Price Is Just Right as Fill-In

Los Angeles Price was a last-minute replacement Saturday in the Pangos Dream Classic at Hope International University in Fullerton. The Knights filled in for Los Angeles Fremont, which had replaced L.A. Washington, because both teams had expended their allotted number of nonleague games for the season.

The Knights (12-2) did not arrive unprepared. They played one of their sharpest games of the season in a 65-49 victory over Gardena Serra. The effort was especially noteworthy because Price spent considerable energy the night before in a 68-57 loss to L.A. Dorsey.

“I really like this team,” Coach Michael Lynch said. “We don’t have anybody with a star complex, just a bunch of guys trying to play hard and get minutes.”

The Knights return two starters from last season’s team, including senior Marcus Palmer, who is averaging about 24 points. Price lost in the state Division V finals last season.

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The lure of Hollywood attracts all types of characters, but not many wind up coaching boys’ basketball teams.

Peter Brey took over at L.A. Brentwood this fall after serving as a volunteer assistant last season at L.A. Loyola. He came to town for the chance to further an acting career. Not his own, but rather that of his daughter Kristin.

“It was the right thing to do,” said Brey, who played college basketball at Wisconsin and retired after 22 years at Merrill Lynch.

The move has paid off for both. Kristin recently landed a role as a basketball player in a film that includes veteran actor Bruce Dern, and Peter inherited three returning starters from a 21-5 team that advanced to the Southern Section Division IV-AA semifinals last season.

Among the returning starters is Adam Howland, a 6-foot-4 senior and the son of UCLA men’s basketball Coach Ben Howland.

Brey said the most difficult part of his job has been implementing his system of offense and defense.

“There have been some bumps in the road, but it’s a great place and I plan on being there a while,” he said.

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Matt Border of La Habra is on pace to be atop the state leaders in blocked shots again this season. Border, a 6-9 senior, had 56 blocks through the first 12 games. He also leads the Highlanders in scoring and rebounding.

Last season, Border totaled 164 blocked shots, which was third-best in the state and tops among players in the three largest enrollment divisions. He had 14 in a game against Buena Park.

“He just has really good timing,” Coach Mark Stewart said. “He’s one of those kids that always has his hands straight up in the air. If he doesn’t block the shot, he’s going to change it.”

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League play begins in earnest this week and several top teams aren’t wasting any time in facing one another.

On Wednesday, North Hollywood Harvard-Westlake travels to Loyola for a Mission League game, Woodland Hills Taft plays at Reseda Cleveland in the West Valley League, Compton Centennial travels to El Segundo for a Pioneer League game and Lakewood Mayfair plays at Lakewood Artesia in the Suburban League.

On Friday, Lynwood plays host to Compton Dominguez in a San Gabriel Valley League showdown and L.A. Crenshaw travels to Fremont in the Coliseum League.