Torrey girls hoopsters take tournament title

LJCD wins prestigious Nike event

La Jolla Country Day’s girls basketball team continued its strong start to the season by winning its division at the prestigious Nike Tournament of Champions in Phoenix last week.

The Torreys opened the tournament with a 37-31 victory over Mills Creek (Ga.) on Dec. 28. Teesha Solomon led the team with 16 points, eight rebounds and five steals.

On Dec. 29, Country Day topped Chandler (Ariz.), 63-50. Ariana Elegado led the way with 16 points and five assists, and Kelsey Plum added 14 points and seven rebounds. Malina Hood contributed 11 points and 10 rebounds, and Maya Hood finished with nine points and 10 boards.

The Torreys clinched the championship with a 47-43 victory over Xavier Prep (Ariz.) on Dec. 30. Elegado led the scoring with 12 points and five assists, and freshman Kelsey Plum added 10 points. Maya Hood chipped in nine points, 13 rebounds and four steals.

Elegado was named the division’s MVP.

Bishop’s rolled past La Jolla, 84-18, in the Holiday Premier Showcase on Dec. 28 when Elaina White paced the Knights with 25 points.

The Knights toppled Serra, 70-27, in the same tournament Dec. 29. White’s 16 points led the way, and Alissa Campanero added 14.

Bishop’s edged Chaparral of Temecula, 66-48, on Dec. 30, behind a 27-point effort from Campanero.

The Knights fell to Mount Miguel in another tournament game on Dec. 30, 83-47. Campanero had 20 points, and Bryn Stark added 15.

La Jolla bounced back from its loss to Bishop’s with a 49-33 tournament win over Crawford on Dec. 29.

Boys basketball

La Jolla High School fell to St. Mary’s of Stockton, 69-59, on Dec. 28 in the MaxPreps Holiday Classic, despite getting 18 points from Taylor Davis and 17 from Jack Latta.

The Vikings rebounded with a 57-51 win over Flintridge Prep of La Canada on Dec. 29. Latta scored 17 points, and Ryan Mills added 11.

La Jolla finished off the tournament with a 54-49 win over Westview with Latta leading the way with 22 points, and Davis added 16.

La Jolla Country Day topped Westview, 52-46, in the MaxPreps Holiday Classic on Dec. 28. Sage Burmeister led the way with 22 points, and Frankie Bamford added 10.

The Torreys’ good fortune ran out on Dec. 29, as they lost to tournament host Torrey Pines, 78-58. Burmeister’s 18 points and 10 from Alex Perez weren’t enough.

The Bishop’s School lost to Fremont, 41-39, in the Marin Catholic tournament on Dec. 28. Ryan Chong and Stephen Kaiser each scored 13 points.

The Knights beat Lincoln of San Francisco by forfeit the next day, and on Dec. 30, dropped an 86-79 decision to Rocklin.

Boys soccer

Country Day played to a scoreless tie with Valley Center on Dec. 28 in the Oceanside Nautical Cup and then rebounded with a 2-1 victory later that day in the same tournament.

Dennis Roth put Country Day ahead on a header assisted by Alex Fleischhacker, and Ryan French added a key insurance tally on a breakaway, with an assist from Lee Klitzner. Mical Bailey recorded the win in goal.

Country Day played Southwest to a 2-2 tie through regulation in the same tournament on Dec. 29, but fell when Southwest scored in the second overtime. Roth scored twice, running his season total to nine goals, but Southwest found the back of the net twice in the final eight minutes of regulation.

Gregory Ball covers sports for La Jolla Light. He can be reached at ballgregory@yahoo.com.