Basketball: Sonora outlasts La Mirada in a battle of top teams; Whittier improves to 6-0, wins El Rancho Tourney opener


By Stephen Ramirez
LA MIRADA >> There’s usually not a lot of emphasis on winning for high school boys basketball teams during December, which is often reserved for learning and improving.
Wednesday was the exception.
Christian Rhodes scored a game-high 24 points to lead visiting Sonora to a 53-51 victory over region rival La Mirada in a nonleague game that featured the Nos. 2- and 3-ranked teams by the Whittier Daily News.
Josh Rodriguez had 17 points for the Raiders (4-1). Kendall Lauderdale had 15 points and Anthony Newman and Vittorio Reynoso-Avila 13 each for the Matadores (4-1).
La Mirada, which trailed by as many as 13 points during the second half, had a chance to win it at the end. But Rendwick Helaire’s 3-pointer was short with three seconds left. Lauderale forced a jump ball with one second left on the rebound, But the possession went to Sonora, clinching it.
“These guys are our rivals,” Rhodes said. “Their fans had been talking some trash, and we didn’t say anything. But it feels good to beat them after everyone doubted us.”


WEDNESDAY’S SCORES
EL RANCHO TOURNAMENT
First Round

Ayala 63, Baldwin Park 47
Heritage Christian 51, Montebello 43
Sunny Hills 60, St. Paul 59
Whittier 68, Summit 64, OT
Bonita 65, Warren 36
Schurr vs. Washington Prep
Marina 62, Alhambra 57
El Rancho vs. Huntington Park
Beverly Hills Tournament
Westchester 47, Cantwell 45
Corona del Mar Tournament
Edison 64, California 49
Artesia Tournament
Palm Springs 62, La Serna 37
THURSDAY
Quarterfinals

Ayala vs. Heritage Chr., 3 p.m.
Sunny Hills vs. Whittier, 4:30 p.m.
Schurr-Wash. Prep winner vs. Bonita, 6 p.m.
El Rancho-Hunt. Park winner vs. Marina, 7:30 p.m.
Consolation Quarterfinals
Baldwin Park vs. Montebello, 3 p.m.
St. Paul vs. Summit, 4:30 p.m.
Warren vs. Schurr-Wash. Prep loser, 6 p.m.
Alhambra vs. El Rancho vs. Hunt. Park loser, 7:30 p.m.
Beverly Hills Tournament
Cantwell vs. Santa Monica, 6 p.m.
GIRLS
WHITTIER CHRISTIAN LEON DAVIS CLASSIC
Wednesday

San Gabriel 58, La Habra 57
Thursday
Mary Star vs. St. Joseph, 6 p.m.
Rolling Hills Prep vs. Whittier Chr., 7:30 p.m.

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