Westchester, Fremont Demonstrate Strength

The City Section boys’ basketball schedule resumes next week with Westchester and Fremont coming off impressive showings in holiday tournaments.

Westchester demonstrated why it is ranked No. 1 in the state by winning the Best of the West tournament in Long Beach.

The Comets, buoyed by senior forward David Bluthenthal, defeated previously unbeaten Lakewood Artesia, 61-51, for the title. Bluthenthal, a transfer from Venice who has said he will attend USC, scored 18 points and was named most valuable player of the 38-team tournament.

Westchester’s Albert Miller and Tony Bland, Los Angeles’ Deon Green and Fairfax’s Greg Jefferson were named to the all-tournament team.

Fremont advanced to the semifinals of the Torrey Pines Nike Prep Classic before losing to eventual champion Jersey City (N.J.) St. Anthony’s, 79-56, on Tuesday.

Fremont defeated Houston St. Pius X, 73-47, and Carmichael Jesuit, 92-71, to reach the semifinals.

Crenshaw, the defending state and tournament champion, had a first-round bye, then lost to Riverside J.W. North, 88-76, and Scottsdale (Ariz.) Chapparal, 99-96.

Shamond Johnson and Sean Stroud of Fremont and Brandon Hawkins of Crenshaw were named to the all-tournament team.

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Narbonne is considered the favorite to win the 4-A girls’ basketball championship, but the Gauchos could be challenged by North Hollywood, seeking its first major division title.

The Huskies, led by junior guard Tashean Thomas and junior forward Markia Derby, won their first 11 games before losing to Chino in the Thousand Oaks tournament Tuesday.

North Hollywood defeated Palmdale, 52-28, on Wednesday to improve to 12-1. The victory was the 250th of Coach Rich Allen’s career.

Allen, in his 15th season, is 250-72.