Boys’ basketball: Viewpoint (4-0) wins Calabasas tournament

Whenever Coach J.J. Prince of Calabasas Viewpoint needs to give out a special assignment, 5-foot-10 Sayo Denloye is the usual candidate. There’s probably nothing Denloye can’t do if asked.

“We nicknamed him ‘The Machine’ because he’s so versatile,” Prince said. “He does so much on the basketball court. I think he’s one of the best on-ball defenders in Southern California.”

Denloye was named tournament MVP on Saturday night after helping Viewpoint (4-0) knock off Harvard-Westlake, 73-55, in the championship game of the Calabasas tournament. He finished with 15 points and helped contain 6-5 Harvard-Westlake freshman Cassius Stanley, who had 23 points.

“That kid is going to be good,” Denloye said. “I tried to get into his head a lot, make him shoot jumpers.”

After a 32-32 halftime deadlock, Viewpoint went on an 18-3 surge in the third quarter to pull away. The Patriots are loaded with experience, led by Harvard-bound point guard Christian Juzang and senior Arman Arslanian, who had 17 points.

It was a battle of former assistant coaches to Crespi Coach Russell White _ Prince and Harvard-Westlake Coach David Rebibo.

Viewpoint has now beaten two Mission League teams this week _ the Wolverines and Chaminade. The Patriots play Crespi on Friday.

In consolation games, Royal defeated North Hollywood, 63-61. Sean Fernandez scored 36 points for N.H. David Rowlands scored 29 points in Moorpark’s 67-62 win over Beverly Hills. Calabasas won the third-place game with a 64-55 win over Chaminade. Jack Roggin scored 16 points.

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