LV PREP CHAMPIONSHIP: McGriff, Chargers move into Platinum bracket

Clark boys basketball coach Chad Beeten gambled Tuesday morning when he decided to rest senior Bryan McGriff against Spring Creek.

The risky decision paid off with an undefeated stroll through pool play.

The Chargers won their early game without the services of McGriff, then cruised to a 75-57 victory over Palos Verdes (Calif.) behind the standout forward’s 19 points, nine rebounds and three steals at Valley.

The win lifted Clark into the Platinum Bracket of the Las Vegas Prep Championship. The Chargers will begin bracket play at noon Wednesday at Valley.

“Bryan is a tough kid,” Beeten said, noting that McGriff is nursing a mild knee injury. “I knew he’d be ready to play when we needed him to. Nothing ever seems to bother him.”

The Chargers never trailed, though they didn’t shake the Sea Kings until McGriff ignited a 9-0 run with a 6-foot baseline jumper to make it 29-18 with 5:56 remaining in the first half.

Though Palos Verdes trailed 41-29 at halftime, a 6-0 scoring spurt cut the deficit to 48-39 early in the second half.

But Clark responded with another run, scoring 10 consecutive points to go ahead 58-39 on a layup by Dionte Lee with 8:40 left to play.

“I think our defensive pressure was the key,” said Beeten, whose squad forced 20 turnovers. “If we can make a team play at our pace, we get out in transition — and that’s where we’re good.”

Sir Washington helped the Chargers with 14 points, and teammate Diontae Jones finished with 13 points, 12 rebounds and five steals.

Beeten said his team’s momentum could play an important role in the tourney’s next round.

“Our goal was to go undefeated in pool play,” he said. “But we’re about to see some stiffer competition, without a doubt. We’ve just got to come ready to play.”

Clark 69, Spring Creek 43 — At Valley, Washington scored 13 points to help the Chargers rout the Spartans.

L.J. Scott scored 12 points to help Clark, which led 50-19 at halftime. Teammate Kenny Daniels added 11 points.

Palos Verdes (Calif.) 69, Sierra Vista 53 — At Valley, Wesley Rouse scored a team-high 14 points in the Mountain Lions’ loss to the Sea Kings.

Liberty 70, Westlake (Calif.) 63 — At Valley, Jeremy Lagasca scored a game-high 28 points to help the Patriots fend off the Warriors.

La Quan Hawkins added 11 points for Liberty, which led 29-23 at halftime.

Valley 77, Santee (Calif.) 23 — At Valley, Ryan Johnson scored 17 points to help the Vikings roll past the Falcons.

Spencer Mathis added 14 points for Valley, which held Santee to six field goals.

Sierra Vista 73, Spring Creek 45 — Nino Flores scored 16 points as the Mountain Lions pull away from the Spartans.

Matt Murphy had 12 points, and Wesley Rouse supplied 11 points for Sierra Vista, which held a 34-28 halftime advantage.

Cedric Zumwalt led Spring Creek with 12 points.

Valley 77, Liberty 59 — Daniel Young had 21 points to help the Vikings roll past the Patriots.

Caleb Carter and Johnson each had 15 points for Valley, which got 13 points from Mathis.

Hawkins led Liberty with 16 points, and Tyler Newman supplied 14 points. The Patriots’ Rhandy Tomlinson chipped in 12 points.

Las Vegas 73, Cabrillo (Calif.) 32 — At Las Vegas, Hasaan Henderson had 19 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Wildcats to an easy win that captured their pool.

Aziz Leeks added 10 points, nine rebounds and three blocked shots, and Olynsso Pratt had 10 points and eight rebounds for Las Vegas.

The Wildcats forced 27 turnovers, and scored 12 of their first 16 points off Cabrillo miscues.

Phil Dunigan had six assists for Las Vegas.

Woodbridge (Calif.) 66, Canyon Springs 62 — At Las Vegas, Jason Gregson hit a 3-pointer from the top of the key with 31 seconds to play to give the Warriors a 64-62 lead, and they held on to defeat the Pioneers.

