Boys’ basketball: Big-time players are coming through in big-time games

It’s that time of the year when the big-time players start taking teams on their back.

At Corona Centennial, junior point guard Sedrick Barefield has scored 28, 29 and 29 points in his last three games. With standout forward Deontae North not playing on Saturday against L.A. Cathedral, Barefield took charge and led the Huskies to victory. “He’s been unreal,” Coach Josh Giles said.

At Santa Ana Mater Dei, Stanley Johnson is doing things that have caused several long-time observers to call him one of the greatest players in Southern California history. He had 29 points last week against St. John Bosco.

At Etiwanda, Jordan McLaughlin is coming through again and again, making big shots, big assists and big steals.

At El Camino Real, defensive specialist Evan Wardlow scored 20 points before an overflow crowd on the road to lead El Camino Real to a West Valley League victory over Taft.

At Westchester, Elijah Stewart has begun to assert himself just in time for the Comets’ showdown game against Fairfax on Monday night at Fairfax.

At Sierra Canyon, sophomore Deveal Ramsey and freshman Cody Riley are playing like seniors. Every time a game is on the line, they rise up right on cue.

At Hart, senior Lewis Stallworth and junior Myles Franklin have combined to lead the Indians to an unbeaten record in the Foothill League and 22-2 overall.

At Long Beach Millikan, Malik Marquetti, who started the season as a relative unknown, has led the Rams to prominence in the Moore League. Last week, Millikan upset Compton.

Eric.sondheimer@latimes.com