BOYS' BASKETBALL: ECR crushes Chaminade, 71-44

The El Camino Real boys' basketball team turned what was supposed to be a close game between public and private school rivals into a very lopsided affair Monday in a 71-44 nonleague victory against Chaminade.

Sophomores Julian Richardson and Maleke Haynes made names for themselves with spectacular performances.

Richardson scored 30 points, including six 3-pointers and was 11 of 15 from the floor.

Haynes scored 22 points and had six assists, four steals, and most importantly, only one turnover.

"We came with it, we came hard," Haynes said. "Our mind set every game is to play hard on defense and the offense will come with it."

Chaminade had a great start.

The Eagles (3-2) made their first eight shots from the floor and led, 17-12.

It was all ECR from that point on. And Chaminade made only 10 of 40 shots the rest of the way.

The Conquistadores (6-3) turned the game with an impressive 17-2 run that covered the end of the second quarter and start of the third quarter.

Richardson made three 3-pointers in the second quarter and Haynes scored eight points in the third quarter.

Chaminade had trouble with the speed and suffocating on-ball defense from ECR.

Sophomore Jack Williams, who was offered scholarship by Colorado, scored 18 points and grabbed nine rebounds to lead Chaminade.

High-scoring point guard Jaron Martin was held to seven points for the Eagles.

"We seemed rattled by the crowd," Williams said. "We were ready and prepared, but we broke down mentally. We were not tough enough. We didn't show enough poise. That is not how we play."

Richardson made a 3-pointer with 3:23 remaining before halftime to give the Conquistadores a 27-24 lead, and they would never look back.

Richardson made another 3-pointer at the 1:23 mark of the second quarter, and his 3-pointer with 5:38 remaining in the game extended the lead to 18.

"I just stayed with my shot and didn't change," Richardson said. "We were real focused today. We had to get a big win."

---Jacob H. Pollon