Alta Loma vs. Cantwell in the first half of a prep basketball game during the Cantwell Girls Basketball Tournament final at Cantwell-Sacred Heart of Mary High School in Montebello, Calif., on Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2015. (Photo by Libby Cline/Whittier Daily News)

CANTWELL TOURNAMENT
CHAMPIONSHIP
ALTA LOMA 57, CANTWELL 55

MONTEBELLO — Both of the Cantwell Sacred Heart of Mary High School girls basketball team’s previous two losses were the result of slow starts the Cardinals couldn’t overcome.
This time, it was all about finishing.
Camille Parker scored 27 points and Malena Martinez had 22 to lead Alta Loma to a 57-55 victory over Cantwell on Wednesday in the Cardinal Classic championship game at Cantwell High School.
Parker scored nine of her 27 points during the fourth quarter as the Braves (8-2) overcame a 12-point deficit in the second half to surprise the Cardinals.
Lily Perkins had 22 points and Victoria Guerrero 11 for Cantwell, which slipped to 10-3. Valeria Lizarraga also had nine points for the Cardinals, who cut the lead to 57-55 with two seconds left on a 3-pointer by Guerrero. But Alta Loma was able to get the ball inbounds to run out the clock.
Cantwell coach Matt Zamora: “We’ve never been able to finish quarters off very well either. That’s been an issue too. But Alta Loma did a good job of closing quarters well, and those 2, 3, 4-point swings make a huge difference when it’s close.”
— Stephen Ramirez
WILSON TOURNAMENT
CHAMPIONSHIP
CLAREMONT 83, WHITTIER 68
HACIENDA HEIGHTS — After losing in the title game of an early-season tournament, Claremont High School came through with a championship in the inaugural Wilson High “Battle of the Ball” Christmas Classic on Wednesday night with an 83-68 victory over Whittier.
Claremont, which is ranked eighth in CIF-Southern Section Division 2AA, was led by junior guard Kyle Scalmanini with a game-high 20 points. He was named to the all-tournament team.
Claremont guard Tyler Fraser was named MVP of the tournament. The junior added 14 points in the title game.
Whittier (9-5), which earlier won the season-opening Bosco Tech tournament, was led by senior guard Anthony Rios with 18 points.
Named to the all-tournament team from Whittier were senior guard Miguel Salazar (17 points) and Antonio Roberts (10 points).
— John Sherrard
OTHER SCORES
BOYS
SAN GABRIEL VALLEY CLASSIC
Championship
Upland 70, St. Paul 61
ORANGE HOLIDAY CLASSIC
Third-Place
La Mirada 47, Crean Lutheran 38
COVINA TOURNAMENT
Consolation
California 51, South Hills 50
NOGALES TOURNAMENT
Consolation Championship
La Serna def. Carter
GIRLS
CANTWELL TOURNAMENT
Third-Place Game
St. Bonaventure 35, Whittier 29