OC boys basketball teams battle in competitive Sunny Hills summer tournament

Fountain Valley captured the championship at the Sunny Hills tournament. (Photo courtesy Sunny Hills basketball).

Some talented Orange County high school boys basketball teams competed in the Summer Series Varsity Tournament at Sunny Hills High School last weekend.

Fountain Valley, coached by Brendan Holmes, defeated Yorba Linda 66-62 in the championship game. Huntington Beach topped South Torrance 63-56 to capture third place while Valencia took the consolation championship.

A Sunny Hills team took fifth place while La Habra captured seventh place.

“Despite many of the top teams not having their main players available due to club events, our “Summer Series” Varsity Tournament was a competitive one,” said Sunny Hills Coach and tournament director Joe Ok. “Defending 3AA CIF champion La Habra, Fountain Valley as well as Yorba Linda and others were without key players during the tournament.

“In the championship game, Yorba Linda jumped out to a double digit lead in the first half led by senior guard Rocco Gaffoglio but Fountain Valley rallied in the second half with precision perimeter shooting from multiple guards on the team. Fountain Valley’s style of play is reminiscent of the old Marina teams that head coach Brendan Holmes played on for his father Roger between 2006-2010.

“Fountain Valley held off a late Yorba Linda run to win 66-62 in a spirited battle between the players and even spectators in the stands. Fountain Valley has had an impressive summer thus far with Brendan Holmes at the helm, also reaching the finals in the Palm Springs Summer Classic Tourney a couple weeks ago.”

In one of the most exciting games of the tourney, Sunny Hills rallied from a 21-point deficit to defeat Beckman 64-55 on Saturday night.

Sunny Hills was led by guard Raeden Bobadilla (20 points), forward Ze Brien Watkins (13 points) and incoming freshman guard Immanuel Lin, who had six points.

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