The South Pasadena High School varsity boys’ basketball team defeated Redmond High of Washington 78-65 in their SoCal Christmas Classic opener on Dec. 26.
Senior Russell Williams poured in 19 points with three steals and two assists, while senior Derek Peterson registered 14 points, five rebounds, five assists and three steals. Junior Oni Balogun finished with 12 points, seven rebounds and one assist, while junior Jacob Arias tallied 10 points, four rebounds, one steal and one assist. Junior Jack Madison chipped in seven points, six rebounds, two blocks, one steal and one assist, junior Miles Nowe recorded six points, four rebounds, four assists and three steals, and junior Kevin Hu contributed five points, one steal and one rebound. Senior Gavin Faulmino registered three points, one rebound and one steal, while sophomore Kaden Anderson produced two points, one rebound and one assist.
The Tigers secured a 72-51 victory over Calabasas in a tournament game on Dec. 27, as Williams amassed 31 points, five rebounds, two assists and one block.
Madison posted a double-double with 14 points, 10 rebounds, two assists, one steal and one block, while Arias registered 10 points, three rebounds and two steals. Balogun tallied six points, six assists, four rebounds, two steals and one block, while Peterson finished with five points, three rebounds and three assists. Faulmino chipped in three points and one rebound, while senior Taj Ringer recorded three rebounds and two points. Nowe contributed three steals, three assists and one rebound, while junior Lucas Miller produced one steal and one rebound. Anderson had one steal and one assist, while Hu was credited with one assist.
South Pasadena ended tournament play with back-to-back losses against Alemany High of Mission Hills, 72-59, and Crossroads High of Santa Monica, 61-60, on Dec. 28 and 29, respectively. The Tigers also narrowly lost at Burroughs High in Burbank 79-78 in a nonleague game on Jan. 2. Individual statistics were not reported to the South Pasadena Review.
The Tigers (9-5 overall, 1-1 in league) will resume Rio Hondo League play at Temple City on Jan. 10 at 7 p.m. before hosting Monrovia on Jan. 12.
First published in the January 5 print issue of the South Pasadena Review.
