By Stephen Ramirez
Cal’s Isiah Martinez, right, dribbles past La Habra’s Ozzy Villanueva, left, on Friday, January 9, 2015 at California High School. California High School boy’s basketball host La Habra High School on Friday, January 9, 2015 at California High School. (Photo Correspondent by Shilah Montiel/ Whittier Daily News)
WHITTIER — California High School looks ready to successfully defend its Del Rio League boys basketball title.
The Condors were near-perfect in their last dress rehearsal on Friday.
Isaiah Martinez scored 18 points and Brady Gravitt and Abel Ramirez had 11 each as California rolled to a 64-49 victory over La Habra in a nonleague game.
The Condors, also getting 10 points from Anthony Rodriguez, improved to 9-6. They open league play at home against Whittier on Wednesday. The Cardinals are 14-2.
Aaron Wilson had 18 points for the Highlanders, who slipped to 5-10.
The key moment for California came in the third quarter when the Condors opened the second half with a 13-3 blitz to go up 47-34 with two minutes left in the quarter.
They forced four consecutive turnovers, which California turned into nine points following back-to-back fast-break layups by Ramirez and Gravitt for the 13-point advantage.
La Habra, despite 13 second-half points from Wilson, was never able to get it back to single digits before losing, 64-49.
California’s Isaiah Martinez: “Hopefully, we can continue to play like this. We played really well in the third quarter tonight, but we have to play like that all four quarters (in league play).”
OTHER SCORES
NonLeague
La Mirada 60, Brea Olinda 50
GIRLS
Nonleague
Warren 61, El Rancho 49
