Pearson Scores 41, Lifts No. 1 Notre Dame

Cody Pearson, doing his best imitation of Kobe Bryant, scored a career-high 41 points and had 12 rebounds in Notre Dame High’s 70-66 victory over Valencia on Thursday in the Canyon tournament at Canyon High.

Valencia (3-4) took a 53-51 lead with 4:05 left on a basket by Alex Dunwoody.

Pearson scored 13 of Notre Dame’s next 19 points, including four free throws in the final 13 seconds, to propel the Knights (3-0), No. 1 in The Times’ regional poll, into Saturday’s championship game against Canyon.

“I don’t feel like Kobe, but you have to have a killer’s instinct mentality that nobody can stop you,” said Pearson, who is averaging 31.0 points in three games.

Senior point guard Albert Ingram scored 29 points for Valencia.

Michael Luderer of Notre Dame ended his self-imposed vacation after playing 13 weeks with the football team. Luderer was supposed to take a week off, but he changed his mind after the Knights barely defeated Quartz Hill on Monday.

The All-Mission League guard made two three-pointers in the final 2:18.

Quartz Hill 61, Monroe 58--Tony Johnson scored 25 points for Quartz Hill (5-2).