NEWPORT BEACH – JSerra’s boys basketball team remained undefeated with an impressive 74-55 win over Heritage Christian on Monday, the first day of the Beach Bash tournament at Corona del Mar High.
Sebastian Rancik, a 6-10 senior who signed with Colorado, scored 23 points. He was 6 for 7 on 3-point shots.
Lions senior guard Aidan Fowler, like Rancik an All-Orange County first team selection last season, scored 21 points and was 4 of 6 on 3s. JSerra senior guard Drew Bowman scored 11 points.
JSerra (8-0) is No. 2 in the Orange County Top 25 and No. 3 in the CIF Southern Section Division 1 poll.
The Lions play Arizona school Cactus in the Beach Bash on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.
Heritage Christian (3-4) is No. 10 in the CIF-SS 2AA rankings.
The Lions moved the ball quickly on offense and showed the same speed of movement on defense.
“We moved the ball really well,” Rancik said. “We took good shots and played really good defense.”
“We played really together,” Fowler said. “I think the defense from the jump was really good. The personnel from the beginning just knew what we were doing.”
JSerra, which advanced to the CIF-SS Division 1 quarterfinals last season, started hot and did not let up. A 3 by Rancik increased the Lions’ early lead to 11-3. Diego Martinez added a 3 and so did Bowman, to make it 19-9.
Lions coach Keith Wilkinson said the team does need to rebound a bit better.
“But we play really hard,” Wilkinson said. “We just have to limit other teams to one possession.”
Godschoice Eboigbodin, a 6-5 freshman, did his part there, collecting eight rebounds in 19 minutes for the Lions.
The rebounding will improve after the transfer sit-out period ends later this month. Due to become athletically eligible are 6-8 junior Jarne Eyenga and 6-5 sophomore Simonte Katoanga.
Also in the Beach Bash:
Pacifica Christian 63, Orange Lutheran 44: Logan Stewart scored 20 points with 11 rebounds, EJ Spillman scored 12 points and Michael Noel add 11 for the Tritons (4-3).
The game was tied 18-18 early in the second quarter. Pacifica Christian then scored 17 of the half’s final 22 points to pull away.