At MLK Classic, rerun of ’19 would be just fine
A repeat would do just fine with organizers of the 23rd annual MaxPreps/De La Salle Martin Luther King Jr. Classic on Monday at St. Mary’s College.
Last year, six games were decided by a total 32 points, including a 5856 win by Moreau CatholicHayward over Notre DameRiverside — a game decided by Emil Fields’ 3pointer at the buzzer.
“It was representative of the whole day,” De La Salle athletic director Leo Lopoz said. “We think we’ll have the same kind of games on Monday. It’s a strong, solid lineup.”
There’s one more game this season, making seven, and all but two matchups pit a local squad against an outofarea team.
The lone game at St. Mary’s pitting two Metro area teams is at 7 p.m. when eighthranked Bishop O’DowdOakland (77 heading into Friday) faces No. 11 CampolindoMoraga (124) — which won the Division 2 state title last season.
“We’re just figuring out ways to win,” Bishop O’Dowd coach Lou Richie said. “Campolindo has almost everyone back from last year. They are well coached. We’ll have to play very well.”
The game pits the tournament’s No. 1 ranked player, Campolindo sophomore Aidan Mahaney, against one of the top freshmen in the country, 6foot9 post Jalen Lewis.
Lewis had 26 points, 14 rebounds and seven blocks in a 9286 doubleovertime win over No. 19 Piedmont on Wednesday. Teammates Ryzon Norris and Marsalis Roberson had 21 points each.
Dublin, ranked No. 1 by The Chronicle, and No. 8 De La SalleConcord, are looking to rebound after East Bay Athletic League losses Tuesday. Dublin fell to No. 18 GranadaLivermore 5553 the same day De La Salle lost at No. 11 Dougherty ValleySan Ramon 7165.
At the MLK Classic, De La Salle plays Portland, Ore., power Central Catholic while Dublin takes on SacJoaquin Section juggernaut Modesto Christian.
Tournament officials ranked the top 10 players to watch in Monday’s event in order. Mahaney, Dishon Jackson (St. PatrickSt. VincentVallejo), Lamont Butler (PolyRiverside),
Monty Bowser (Bishop O’Dowd), Judah Brown (Pacifica ChristianNewport Beach), Chris Bunch (De La Salle), Houston Mallette (Pacifica Christian), Malik Thomas (DamienLa Verne), Jeremiah Dargan (De La Salle) and Anthony Roy (Dublin).
Friday’s games
Boys:
Bryce Monroe, back from a hip injury that kept him out two games, scored 19 of his teamhigh 23 points leading No. 6 Riordan (132, 41 WCAL) to a 7163 home win over No. 4 Bellarmine (132, 32). , … Kyle Rosecrans made six 3pointers and scored 20 points to lead No. 16 St. Francis (123, 41 WCAL) to a 7565 victory over visiting Sacred Heart Cathedral (59, 14). … Michael Mitchell had 17 points and Owen Brown and Mason Ryan added 13 apiece, as No. 5 Mitty (132, 41 WCAL) won 8539 over visiting St. Ignatius (510, 05). … Bunch had 23 points as De La Salle (124, 41 EBAL) won 7366 at
Dublin (134, 132). … Nate Rutchena had 19 points and Anthony Santa Maria 17 as visiting Monte VistaDanville (127, 42 EBAL) won 6159 at San Ramon ValleyDanville (127, 24).
Girls basketball:
Despite 23 points from Erin Tarasow, No. 3 MiramonteMoraga (143) fell 7874 to Regis JesuitAurora, Colo. (93) in the Martin Luther King Showcase at St. Mary’sStockton. Jordan Allred added 19 points and Rebecca Welsh contributed 13 for the Matadors.
Football:
AllMetro secondteam linebackers Rocky Aven (Clayton ValleyConcord) and Semaj Sims (McClymonds) headline a group of Bay Area senior standouts who will face seniors from the SacJoaquin Section in the Bay Area Cali Classic 4:30 p.m. Saturday at Burrell Field in San Leandro. Max Preps senior writer Mitch Stephens covers high school sports for The San Francisco Chronicle.