Rolling Hills Prep Fall Classic: Second Five
Wilmington, Ca. — The Rolling Hills Prep Fall Classic was an eight-game event featuring many of the top programs that Southern California has to offer.
The marquee matchup was a showdown of two teams, Rancho Christian and Bishop Montgomery, which are sure to be competing for CIF Southern Section and State championships come February and March.
Rancho Christian came away with a hard-fought 55-52 victory behind Isaiah Mobley, Evan Mobley and Dominick Harris. One of the bigger upsets of the day came by way of a Riverside Notre Dame victory over perennial power Santa Ana Mater Dei. Anton Mozga paced the Titans with balanced contributions from Pierce Sterling, Dondre Bausley and Anthony Holland.
Here are the “Second Five” performers from Saturday’s action:
Dominick Harris, G, Rancho Christian
Harris was one of the main reasons why the Eagles were able to carry a two-point lead into halftime. The 6-foot-3 guard had 11 of Rancho Christian’s 25 points, scoring with efficiency and in just about every way imaginable. Harris should see plenty of open looks from the perimeter playing alongside the Mobley brothers.
Giordan Williams, G, Long Beach Poly
Williams continues to steadily improve his offensive game and his 3-point shooting serves as evidence of that. Williams scored 15 points in a close loss to Sherman Oaks Notre Dame and a lot of those buckets came late in the game and from behind the arc. Williams has widened his shooting base, which has helped him stay on balance through his release.
There are few players who have more defensive versatility than Bishop Montgomery forward Isaiah Johnson.Ethan Anderson, G, Fairfax
Fairfax’s style of play this season is perfect for the bully-guard that Anderson is. Coach Steve Baik has the Lions playing a full-court pressure style with trapping and defenders flying all over the court. Anderson has been a crucial component, and beneficiary, of that style, coming up with steals and forcing turnovers which resulted in numerous paint buckets.
Anton Mozga, F, Riverside Notre Dame
Mozga’s energy and effort on both ends of the floor were the catalyst for Riverside Notre Dame’s upset of Mater Dei. The 6-foot-5 wing scored 20 points, in a variety of ways, for the Titans, but more important than his point total was his defense and rebounding. Mozga was a ball-hawking force on the perimeter and came up with a handful of clutch offensive rebounds.
Isaiah Johnson, F, Bishop Montgomery
There’s really no answer to defending players as big and skilled as Isaiah and Evan Mobley, but if there was one guy who could make their court time a little more difficult, it was Johnson. The 6-foot-6 forward is as versatile a defender as there is, as he guarded all five positions at some point during the game.