Kambala plays big in spurring victory over Colorado team

The team roster lists him as 6 feet 1 inch, but DeAndre Kambala admits he's only 5-11.

That didn't stop the Bishop Gorman standout from dominating in the paint Thursday night as he logged 12 points and nine rebounds to help lift Las Vegas' Triple Double Elite 16-U to a 75-61 victory over Colorado's Platte Valley Broncos at Basic High School.

The Elite 16-U team advanced in the High School Division of the Reebok Summer Championships.

Kambala, the adopted son of former UNLV star Kaspars Kambala, said his duties often extend beyond those of a traditional guard.

"After the last game, my coach told me he needed me to play a bigger role rebounding," said Kambala, who will be a junior in the fall. "So that was my goal for the day."

Indeed, Elite coach Tyrell Jamerson expects big things out of Kambala.

"DeAndre has deceptively good athleticism," Jamerson said. "He can really dominate a game.

"He's going to be a good one."

Jamerson's entire team is looking pretty good, as the Elite improved to 4-0 in the tournament with Thursday's win and will continue bracket play with a 1:45 p.m. game today at Silverado.

Kambala said he and his teammates are beginning to believe they have a shot at the championship of the 16-and-under division.

"This is already the farthest we've ever gone," he said. "Our goal was to get somewhere, so it would be really nice to win it."

Jeff Coon helped the Elite with 14 points, and Desi Allazetta and Glen Behley each added 12.

• MAIN EVENT -- Valley graduate Cordero Harris scored 19 points as the Las Vegas Dogcatchers Elite rallied from a seven-point deficit late in the game to edge I-5 Elite (Ore.) 74-73 in the opening round of bracket play in The Main Event tournament at Bonanza.

Eldorado graduate Mitrell Clark added 14 points for the Dogcatchers.

Clark scored 18 points in a 74-61 win over HLC (Wis.) on Thursday morning.

Eldorado senior Marcus Moreland racked up 28 points to help the Southern Nevada Powerhouse nip the Mavs (Texas) 69-68 at Spring Valley in the first of two games Thursday.

The Powerhouse then lost to the San Diego Magic 79-77, despite 31 points from Spring Valley graduate Tenacious Gibson.

• ADIDAS -- Cheyenne senior Elijah Johnson poured in 22 points to help the Las Vegas Prospects 17s top Chicago Elite 68-60 in bracket play of the adidas Super 64 tournament at Rancho.

Reno senior Austin Morgan scored 16 points for the Prospects.