Canyon Can’t Cope With Montgomery

If there was any question about Devin Montgomery being the real deal, he has answered it this week at the Saugus tournament.

Montgomery, a guard, scored 21 points on Thursday night and San Fernando High downed Canyon, 60-48.

He scored 25 points in an opening-round victory over Highland.

“The guy is the whole package,” Canyon Coach David Humphreys said of Montgomery, who transferred from Ribet Academy, a Southern Section Division V-A school with an enrollment of under 100.

“He can shoot, he can pass, he can handle the ball and he’s only a junior. That’s scary.”

San Fernando (3-0) suffered through a nightmarish start.

Canyon had a 17-8 lead when Mike Reardon hit a three-pointer late in the first quarter.

The Cowboys, who relied last season on the shooting of Steve Ernesse, won their first two games with impressive scoring balance, few mistakes and sound foul shooting.

Those facets unraveled on Canyon (2-1) in the second half against San Fernando.

The Tigers, who meet La Canada tonight in the semifinals, began the half with a 33-28 lead. They used a tenacious pressing defense to force seven turnovers and limit Canyon to two-for-11 shooting.

The end result was a 48-32 lead and a lot of tired Canyon legs.

Defensive pressure by Luis De La Rosa and Sean and Bryson Atkins, and eight points by Montgomery was the difference.

“They didn’t really have anybody to guard [Montgomery]” San Fernando Coach Mick Cady said. “But not many teams do.”

Tyrone Purnell, San Fernando’s 6-foot-8 center, added 12 points and 12 rebounds.

Justin Orefice scored 12 points for the Cowboys, who made only 11 of 24 free throws.

La Canada 70, Valencia 42--Junior guard Ian Sullivan tied a tournament record with seven three-pointers in the Spartans’ quarterfinal rout of the Vikings, ranked third in the region by The Times.

Sullivan finished with 27 points for La Canada (3-0), which made 12 three-pointers. Matt Moore added 13 for the Spartans.

Jerrohn Jordan had 17 points for Valencia, which played without injured Royce Minor and Manuel White, and suspended guard Jason Richardson.

Antelope Valley 62, Alemany 48--The Antelopes (2-1) led, 39-20, at halftime and coasted to a pool-play victory.

Josh Speaks had 15 points and five assists, Tez Brown added 12 points and 10 rebounds and Roger Price contributed 11 points and nine rebounds for Antelope Valley, which is trying to win its third consecutive Saugus tournament title.

Mike Murray scored 13 points and Jason Addcox added 11 for Alemany (0-3).

Saugus 78, La Canada B 52--Brad Cleveland had 19 points and all 10 Centurions scored against a team of La Canada varsity reserves.

Nick Boone added 12 points for Saugus (2-0).

John May scored 16 points for the Spartans, Don Williams had 14 points and Greg Swensen added 12.

Antelope Valley and Saugus will meet in a pool-play game today to determine the other tournament finalist.

Quartz Hill 62, Stockdale 55--Shawn Lett made four three-pointers and finished with 27 points and six steals for the Rebels (2-1) in a consolation game.

Jason Tomlin added 12 points and seven assists, and Chris Herbert scored 12 points for Quartz Hill, which outscored the Mustangs, 15-4, in the second quarter.

Oxnard 82, Highland 74--Damian Tafoya scored 17 points and Eric Fong and Jeff Fouchey each added 16 for the Yellowjackets (1-1) in a consolation game.

Humberto Zamaro had 20 points, and Wendell Bonner and Jon Moser each scored 13 for Highland (0-3).