Spartan Freshman Basketball Takes Third in Tourney

The La Cañada High boys’ freshman basketball team improved its overall season record to 10-1 by winning three of four games last week.

The Spartans began the week with a 47-28 win over La Salle on Dec. 13. Clarke Anderson scored 11 points, Bryan Collins scored nine and Eric Smith had eight assists.

La Cañada opened play in the San Marino Tournament on Dec. 14 by defeating Alhambra 55-46. Anderson scored 16 points, Smith scored 12 and had six assists, Collins scored eight points and All-Tournament selection Max Russell scored nine points and pulled down six rebounds.

The Spartans met a tough Burbank squad in the tournament semifinals and had their nine game winning streak snapped as they lost 54-35. Smith had 10 points and 10 rebounds, and Anderson and Jeff Oechsel each scored eight points.

La Cañada bounced back by winning the third place game by a score of 69-18 over San Marino. Collins scored 12 points, Alex Chang scored nine, Riley Heaton had six points and four rebounds, and Sonny Kennelly and Graham Chuck had six and five rebounds respectively.

The La Cañada freshmen concluded the nonleague portion of their schedule with a game at West Ranch on Monday. Results were not available at press time.

The Spartans will not play again until Jan. 11 when they will host Monrovia in a Rio Hondo League game at 5 p.m.