CIF SS: Hamilton, Okongwu with mega-efforts Tuesday
LAGUNA NIGUEL, Ca. – Pasadena (88-75 vs. Damien), Long Beach Poly (85-76 vs. Oak Park), Chino Hills (87-74 vs. Corona Centennial) and Rancho Verde (53-43 vs. Roosevelt) collected the most high-profile victories – all away from home – during Tuesday night’s CIF Southern Section Division I quarterfinals.
The wins not only propelled them to the Friday night semifinals but also secured spots in the State Southern Regional D-I bracket, which will be unveiled on March 4.
The losses by Damien, Oak Park and Roosevelt also meant the end to the prep careers of several significant members of the Southern California Prep Class of 2018.
*Guard Cameron Shelton scored 34 points in Damien’s loss to Pasadena. He was a starter as freshman at Chino Hills and a reserved on the 2015-16, Lonzo Ball-led Huskies squad that was 35-0.
He had an outstanding junior campaign with the Spartans after transferring to Damien.
*Forward Riley Battin (who is going to the University of Utah) scored 43 points and grabbed 16 rebounds in his finale as an Oak Park Eagle.
Two of his teammates, Dartmouth-bound guard Wes Slajchert and future Santa Clara Bronco center Zeke Richards also had their prep swan songs Tuesday night against Poly.
*Roosevelt’s Jared Williams, David Agba and Brennon Wade saw their high school careers Tuesday night, as well.
They were starters, too, for Coach Steve Singleton’s State Division I championship team.
One senior whose career was extended for at least one more sectional game – and into the state tournament – was Poly’s Darryl Polk Jr.
The 5-foot-10 left hander scored 27 points as the Jackrabbits knocked off the division’s top seed.
A junior teammate, Malik Salahuddin, scored a career-best 29 points.
And Pasadena senior guards Bryce Hamilton (PICTURED/35 points and nine rebounds) and Darius Brown II (23 points) dazzled for the Bulldogs.
Two other juniors, guard Jaxen Turner (20 points) and forward Tory San Antonio (15) led Rancho Verde.
And the best junior in the western portion of the country, 6-9 Onyeka Okongwu, produced another of his statistical orgies in Chino Hills’ victory.
Okongwu scored 37 points with 18 rebounds, nine dunks and four blocked shots.
In light of all of Tuesday’s action, here’s the updated BurlisonOnBasketball SoCal team ratings:
SoCal Top 10 Plus 15
(Records as of Feb. 20)
- Torrance Bishop Montgomery (Southern Section/26-0)
Saturday: vs. Sierra Canyon/Open at Cal Baptist (Riv.)
- Etiwanda (SS/28-1)
Saturday: vs. Mater Dei/Open at Cal Baptist (Riv.)
- Chatsworth Sierra Canyon (SS/22-3)
Saturday: vs. Bishop Montgomery/Open at Cal Baptist (Riv.)
- Santa Ana Mater Dei (SS/21-6)
Saturday: vs. Etiwanda/Open at Cal Baptist (Riv.)
- Temecula Rancho Christian (SS/26-3)
Friday: at St. John Bosco/Open-consolation
- Westchester (L.A. City/28-5)
Saturday: vs. Granada Hills/Open at L.A. Roybal High
- Rancho SM Santa Margarita (SS/20-7)
Friday: at Crespi/Open-consolation
- Bellflower St. John Bosco (SS/21-7)
Friday: vs. Rancho Christian/Open-consolation
- El Cajon Foothills Christian (San Diego/24-5)
Friday: vs. St. Augustine/Open
- Fairfax (City/21-8)
Saturday: vs. Taft/Open at L.A. Roybal High
- Encino Crespi (SS/25-3)
Friday: vs. Santa Margarita/Open-consolation
- Chino Hills (SS/19-11)
Friday: vs. Long Beach Poly/D-1
- Pasadena (SS/22-6)
Friday: vs. Rancho Verde/D-1
- San Bernardino Cajon (SS/24-6)
Friday: at Santa Monica Crossroads/D-2AA
- La Verne Damien (SS/23-7)
Season concluded.
- Woodland Hills Taft (LAC/26-7)
Saturday: vs. Fairfax/Open
- Mission Bay (SDS/24-5)
Friday: vs. Vista/Open
- Long Beach Poly (SS/22-7)
Friday: vs. Chino Hills/D-1
- Oak Park (SS/22-7)
Season concluded.
- San Diego Torrey Pines (SD/27-2)
Friday: vs. La Jolla Country Day/Open
- Long Beach St. Anthony (SS/28-2)
Friday: vs. Irvine Crean Lutheran/D-3AA
- Moreno Valley Rancho Verde (SS/21-9
Tuesday: at. Roosevelt/D-1
- Corona Centennial (SS/21-11)
Season concluded.
- Eastvale Roosevelt (SS/25-4)
Season concluded.
- Studio City Harvard-Westlake (SS/22-6)
Season concluded.
Dropped out: Harbor City Narbonne (LAC/21-7; Thursday, vs. Birmingham, Open-consolation)