Harvard Opens With Smashing Defense of Title

Harvard-Westlake High opened defense of its Mission League title with a 57-41 boys’ basketball victory over Alemany on Wednesday night at L.A. Baptist High.

The Wolverines (10-2 overall), ranked No. 1 in The Times’ regional poll, opened a 41-17 lead early in the fourth quarter before several starters headed for the bench.

Junior center Jason Collins had 20 points and 12 rebounds. Twin Jarron Collins added nine points and six rebounds.

Guard Mario Thompson led Alemany (7-7) with 14 points.

Chaminade 59, St. Francis 41--Scott Long had 15 points and 12 rebounds for the Eagles (7-8) in a Mission League opener at Chaminade. Torey Ellis added 15 points.

Newbury Park 76, Simi Valley 75--Charles Stanton scored 27 points and added 10 rebounds for the Panthers (6-8, 1-2) in a Marmonte League game against visiting Simi Valley (9-4, 1-2). Daniel Bobik added 15 points.

The Pioneers were led by Pero Vasiljevic, who had 26 points.

Royal 81, Westlake 75--Scott Schnetzler scored 21 points, and Marques Pena and Ryan Nielsen each added 19 for the Highlanders (10-3, 3-0) in a Marmonte League game at Westlake.

Jason Gaines led the Warriors (7-5, 1-2) with 20 points, and Jake Stewart added 16.

Agoura 82, Camarillo 59--Ryan Yeager had 20 points for the Chargers in a Marmonte League game at Camarillo. Brian Laibow added 16 points.

The Scorpions (9-3, 1-2) were led by Josh Hill with 18 points and Mariano It with 11.

Ventura 55, San Marcos 54--With Ventura trailing by one point with five seconds left, Charles Dixon made a pair of free throws for the Cougars (6-4, 1-0) in a Channel League game. Dixon finished with 19 points.

Compton 62, Hoover 55--Mark Hull scored 15 points for the host Tornadoes (7-7) in a nonleague game. Hoover’s leading scorer, Arby Baghdasarian, suffered a broken nose in the first quarter and left the game with only two points.

Santa Clara 89, Carpinteria 68--Lukman Dotson scored 28 points and Adam Lopez added 26 for the Saints (10-4) in a nonleague game at Santa Clara.

Burbank 66, Quartz Hill 31--Steve Silveria had 15 points and Greg Church added 10 for Burbank (7-7) in a nonleague game.

St. Bonaventure 55, Nordhoff 43--Hank Laubacher scored 19 points and had 10 rebounds to lead the Seraphs (3-6) in a nonleague game at Nordhoff. Pepe Villasenor added nine points.

Allen Thornton and Jamal Arousse each scored nine points for the Rangers.

GIRLS

Crescenta Valley 75, San Gabriel 40--Michelle Greco had 17 points and nine rebounds to lead Crescenta Valley (15-1) in a nonleague game at home. Tara Gregory added eight points and seven assists, and Amirah Leonard had 10 points.

Nordhoff 64, St. Bonaventure 52--Erin Barker scored 20 points for the Rangers in a nonleague game. Alisa Doran scored 18 for host St. Bonaventure (4-8).

MEN

The Master’s 94, Olivet Nazarene 71--Mike Penberthy scored 23 points for the host Mustangs (11-3) in a nonconference game.

WOMEN

The Master’s 82, Occidental 79--Kim DeVries had 21 points and nine rebounds for the host Mustangs (4-10) in a nonconference game. Laura Fralich added 20 points and seven rebounds.

Former North Hollywood High standouts Bobbie Celaya (25 points) Anna Celaya (24 points) led the Tigers.