Chino Hills keeps entertaining, and winning, with the Ball brothers, beating Crespi

An elderly couple in UCLA regalia were sitting on a bench outside the Crespi High gym more than three hours before the Celts’ basketball game Tuesday night against unbeaten Chino Hills, led by brothers LiAngelo and LaMelo Ball. The game was sold out and they wanted a good seat for the so-called “greatest show” in high school basketball.

Yes, Lonzo Ball has left Chino Hills and is making 35-foot shots for No. 2-ranked UCLA, but the younger brothers are still providing plenty of entertainment. In fact, LaMelo, the sophomore who has grown to 6 feet 3, gave Lonzo a run for his money when he made his own 35-foot shot to start Tuesday’s game.

It’s a different Chino Hills team without Lonzo, but one thing hasn’t changed: The Huskies keep winning. They haven’t lost since March 2015. They went 35-0 last season and are 7-0 this season after a 105-74 victory over Crespi in a game that matched last season’s Open Division state champion against the Division 1 state champion.

The only problem was Crespi (5-5) didn’t have standout guards Brandon Williams (offers from UCLA and Arizona) and Taj Regans, both of whom sat on the bench, injured. Williams is gone for the season and will soon have knee surgery. Regans should be back soon.

LiAngelo Ball, who has a 72-point performance this season, finished with 30 points. LaMelo Ball had 14 assists and 23 points. And 6-9 Onyeka Okongwu added 23 points, 14 rebounds and some terrific dunks.

Crespi students dressed in Santa Claus gear were taking selfies with LiAngelo after the game. LaMelo was being asked for selfies by little kids. Both players are scheduled to follow Lonzo to UCLA.

“Litte Reggie,” as in Reggie Miller, is what one fan called LaMelo, who twice had opportunities to record his first dunk on breakaways. They were close, but….

“I dunked,” he claimed.

“Nah, but it’s coming,” LiAngelo said.

Former Chino Hills coach Steve Baik, now at Fairfax, was at the game.

First-year Chino Hills Coach Stephan Gilling said his team is focused on playing hard and creating opportunities on defense.

“You have to play defense to get the ball as many times as we can to score as many as we can,” Gilling said.

For Crespi Coach Russell White, the good news is that he has an improving sophomore in Kyle Owens, who finished with 24 points.

There will be plenty more times to see Chino Hills play this season, and the question is whether the Huskies will be able to battle Chatsworth Sierra Canyon, Torrance Bishop Montgomery and Santa Ana Mater Dei for Southern California supremacy.

“They’re a talented group with a style that requires you to be disciplined for 32 minutes,” White said.

eric.sondheimer@latimes.com

Follow Eric Sondheimer on Twitter @latsondheimer