Hamilton brothers lead St. John Bosco past Orange Lutheran

When one brother plays in the NBA and another brother plays professionally in Japan, it’s a big advantage. Brothers Isaac and Daniel Hamilton of Bellflower St. John Bosco spent last summer learning from their older brothers Jordan and Gary, and their improvement can be seen every time they’re on the basketball court.

Isaac, a 6-foot-5 junior, scored 37 points and Daniel, a 6-6 sophomore, scored 23 points for St. John Bosco, which held off Orange Lutheran, 80-73, on Wednesday night in a Trinity League game. St. John Bosco is 14-2 and 4-0 in league play under first-year Coach Derrick Taylor.

The arrival of the Hamilton brothers from Crenshaw has added a new dimension to the Trinity race. Suddenly, the Braves are set to host Santa Ana Mater Dei in a showdown game next Friday, and there might need to be a lottery to decide who gets a ticket in what figures to be a sold-out Braves gym.

“It will be a zoo,” Taylor said.

The brothers are unselfish and on the same page. Daniel sent Isaac a perfect lob that resulted in a dunk.

“Me and him, we play backyard basketball on the main court,” Isaac said.

Both said learning from their older brothers has made a huge difference in their games. And Taylor has them blending in perfectly, something he did well during his days at Woodland Hills Taft, where he developed such players as Jordan Farmar, Larry Drew Jr. and Michael Williams.

Orange Lutheran fell behind by 14 points in the fourth quarter but closed to 74-71 with 1 minute 45 seconds left. St. John Bosco was worried, because Isaac Hamilton fouled out. But Braiten Madrigal made a three-point shot with 1:14 left, providing a lift.

Payton Banks scored 20 points and Darien Williams had 19 for Orange Lutheran (12-6, 2-3), which lost its fourth consecutive game and had to sit out Gabe York for a second consecutive game because he violated a CIF rule by playing in an adult-league game last week.

More help is coming for St. John Bosco in the form of 6-9 sophomore center Devin Burleson, a transfer from Nevada who played last season at Pacific Hills. He is expected to become eligible next week.

“He’s a big, strong, bouncy guy,” Taylor said. “He’s a pure center.”

Taylor used a similar center, 6-10 Kevin Johnson, last season when Taft won the City Section Division I title.

St. John Bosco leaves for New Orleans on Thursday to play in a tournament.

eric.sondheimer@latimes.com