Alemany wins Southern Section Division 3A title
Motivated by chants of “overrated” from the Oak Park student section, Mission Hills Alemany point guard Max Guercy responded by scoring 11 of his 21 points in the second quarter to ignite the Warriors to a 72-60 victory over the Eagles in the Southern Section Division 3A championship game Saturday at the Anaheim Convention Center.
It is Alemany’s first boys’ basketball title since the school opened in 1956. The top-seeded Warriors (28-4) charged back from a seven-point deficit to overwhelm Oak Park (24-8), whose standout guard Ron Lee Jr. (19 points) fouled out early in the fourth quarter.
Marqueze Coleman scored 18 of his 23 points in the second half for Alemany, including a one-handed put-back dunk in the fourth quarter that brought Alemany fans to their feet.
“When we come to play, I don’t think there’s a team that can handle us,” Guercy said.
Alemany, which owns two victories over 1AA power Los Angeles Loyola and wins over 4AA powers Los Angeles Price and Encino Crespi, will be one of the favorites to win a state title in Division III.
Pasadena wins
A strong defensive effort propelled Pasadena (25-6) past Arroyo Grande, 50-35, in the 3AAA championship game. Brandon Jolley scored 18 points and Blake Hamilton had 10 points and 15 rebounds.
Inglewood triumphs
Kris Randall and Nick Smiley scored 15 points apiece, and 6-foot-10 center Charles Lockwood had a key three-point play with 51 seconds left to help Inglewood (21-11) win the 2AA championship with a 60-57 victory over Simi Valley Royal.
It was the Sentinels’ first title since future Boston Celtics star Paul Pierce led the team in 1994. JR Powell scored 16 points for the Highlanders (24-7).
Mayfair wins
Dion Wright had 20 points and younger brother Brian scored 13 to lead top-seeded Lakewood Mayfair (26-5) past Santa Maria Righetti, 60-45, in the 2A championship game. Mayfair fell behind, 16-8, after one quarter, then outscored Righetti, 24-5, in the second quarter.
Upset in 5A
Encino Holy Martyrs got 33 points and 13 rebounds from 5-11 senior Nshan Kenjoian to defeat top-seeded Burbank Providence, 65-62, in overtime in the 5A final. Freshman Marcus LoVett Jr. had 38 points for Providence.
La Canada Renaissance won in Division 6 with a 67-45 win over Wildomar California Lutheran.
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