Boys’ basketball: Pacific Hills guards take charge in win over West Ranch
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Pacific Hills guards Jahmel Taylor, Marcus Jackson and Namon Wright combined to score all 22 of the Bruins’ points in the third quarter on Monday against West Ranch, turning a one-point halftime deficit into a nine-point lead.
No. 6 Pacific Hills (16-2) went on to secure a 77-59 victory over No. 16 West Ranch (14-5) in the Providence tournament. Taylor finished with 26 points, Jackson had 22 and Wright, who was held out of the first quarter because he missed a film session, had 16 points.
‘I wouldn’t trade my guards for anybody,’ Coach Ivan Barahona said.
Washington Coach Lorenzo Romar was at the game, and afterward, Taylor committed to the Huskies.
Pacific Hills’ only two losses have come to teams that had centers 7 feet and 6-10. West Ranch’s 6-8 Ako Kaluna caused problems, finishing with 21 points, but high scoring guard Kevin Harris was limited to a single free throw.
Jackson, who is headed to Rice, said it’s very difficult for opponents to stay with the Bruins when the guards are on their game as was the case in the second half.
‘When all three of us are doing well, I don’t think anybody can beat us,’ he said.
It’s going to be a challenging week for West Ranch, which plays Valencia in a Foothill League game on Tuesday, then takes on Hart on Friday.
In other games at Providence, La Verne Lutheran defeated View Park, 87-48. Tey Williams scored 21 points. Mission Prep defeated Renaissance, 69-61. Deshon Taylor scored 32 points in Riverside North’s 77-66 win over Palisades. Bullard defeated Dorsey, 75-49.
Buckley defeated St. Bernard, 54-40. Reid Womack scored 14 points. Bennie Boatwright had 24 points in Alemany’s 80-69 win over Gardena Serra. Ajon Efferson led Serra with 25 points.
Vance Jackson scored 30 points in La Salle’s 83-61 win over Providence. Marcus LoVett Jr. also scored 30 points for Providence.
-- Eric Sondheimer