Basketball: La Mirada boys advance to Orange Classic semifinals; St. Paul advances to SGV Classic final


FULLERTON — La Mirada High School may have lost two of its better players in seniors Vittorio Reynoso-Avila and Dylan Banks, but the setback isn’t showing on the basketball court.The Matadores, who won the CIF State Division II title last season, showed it again Monday.
Anthony Newman scored 21 points to lead La Mirada to a 49-44 victory over Yorba Linda in the quarterfinals of the Orange Holiday Classic at Hope International University.
Ian Carter, who had the game-winner in a 65-62 win over Cerritos Valley Christian on Saturday, had 14 points for the Matadores, who improved to 9-4. La Mirada will face either Foothill, of Santa Ana, or Tesoro in the Tuesday’s semifinals at 8:30 p.m. at Hope International.
Zane Paddon and Eric Hezmalhalch had 13 points each for the Mustangs, who slipped to 10-3.
La Mirada coach Bryce Jones: “It’s not easy for us without Dylan and V, but it is what it is. We have a lot of young guys. We have to figure out ways to (get it done). For us, it’s jut a learning curve, a process. We’re trying to figure it out day by day.”
La Mirada’s Anthony Newman: “It’s a tough loss (losing those players). But you have to keep going. You just have to do it.”
— Stephen Ramirez
SAN GABRIEL VALLEY CLASSICSt. Paul 66, Monrovia 51
MONROVIA — The St. Paul High School boys basketball team is undergoing a transformation. The Swordsmen have six victories, nearly matching the eight they have won the past two seasons.
Transfers Louis Bangai and Jaylon Ballou will make sure St. Paul will easily beat that number, and definitely earn a lot more victories.
On Monday, the Swordsmen (6-3) moved into Wednesday’s San Gabriel Valley Classic championship game with a 66-51 victory over host Monrovia.
St. Paul plays Santiago at Monrovia on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. in an off-bracket game. No matter who wins, the Swordsmen will play in the title game. Monrovia plays host to Arcadia at 4 p.m. in the other off-bracket game. No matter the result, the Wildcats go to Wednesday’s third-place game.
Cameroon’s Bangai, who transferred from a Florida school five months ago, had 28 points, 18 rebounds and four blocked shots. Ballou, who last played in Texas, had 15 points, but was more impressive with his penetration and passes, including an alley-oop pass to Bangai for a dunk.
St. Paul coach Damaine Powell: “We’ve got really good point guard (in Ballou), one of the best in the state. We have one of the best centers in the state. That’s not a bad place to start. They are getting more and more comfortable with what we want to do. They are really good kids and we’re trying to blend the kids and trying to build morale at St. Paul.”
OTHER SCORES
HH WILSON TOURNAMENT
Pool Play

Whittier 70, Wilson 58
NOGALES TOURNAMENT
Consolation

La Serna 47, Rowland 44
Carter 54, Montebello 48
COVINA TOURNAMENT
Consolation

California 60, Sierra Vista 51
WHITTIER CHRISTIAN TOURNAMENT
Pool Play

Whittier Christian 65, Anaheim 32
TUESDAY’S SCHEDULE
ORANGE HOLIDAY CLASSIC
At Hope International University
Semifinals

La Mirada vs. Foothill, 8:30 p.m.
HH WILSON TOURNAMENT
Whittier vs. Bell Gardens, 6 p.m.
NOGALES TOURNAMENT
Consolation Semifinals

La Serna vs. Yucaipa, 3 p.m.
COVINA TOURNAMENT
Consolation Semifinals

California vs. Lakeside, 1:30 p.m.
WHITTIER CHRISTIAN
Pool Play

Whittier Chr. vs. Buena Park, 7:30 p.m.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
CANTWELL TOURNAMENT
Quarterfinals
Whittier 52, Roosevelt 23
Cantwell 63, Franklin 30
TUESDAY’S SCHEDULE
CANTWELL TOURNAMENT
Semifinals

Whittier vs. Cantwell, 7:30 p.m.

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