Prep Boys' Basketballers Shine Against Mary Star of Sea, 70-53

Scoring more than 20 points in two quarters gave the Flintridge Prep boys’ varsity basketball team the impetus it needed to defeat host San Pedro Mary Star of the Sea, 70-53, in a nonleague game on Monday.

The Rebels, who improved to 8-2, traveled to Village Christian on Tuesday for a nonleague game. Results were not available at press time.

Prep will play visiting Pasadena Poly in a Prep League contest tomorrow (Friday) at 7:30 p.m., host Chadwick School in a league game on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. and travel to Maranatha High for a nonleague contest on Wednesday at 5 p.m.

The Stars, who are 0-14 on the season, kept the contest close in the first quarter, losing only 16-15, but started to fall in the second quarter as the Rebels built a 42-27 lead at half-time. Prep increased its advantage to 62-40 after three quarters.

Three Rebels scored in double figures. Kevan Brown led the assault with 18 points, including three 3-point baskets. Andrew Beck came next with 15 points, including one 3-pointer, and Darin Nakauchi pumped in 13 points, including two 3-pointers.

Others were Matt Melton with seven points, Mike Simon with six points and Nathan Walworth with five points, including one 3-pointer. Daniel Hurley, Jeff Wayne and Brady Thomson scored three, two and one point, respectively.

Adding to Mary Star’s woes was the team’s poor performance at the free throw line. The Stars shot 34 free throws, but connected on only 18 of them.

It was a good win for the Rebels considering they lost a tournament title in their previous contest.

South Pasadena had just enough to overpower Prep and win the San Gabriel High Tournament championship, 64-54, on Dec. 30.

The Tigers had a two-point lead, 19-17, at the end of the first quarter. but the Rebels tied the score, 29-29, at the half. Unfortunately, the Tigers went ahead, 43-36, after three quarters and stayed ahead.

Beck was the big gun for Prep with 17 points. Nakauchi was next with 12 points. Simon pumped in nine points. Both Brown and Melton added six points each and Walworth finished with four points.

Earlier, the Rebels topped San Gabriel, 45-36, in a tournament pool play contest on Dec. 29.

Prep held the Matadors to two points in the first quarter and to just eight in the second quarter to lead 24-10 at the half. San Gabriel outscored the Rebels, 26-21, in the second half but not enough to catch up.

Beck had a game-high 18 points. Nakauchi was next with seven points. Brendan Brown followed with six points, Kevan Brown added four points and both Simon and Ismar Behram scored three points each. Others were Melton and Mark Rodli with two points apiece.

Three Prep players scored in double figures to help their team get by El Monte, 45-40, in the first round of the tournament on Dec. 27.

In the El Monte contest, both team were tied 13-13 at the end of the first quarter. The Rebels went ahead, 23-21, at the half and increased their advantage to 37-32 after three quarters.

Beck and Melton led Prep with 11 points each and Simon followed with 10 points.

Others were Brown with seven points, Wayne with four points and Nakauchi with two points.