Crespi's Joe Sterling, Peyton White help edge Village Christian

Basketball: Crespi's Joe Sterling and Chatsworth's Alijah Arenas will face off Friday night at 8 p.m.

Crespi sophomore Joe Sterling is picking up where he left off after his impressive freshman campaign that saw him tally 19 points per game.

Sterling scored 27 points, including the go-ahead 3-pointer with 29 seconds left to help edge Village Christian 68-67 at the Paul Sutton Tournament at Providence High in Burbank Wednesday night.

Sterling added six rebounds and three assists. Teammate Peyton White notched 22 points, eight rebounds and three blocks. Freshman Isaiah Barnes added 12 points in the Celts' second win of the season.

The victory gives new coach Derek Fisher a 2-0 start after beating Oakwood Tuesday night.

Crespi will face Chatsworth Friday night at 8 p.m. in a showdown between two talented sophomores in Sterling and Chancellors guard Alijah Arenas.

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Arenas scored 38 points in Chatsworth's 68-48 loss to Loyola. Arenas was 18 of 21 from the free throw line. Despite the loss, Loyola coach Damaine Powell had high praise for Arenas.

“He’s an NBA lottery pick,” Powell told the LA Times. “I’ve seen Baron Davis, DeMar DeRozan. I saw the Holiday brothers. He’s better than all of them, and he’s a sophomore.”

Loyola has a star sophomore itself in Quincy Watson, who scored 27 points in the Cubs' victory.

NOTABLE SCORES, STATS (NOV. 15)

St. Bonaventure 68, Garfield 37: Dylan Benner had 19 points and 14 rebounds. Benner became St. Bonny's all-time leading scorer.

Saugus 77, Oakwood 54: Bryce Mejia led the Centurions (2-0) with 19 points.

Burbank 77, Marshall 68: Kevin Debashian led the Bulldogs with 41 points.

Eastvale Roosevelt 80, Birmingham 37: Brayden Burries had 31 points and nine rebounds.

Lynwood 81, Gardena Serra 79: Jason Crowe Jr. had 42 points, eight assists and five rebounds in the victory.

Damien 61, Villa Park 54: Xavier Clinton had 21 points for Damien (2-0).

Crescenta Valley 75, Sotomayor 32: Vaughn Zargarian led the Falcons (3-0) with 16 points.

St. Francis 67, El Monte 20: Mazi Molsey had 21 and DeLan Grant added 12 for the Golden Knights (1-1).

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