BOYS’ BASKETBALL ROUNDUP : Boberg’s 33-Point Effort Leads Cypress to Victory

Until Cypress point guard Wes Bunn Jr. fully recovers from his knee injury and can involve the rest of the team in the offense, the Centurions will probably go as far in the Century Holiday Classic tournament as Chad Boberg can carry them.

Boberg, a 6-foot-4 senior forward, was up to the task Wednesday, pouring in 33 points in a 66-57 first-round victory over Westminster. Cypress (9-2) will play North Hollywood Campbell Hall, which defeated Los Amigos.

“I was happy we overcame them,” Cypress Coach Tom Gorrell said.

Defense has been a problem for the the Lions, who have staggered to a 3-9 start, and they did not have a real good idea of how to stop Boberg, who made 13 of 16 shots from the field and was seven of eight from the free throw line.

The only quarter Boberg did not torment Westminster was the third, when he got his fourth foul early and spent much of the period on the bench. The Lions took advantage, using a 10-0 spurt to overcome a 28-20 halftime lead.

“There were times you could see we missed having Wes, who gets easier shots for the other guys,” Gorrell said. “But we also have to learn how to deal without Chad.”

Boberg had eight points in the first quarter as Cypress raced to a 16-2 lead. He scored 11 of Cypress’ first 13 fourth-quarter points to put the Centurions ahead, 49-34, and the game out of reach.

“He’s got to one of the top players in the county,” Westminster Coach Gary Dickson said, “but if we could play better defense, we could be a better team. We’ve got to take better care of the ball.”

Scott Yoshizaki scored 17 points for Westminster.