BOYS’ BASKETBALL : No Rivalry For These Brothers

As far as coaches Charlie La Commare of Bell Gardens and Dennis La Commare of Montebello were concerned, it was just another game they had to win to stay alive for the Almont League championship. They never gave their sibling rivalry another thought.

But Montebello overcame a five-point third quarter deficit to beat Bell Gardens, 54-44, marking Dennis La Commare’s first win over his brother and the Lancers in 10 games, covering four years, Tuesday at Montebello.

“It’s just like any other loss,” Charlie La Commare said. “We’re trying to make the playoffs like they are.”

His brother treated the game the same way.

“It’s nice to beat Bell Gardens for the first time, but it’s not a personal thing,” Dennis La Commare said. “My brother and I have the type of relationship that’s not competitive.”

Bell Gardens led 34-29 late in the third quarter, with three different players hitting three-point baskets. Guard Juan Juarez, who made two three-point shots in the second half, led the Lancers with 13 points. Montebello then exploded on an 18-2 run that covered six minutes to gain control. Before that run, Montebello’s best player, Arthur Cox, had been held to two points, but he finished with a game-high 17 points including three three-point shots.

Records: Bell Gardens 5-14; Montebello 12-5.

Cathedral 74, Salesian 63--The Phantoms launched a 14-0 run with 5:39 left in the fourth quarter en route to their Santa Fe League win over host Salesian Tuesday night.

Javier Rivera aided the Cathedral surge with 11 rebounds and eight points. Mustang Eric Gomez had a game-high 17 points and 12 rebounds.

Records: Cathedral 2-3 in league; Salesian 2-3.

Banning 64, Dorsey 52: The Dons were unable to stop the hot shooting of junior guard Brian Jones and hurt themselves with mistakes in a Southern Pacific loss Friday at Banning.

Jones had 31 points and 11 rebounds, and Harold McCrimmon had 17 points.

Dorsey committed 21 fouls and 20 turnovers. Verdell Baskin led the Dons with 13 points.

Will O’Neal, Dorsey’s leading scorer and rebounder, was held to four points and five rebounds before fouling out in the fourth quarter.

Records: Dorsey (9-6, 2-2); Banning (13-7, 3-1).

Crenshaw 99, Gardena 66--Ronnie Arch’s 25 points, including eight in the third quarter, broke open a close game as Crenshaw cruised in a Southern Pacific Conference win at Crenshaw Wednesday.

Records: Crenshaw 13-3; Gardena 7-6.

Manual Arts 95, Los Angeles 72-- Sophomore Travis Reed had 23 points and 10 rebounds as Manual Arts won a Coastal Conference game Wednesday.

Toiler guard Darwin Carter also scored 23 points and grabbed eight rebounds.

Deon Green had 23 points and six rebounds.