Gregson blocked a 3-point attempt by Ladarell Mongkholtham, and Austin Rouk rebounded and hit a pair of free throws with 5.9 seconds left for the final margin.

Rouk had 10 of his 13 points in the second half for Woodbridge. Alex Busch led the Warriors with 15 points.

Shaquille Carr had 22 points, five assists and two steals for Canyon Springs.

Nick Scott grabbed 13 rebounds for the Pioneers.

Serra (Calif.) 92, Eldorado 54 — At Las Vegas, Daddy Ugbede had 24 points, 11 rebounds and two blocked shots, and Dakarai Tucker added 26 points and seven boards to lead the Cavaliers past the Sundevils.

Jayveon Brown was 5-of-9 from 3-point range en route to 23 points, along with five rebounds, two blocks and two steals for Eldorado.

Malik Davis added 13 points for the Sundevils.

Cheyenne 72, Chaparral 47 — Gary Stewart had 14 of his game-high 19 points in the second half to help the Desert Shields top the Cowboys.

Stewart also had nine rebounds and two blocked shots.

Darius White and Jamal Peterson each scored 12 for Cheyenne.

Paul Chitogco led Chaparral with 16 points, and Kamron Alexander added 15 pionts and six rebounds for the Cowboys.

Basic 69, Cheyenne 65 — At Las Vegas, Andrew Lopez hit four 3-pointers en route to 20 points as the Wolves rallied to down the Desert Shields.

Jalen Rose added 17 points for Basic, which trailed 41-34 at the half.

Lorenzo Lucero (12 points) and Isaiah Villaros (11 points) also scored in double figures for the Wolves.

Peterson scored 17 points to lead Cheyenne. Stewart added 15 points, Khalid Banks scored 13 and

Jaquon Coleman 11 for the Desert Shields.

Basic 66, Las Vegas JV 35 — At Las Vegas, Eddie Vega had 15 points to lead the Wolves past the Wildcats’ junior varsity to finish 3-0 in pool play.

Villaros added 10 points for Basic.

Canyon Springs 64, Del Sol 54 — At Las Vegas, Carr scored 25 points to help the Pioneers down the Dragons.

Mongkholtham scored 11 and Scott 10 for Canyon Springs.

Lael Perkins led Del Sol with 21 points, and teammate Nathan Kirschbaum scored 10.

Western 67, Las Vegas JV 44 — At Las Vegas, Nate Johnson had 20 points to lead the Warriors past the Wildcats’ junior varsity to finish 2-1 in pool play.

Travis Dunn added 10 points for Western.

Western 59, Cabrillo (Calif.) 49 — At Las Vegas, Johnson had 16 points, and Dunn scored 13 to lead the Warriors past the Conquistadores.

Daniel Terrones led Cabrillo with 23 points.

Eldorado 69, Hanford (Calif.) 54 — At Las Vegas, Da’Quon Thrower had 20 points to lead the Sundevils past the Bullpups.

Daniel Nicely led Hanford with 16 points.

Chaparral 62, Las Vegas JV 60 — At Las Vegas, freshman Patrick Savoy had 16 points to help the Cowboys edge the Wildcats’ junior varsity.

Tyree McNeal added 11 points for Chaparral.

Markail Wess scored 19 for Las Vegas.

Las Vegas 91, Las Vegas JV 26 — At Las Vegas, Pratt had 14 points, and DaQuavion McDowell scored 11 as the Wildcats beat their junior varsity.

Santa Fe (Calif.) 65, Del Sol 51 — At Las Vegas, Thomas Larez scored 22 points to lead the Chiefs past the Dragons.

Kyle Collins led Del Sol with 16 points, and teammate Max Prescott scored 10.

Serra (Calif.) 64, Bonanza 20 — At Las Vegas, the Cavaliers outscored the Bengals 33-2 in the second half to roll to the win.