Harvard-Westlake boys basketball team hands Concord De La Salle first loss, secures Hoophall West Bracket title at Nike Tournament of Champions

GILBERT, Ariz. – Alec Blair said every time he tried to find open space Saturday night in the Hoophall West Bracket final, there was another Harvard-Westlake defender crowding him on the court.

And before the Concord De La Salle High boys basketball team attempted to run any of its half-court offensive plays at Highland High, the Wolverines were already one step ahead in attempting to deny the Spartans the opportunity.

Post-game interviews

Nikolas Khamenia believed Harvard-Westlake had already gained a major advantage even before the championship game at the Nike Tournament of Champions featuring Hoophall West based on advanced scouting, film study and preparation in the morning shootaround, and it all paid dividends as the Wolverines built a 20-point lead late in the third quarter on their way to a 58-44 victory and the inaugural title.

Harvard-Westlake (18-1) won its ninth in a row and handed the Spartans (14-1) their first loss in the final game of the three-day showcase, which included 22 teams competing as part of the Hoophall West schedule at Highland High.

Harvard-Westlake boys basketball | Erik Boal photo

Khamenia earned most valuable player honors after contributing 14 points, five rebounds and six assists, with the Duke commit accumulating 48 points, 15 rebounds and 17 assists in three tournament contests for the Wolverines.

Joe Sterling, a junior, also received all-tournament recognition with nine points and five assists for Harvard-Westlake, which held a 35-17 halftime advantage and increased the lead to 20 with 2:37 left in the third quarter.

Amir Jones added 14 points and Isaiah Carroll contributed 10 points for the Wolverines, each making three 3-point field goals, contributing to Harvard-Westlake shooting 11 of 22 (50 percent) from behind the arc.

Concord De La Salle made only one 3-pointer in eight attempts.

Blair, an Oklahoma signee, finished with 15 points, six rebounds and four assists, concluding the event with 53 points, 19 rebounds and 13 assists to earn all-tournament honors.

Alec Blair of Concord De La Salle | Jerome Reed photo

David Balogun was also an all-tournament selection for the Spartans after adding 12 points and five rebounds, with Braddock Kjellesvig scoring seven points.

St. John Bosco 62, Coronado (Nevada) 61: The Braves (17-1) survived a scare Saturday in the Hoophall West round-robin contest at Highland High, needing a free throw with 8.7 seconds left from USC commit Elzie Harrington to edge the Cougars (4-9).

Harrington had 29 points, three assists and three steals, with Christian Collins adding 13 points and eight rebounds for St. John Bosco, which overcame a seven-point halftime deficit to grab a 48-44 lead entering the fourth quarter.

Gavin Dean-Moss scored seven points and Chris Komin contributed six points for St. John Bosco, which went unbeaten in three round-robin games at the event.

Jonny Collins and Jalen St. Clair both produced 17 points and six rebounds apiece for Coronado, which rebounded from a 44-point loss Friday against Sherman Oaks Notre Dame.

Mason Abittan added 13 points for the Cougars.

Eastvale Roosevelt 56, Layton Christian Academy (Utah) 36: The top-ranked Mustangs shot 15 of 28 (53.6 percent) in the second half to break a 21-21 tie and secure victory in a Hoophall West round-robin contest Saturday at Highland High.

Myles Walker had 17 points, four assists and four steals for Eastvale Roosevelt (18-1), with Brayden Burries contributing 11 points, nine rebounds and four assists.

Issac Williamson added 10 points and four rebounds for the Mustangs, who outscored Layton Christian Academy (8-8) by a 35-15 margin in the second half.

Alan Gballou had 12 points and five rebounds for the Eagles, who were victimized by 25 turnovers.

Eastvale Roosevelt went unbeaten in three pool-play matchups, along with St. John Bosco, following their matchup Dec. 30 in the Platinum Division championship game at The Classic at Damien.

Sherman Oaks Notre Dame 65, Sandra Day O’Connor (Arizona) 62: The Knights (15-2) rallied from a four-point halftime deficit behind 34 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and four steals from Tyran Stokes in a Hoophall West round-robin victory Saturday at Highland High.

Zachary White added 13 points and six assists, with Josiah Nance scoring 10 points and Caleb Ogbu contributing eight points for Notre Dame, which pulled in front by a 43-41 margin entering the fourth quarter.

Michael Simcoe led Sandra Day O’Connor (10-6) with 26 points, eight rebounds, five blocks and four assists.

Notre Dame rebounded from a one-point loss Thursday to Layton Christian Academy from Utah to win its final two round-robin contests.