Boys’ basketball: KZ Okpala of Esperanza scores 36 points in latest performance

Any discussion about top player in Southern California must include 6-foot-8 senior KZ Okpala of Esperanza. He’s averaging 29.5 points, and in his latest performance, he scored 36 points, grabbed 12 rebounds and blocked five shots in a 76-68 win over Villa Park on Friday night.

He scored 26 points in the second half. Bound for Stanford, Okpala took charge and also created opportunities for his teammates as Esperanza improved to 17-1. Myles Franklin scored 27 points for Villa Park.

In the Trinity League, Mater Dei is 19-1 and 3-0 after a 67-46 win over JSerra. Justice Sueing had 17 points and Michael Wang 15. Santa Margarita defeated St. John Bosco, 64-32. Adrease Jackson scored 15 points. Orange Lutheran defeated Servite, 50-47. Chris Williams had 17 points.

In the Mission League, Alemany is 15-3 and 4-0 after a 66-55 win over Chaminade. Fred Odhiambo had 20 points and 12 rebounds. DJ McDonald added 19 points. KJ Martin led Chaminade with 14 points.

Harvard-Westlake defeated Notre Dame, 47-43. Cassius Stanley scored 14 points. Loyola defeated St. Francis, 61-51. Khristion Courseault led the Cubs with 19 points. Andre Henry had 16 for St. Francis.

No. 1-ranked Chino Hills, playing without injured LiAngelo Ball and Andre Ball, held off Etiwanda, 72-67, in a Baseline League game. It was Chino Hills’ 53rd consecutive win. Eli Scott scored 26 points and LaMelo Ball 16. Elijah Harkless had 23 points and Miles Oliver 20 for Etiwanda.

Damien defeated Upland, 97-84. Cameron Shelton scored 24 points and had 16 rebounds. Elijah McCullough added 23 points. Rancho Cucamonga defeated Los Osos, 95-84.

In the Foothill League, Saugus defeated West Ranch, 67-64. Anthony McIntyre scored 20 points. Hart defeated Canyon, 59-47. Golden Valley defeated Valencia, 56-55, on a shot at the buzzer by Richard Kawakami.

In the West Valley League, Taft set up a showdown with Birmingham for Wednesday by defeating El Camino Real, 51-44. Antwan January scored 22 poiints. Birmingham defeated Granada Hills, 86-61. Mark Boland made four threes and finsihed with 22 points.

In the Valley Mission League, Van Nuys defeated Sylmar, 86-80. Tyree Winborn had 33 points. Van Nuys had been 1-16 against the Spartans in recent years. Matthew Sykes added 23 points and 15 rebounds. Dayquan Williams scored 26 for Sylmar.

In the Western League, Fairfax defeated Venice, 68-28. Jamal Hartwell scored 20 points. Westchester defeated University, 72-54. Louis Rodriguez had 21 points. Jude Agbasi led University with 15 points.

In the Coliseum League, Kevin Kinard and Chris Kendrick each scored 16 points in Crenshaw’s 67-62 win over Fremont. Dorsey defeated Manual Arts, 70-48.

In the East Valley League, Grant defeated Monroe, 62-52. Avo Danielian had 20 points.

Jack Roggin scored 32 points as Calabasas defeated Thousand Oaks, 65-50. Oak Park defeated Moorpark, 74-45. Freshman Clark Slajchert finished with 27 poitns and Riley Battin added 25 points. Oaks Christian defeated Newbury Park, 69-45. Grant Bierling had 15 points.

Westlake defeated Agoura, 58-36. Adam Hess finished with 17 points and Drew Brackens 16.

In the Rio Hondo League, La Canada defeated Monrovia, 76-49. Sean Estes had 18 points.

Bishop Montgomery rolled to a 70-31 win over Gardena Serra. Ethan Thompson scored 23 points.

Los Altos (13-3, 2-0) won a showdown over Walnut, 70-57. Jarod Lucas scored 31 points.

Redondo defeated Inglewood, 85-57. Ryse Williams scored 32 points. Jace Bass added 16 points.

Chadwick defeated Flintridge Prep, 63-53. John Berenato led Chadwick with 22 points. Jake Althouse had 21 for Flintridge.

Highland stayed unbeaten in the Golden League with a 92-20 win over Littlerock. Justen Miller scored 17 points.

In Missouri, Sierra Canyon defeated Findlay Prep, 76-47. Marvin Bagley III scored 30 points and Remy Martin had 16.

Oxnard defeated Hueneme, 88-31. Brycen Wight finishd with 20 points.

In Canada, Rolling Hills Prep suffered its first defeat, 104-92, to Kelowna. Alex Garcia scored 49 points in a losing effort.

Santa Monica defeated Hawthorne, 77-30. Rip Economou had 19 points and De’sean Allen-Eikens 18.

Randall Walker scored a school-record 45 points in Edison’s 75-70 overtime win over Newport Harbor.

Burroughs defeated Glendale, 67-33. Tristen Hull had 23 points and 13 rebounds.

Palos Verdes defeated Mira Costa, 57-56, in overtime on a buzzer-beater shot by Sebastian Atashi behind the half-court line.

Peninsula defeated Morningside, 61-53. Wony’a Singleton and Nick Frasso each had 15 points.

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