Eagles Have a Day on the Beach

WEST HILLS — Why hit the beach when the Beach is hitting?

Justin Beach, who has bleach-blond hair, an affinity for boogie boarding and a surname to match, was the success story on the basketball court for Chaminade High, which defeated Rio Mesa, 67-48, in the championship of the Chaminade tournament Friday night.

Beach scored 16 points, including seven in the third quarter, and the Eagles overwhelmed Rio Mesa.

The second-ranked team in the region, the Eagles (6-1) knew they had brawn and beef up front with 6-foot-7 Scott Borchart and 6-5 Scott Long. Now they have balance with Beach, a 6-6 guard, who showed no fear in shooting the ball.

“If Justin’s open, the three’s going up,” Chaminade Coach Jeff Young said. “And we have the confidence he can hit it.”

Beach, who finished with six-of-10 shooting, hit a transition layup and a three-pointer on consecutive possessions near the end of the third quarter to give the Eagles a 54-30 lead. Beach and the rest of the starters gave way to backups in the fourth quarter.

Beach and fellow guard Cayce Cook were all-tournament selections while Borchart, who finished with 11 points, was the tournament most valuable player.

Chaminade, which shot 28% from the floor in its only loss against Simi Valley, had no such problems against Rio Mesa (2-3).

The Eagles hit for several easy baskets down low and several more in transition and finished with 24-of-48 shooting (50%).

And all this without sixth man Matt Chirba, who sat out the game because of the flu.

“They’re real talented and they’re big,” said Rio Mesa Coach Steve Wolf, who received 19 points from Mike Arreguin and 11 from all-tournament selection John Coleman.

“It’s going to be a great year for them.”

Pasadena Marshall 65, Campbell Hall 56--The Vikings trimmed an 11-point deficit to 61-56 with 28 seconds left, but could get no closer in the third-place game.

All-tournament selection Foulay Saelor scored 22 points, including four three-pointers, for Marshall (5-3), which held a slim 26-25 halftime lead.

Ronnie Polk scored 20 points for Campbell Hall.

El Camino Real 72, Malibu 59--Ryan Moss, an all-tournament selection, scored 24 points for the Conquistadores, who won the fifth-place game.

Chaminade JV 52, Van Nuys 47--Ryan Arceo scored 17 points for the Eagles in the seventh-place game.