A Spartan Effort for Arenas

Nobody is saying which school Gilbert Arenas will play for next season, but the highly touted senior-to-be left little doubt that he is a big part of Sylmar High during the Spartans’ 76-67 victory over Inglewood in the final of the War on the Floor tournament on Friday night at Chatsworth High.

Arenas, one of the top players in the region while playing for Grant last season, scored 24 points, but his mere presence seemed to lift the Sylmar team.

He made several key steals that led to fast break opportunities, he fought hard under the boards to pull down rebounds against bigger players and drew double teams that allowed other players to get open looks at the basket.

Arenas has hinted he will leave Grant to play someplace else next season. Rumors that his choice would be Sylmar came closer to reality when he began suiting up for the Spartans in the second round of this tournament, especially since Grant Coach Howie Levine has said Arenas would not be welcomed back on his team if he played for another team during the summer.

Two layups and a dunk by Arenas were part of a 10-4 run that gave the Spartans a 35-32 halftime lead.

Inglewood pulled to within 71-67 with 32 seconds left but Jeremiah Turner’s dunk with 11 seconds to play sealed the victory.

Turner was injured on the play but left the court under his own power.

Brandon Jacobs had 17 points for Sylmar.

Notre Dame 59, Harvard-Westlake 48--The Wolverines used a 20-5 run to start the second half and all but erase a 33-15 halftime deficit, but Notre Dame answered with a 15-5 run and won the third-place game.

Dante Ward had 20 points, including five three-pointers, for Notre Dame. He had four three-pointers in the first half.

Alex Holmes had 16 points for the Wolverines and Russell Lakey added 12, including 10 in the second half.

Sylmar 60, Notre Dame 57--Brandon Griffith’s three-point shot at the buzzer hit the back of the rim and bounced out, and Sylmar held on in a semifinal game.

The Spartans made five of eight free throws in the final 56 seconds, including two by Brandon Jacobs with 13 seconds left for a 60-57 lead.

Dante Ward made a three-point shot for Notre Dame with 15 seconds left to pull the Knights to within 58-57.

Simi Valley 81, Cleveland 77--The Pioneers made six of seven free throws in overtime and hung on to take fifth place.

Kenny Mason made a 15-foot jump shot with 11 seconds left in regulation to tie the score, 71-71, and send the game to overtime.

Simi Valley started the overtime period with a 6-2 run and forced the Cavaliers to foul. Brothers Brett and Shaun Michel each made two of two free throws in the final 28 seconds.

Simi Valley Coach Dean Bradshaw was ejected for arguing a foul, then refusing to give the ball back to referees midway through the second half.

Branduinn Fullove had 25 points for the Pioneers and Brett Michel had 13 of his 21 points after halftime to help his team overcome a 30-27 deficit.

Kent Dennis had 26 points for Cleveland and Brian Smith had 24 before fouling out with 5:54 left in regulation and Cleveland leading, 57-54. Mason had 21 points for Cleveland.

Chatsworth 52, Crespi 41--The Chancellors started the game with a 14-0 run, capped by Marquis Morris’ dunk with 12:35 left in the first half, and won the consolation final.

Andrew Moore hit a three-point basket for Crespi to end the scoring drought, but the Celts could not get back into the game.

Richard Harrison scored 15 points for Chatsworth and Morris added 12. Pat Dornan had 11 points for the Celts.

Cleveland 72, Clovis West 66--Brian Smith had 17 of his 23 points in the second half and the Cavaliers overcame a 30-24 halftime deficit to advance to the fifth-place game.

Kent Dennis of Cleveland had 10 of his 18 points after halftime, including four of five free throws.

Simi Valley 61, Centennial 49--Simi Valley trailed, 33-29, at halftime, but took a 39-38 lead for good on a backdoor layup by Shaun Michel with 15:15 left.

The Pioneers increased the lead to 59-47 when Brett Michel hit a three-point basket with two minutes left.

Brett Michel scored 27 points and Branduinn Fullove had 14 for Simi Valley.

Chatsworth 50, Santa Monica 47--Richard Harrison scored 15 points and Ronald Ruffin had 11, and Chatsworth advanced to the consolation final.

The Chancellors (4-1) trailed, 45-39, with 8:50 left but scored 11 consecutive points before Santa Monica (2-3) hit a basket with two seconds to go.

Crespi 53, Burbank 45--Crespi sank eight free throws in the last two minutes to hold off a late rally by Burbank and advance to the consolation final.

Blake Tibbetts scored 16 points, including four on free throws down the stretch, and Mike Luderer added 10 points for the Celts.

Eric Rowher scored 18 points and Frank Reed had 11 for Burbank, which cut a 12-point deficit to four points with 12 minutes left. The Bulldogs were within five with 3 1/2 minutes to go.

Canoga Park 53, Fresno Buchanan 46--Mike Bell scored 13 of his 23 points in the second half and Canoga Park broke away from a 24-24 halftime tie to claim ninth place.

Jammie Harris and Jon Townsend each scored 10 points for Canoga Park.

Gary Kraschel had 22 for Buchanan.

Correspondent Lauren Peterson contributed to this roundup.