points, six assists and three steals.

“He’s a gamer,” Eagles coach Jeff Young said of Yang. “When you’re in a war, he’s the guy you want in your foxhole.”

Marshall (5-6) led after the first and third quarters as the momentum swung back and forth.

Eagle senior Tony Castleberry was three for three from three-point range, including a buzzer-beater from the corner that put Chaminade ahead, 24-22, at the half.

Chaminade helped its cause by shutting down Barrister senior guard David He, who scored 50 points in the first two games of the tournament. He finished with 13, including six of eight from the free-throw line.

“Our game plan was to go after He,” Young said. “Their offense revolves around him.”

Marshall lost He for much of the fourth quarter after he picked up his fourth personal foul in running over Castleberry on a fast break with 1:03 left in the third quarter.

When He was called on for last-minute heroics, his jump shot was blocked by Eagle forward Carmine Rossi, and Justin Baker finished the ensuing break to put Chaminade ahead, 43-37.

“(He) is our go-to guy,” Brard said.

“I want him to take his shots. I have confidence in him, and he showed what he could do.”

Alhambra 75, Calabasas 47--The Moors (12-1) took third place in convincing fashion, outrebounding Calabasas, 42-23.

David Duenas led all scorers with 25, and Louis Halias added 21 with 5 blocks.

Forward Ryan Coleman paced the Coyotes (3-7) with 12 points.

Granada Hills 60, St. Monica 54--Granada hills (7-5) scored 15 fast-break baskets in winning the consolation final. Forward Ernest Quinley led the Highlanders with 17 points, including four dunks.

Rio Mesa 56, Yeshiva 34--Forward Rob Wolf scored 11 points to lead Rio Mesa to a seventh-place finish. Randy Fife added nine points for the Spartans (2-6), and Cory Wilson, Cisco Cabral and Tyrone Nunnery each scored eight.