On Mission, Chaminade Trounces San Fernando

Eight days and counting.

That’s the time left for Chaminade High to prepare for a Jan. 5 Mission League basketball showdown at top-ranked Notre Dame.

There’s much work to do for the Eagles (5-4), who have two freshmen in their starting lineup and are trying to develop more scoring threats in support of three-time All-Southern Section center Scott Borchart.

The Chaminade tournament this week will be an important indicator whether the Eagles are pretenders or contenders.

A 79-42 first-round victory Wednesday over San Fernando wasn’t a fair test, considering the Tigers played without 6-foot-5 center Ruben Nevarez, who was ill.

Towering over San Fernando’s small defenders, the 6-9 Borchart scored 23 points, making nine of 10 shots.

Chaminade made its first seven shots and led, 39-17, at halftime.

Two games ahead could reveal much about the Eagles. On Friday, they are expected to face unbeaten Agoura in a semifinal game. A victory would likely put them against Riordan of San Francisco in the final on Saturday.

Chaminade went 2-2 last week in Maui, but looking back, it could be recognized as a decisive moment because Coach Jeff Young promoted freshman point guard Marcus Everett to the starting lineup.

Everett, who turned 15 Friday, has some of the same qualities as Cayce Cook, former Chaminade point guard who helped the Eagles win consecutive Southern Section Division III-AA championships.

“He doesn’t get rattled,” Young said.

Whether Everett will be physically ready to take on guards the caliber of Cody Pearson from Notre Dame, Allan Ellis from Crespi and Michael Jenkins from St. Francis remains to be seen. Young and others are betting he can.

“He’s right what we need,” Borchart said. “He can handle the ball, shoot and pass.”

Agoura 64, Grant 55--Playing their first game in three weeks, the Chargers weren’t particularly sharp but won with six consecutive free throws by Kevin Cornwell in the final 45 seconds.

Mike Charleston had 35 points and 11 rebounds for Grant (6-4), which is having difficulty finding players to score other than Charleston and point guard Gino Riney. Through three quarters, they had 32 of Grant’s 36 points.

Adam Allegro made five three-pointers and scored 22 points for Agoura (9-0). Cornwell added 19 and Johnny Gray had 12.

The Chargers play Calabasas today at 3:30 p.m. in a quarterfinal game.

Monroe 41, Oak Park 40--Robert Castillo’s basket with one second left lifted the Vikings.

Ramal Goodrich scored 17 points for Monroe (4-6), which plays Chaminade in a quarterfinal game tonight at 5.

Calabasas 60, Van Nuys 40--Sky Holm scored 10 points to help the Coyotes (3-8) win their opener.

Campbell Hall 66, El Camino Real 58--Robert Lock scored 13 of his 24 points in the fourth quarter for the victorious Vikings.

Lock made 14 of 15 free throws.

San Francisco Riordan 73, Birmingham 33--Marquis Cately had 14 points as 12 players scored for the Crusaders.

Riordan led, 35-19, at halftime and outscored Birmingham, 22-6, in the third quarter.

Fontana A.B. Miller 81, Lancaster 63--Michael Webb had 16 points for the Eagles (8-3), but five players scored in double figures to lift the Rebels (10-2).

Fresno Bullard 58, Kennedy 40--Bullard (5-3) broke open a close game by outscoring Kennedy, 15-6, in the third quarter.