Cypress, Dana Hills, Yorba Linda, Edison, and Crean Lutheran among winning teams

Cypress High’s boys basketball team remained atop the Empire League with a 59-54 victory over Tustin Friday at Cypress.

The Centurions (19-5, 6-0) battled Tustin all game, said Coach Derek Mitchell.

Elijah Vaielua had 21 points and 14 rebounds, Kody Papke 11 points and Eddie Spencer nine points to lead the Centurions.

Tustin (16-8, 3-3) led by three points going into the fourth quarter, but Cypress outscored the Tillers 13-5 in the final stanza. Tustin had won three in a row going into the game.

Tustin had a chance to tie the game with under 15 seconds to play but missed an open 15-foot baseline jumper, according to Tustin Coach Ringo Bossenmeyer.

The Tillers Kyan McCarville hit a 3-point basket with just under a minute to play to cut the Cypress lead to two points.

Bradley Burdick led Tustin with 19 points. Kyan Patel added 14. 

“Extremely proud of our effort and focus tonight,” Bossenemyer said.  “We gave Cypress all they could handle for 32 minutes. Number 35 (Vaielua) for Cypress simply took over the game in the third quarter after we had taken a 8-point lead.  We had good shots down the stretch, however they just didn’t go down for us. 

“That is basketball, and that is life.  It doesn’t always work out the way you want it to.  You have to give Cypress credit.  They responded when challenged and it shows you why they have not lost a league game in over two years.”

Dana Hills 46, Tesoro 27: Dana Hills boys basketball team pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the night knocking off Sea View League leader Tesoro.

The Dolphins (16-7, 3-2) were led by Harrison Wiese with 20 points and Chris Na with 14 points. Tesoro fell to 18-4 overall and 4-1 in league.

Yorba Linda 52, Esperanza 28: The Mustangs (14-10) won a non-league game with Connor Platt (12 points) and Chance Sandoval and Omair Memon scoring 10 points to lead the way.

Edison 60, Newport Harbor 43: Edison (16-9, 3-0) moved into undisputed first place in the Surf League. Newport Harbor (20-5, 2-1) was led by Nick Silva with 10 points.

Crean Lutheran 57, Kennedy 40: The Saints (14-8, 5-1) won their fourth in a row overall. Senior Josh Shin led the Saints with 18 points and freshman Kenneth Bailey added 12 points for Crean Lutheran which is in second place in the Empire League.

Loara 63, Rancho Alamitos 51: The Saxons improved their record to 8-16 and 3-3 in the league. Loara was led by senior point guards Dakota Nanthavongdouangsy with 18 points. His cousin senior Tyler Nanthavong had 15 points. Senior Nick Nguyen had a double-double 16 points and 12 rebounds for the Saxons.  Loara plays Bolsa Grande at home next Wednesday at home at 7 p.m.

Northwood 76, Uni 53: Amit Flint scored 31 points and made five 3-pointers to lead the Timberwolves in the Pacific Coast League game.

Shandon Sharif had 23 points and five 3-pointers. Trent Harper added 13 points for Northwood (8-16, 3-3).

Arjun Gill 21 scored 21 points and made four 3-pointers and Kody Usegui had 12 points for University (8-13, 3-3)

Woodbridge 59, Irvine 49: Woodbridge (5-17, 3-3) won the Pacific Coast League game behind Steven Mimpaya (21 points), Eli Hill (13 points) and Nygle Williams and Josh Lomboy (10 points each). Kade Zimmerman led Irvine (6-18, 0-6) with 15 points.