Recap: Saturday action at the Ryse Up Fall Classic
Culver City, Ca. — Culver City High played host to the Ryse Up Fall Classic, a tribute basketball tournament in memory of the late Ryse Williams, a star player at Redondo Union high school who lost his battle with cancer this past June.
Prep Hoops So-Cal was on scene for the games Saturday, which featured five games with teams from across different CIF Southern Section divisions, including Williams’ own Redondo Union Sea Hawks.
In seemingly poetic fashion, Redondo’s matchup against upstart Harbor City Narbonne turned out to be the best game of the day.
The Sea Hawks defeated the Gauchos, 56-55, in an overtime thriller capped by a game-winning layup from forward Quinn Collins, a senior who played alongside Williams for two seasons.
Senior guard Zekiah Lovett put forth an impressive effort, nailing a couple of clutch 3-pointers and coming up huge on the defensive end late in the second half.
Narbonne was led by senior forward Malik Muhammad, a Verbum Dei transfer who turned in a double-double effort that had him up near the 15 rebound threshold.
Senior guards Kendall Frey and Jordan Griffin – another transfer from Verbum Dei – provided plenty of scoring punch for the Gauchos off the wing.
In other Ryse Up Fall Classic action:
Windward 51, Compton 48
Jules Bernard, the No. 3 prospect in the Prep Hoops So-Cal class of 2018 rankings, scored 19 points and dished out the game-winning assist and stretched out high for the game-saving block in Windward’s three-point victory over Compton.
The Tarbabes were led by sophomore Jabari Stewart, a 6-foot-8 forward with soft hands, solid post footwork, good touch around the basket and the ability to knock down set 3-point shots.
Fairfax 60, Mayfair 42
Lions’ junior Robert McRae put this game to rest early, scoring 18 points in the first half – and 25 overall – as Fairfax cruised past Mayfair. Junior guard Ethan Anderson added nine points and nine rebounds for the Lions.
Culver City senior Tevian Jones is making his presence felt after transferring from Chandler High in Arizona.The Monsoons were without highly-regarded sophomore Josh Christopher for the majority of this contest as he tweaked an ankle early in the game. Josh’s older brother Caleb Christopher, a senior guard, paced Mayfair with 17 points. Six-foot-5 junior Dylan Cabs added 10 points.
Culver City 51, Gahr 39
Arizona transplant Tevian Jones led an undermanned Culver City squad past an undermanned Gahr side.
The host Centaurs were without projected starters Cyrus Johnson and Keith Dinwiddie, as well as top-flight freshman T.J. Wainwright. The Gladiators were missing high-scoring 6-foot-4 wing Gary Williams, who is rumored to be transferring.
Loyola 71, Van Nuys 51
The Cubs put together a complete team effort behind guards Neil Owens and Mason Butler and forwards C.J. Wilson and Anthony Lucenti in the 20-point win. Senior guard Tyree Winborn paced the Wolves.
Loyola, as a team and school, made a donation to the family of Ryse Williams and all proceeds from the event went to an endowment fund in Ryse’s name.