Calabasas Faces Royal in Key Marmonte Hoops Opener

The Marmonte League boys basketball season starts with a bang tonight, as league favorites and host Royal go head to head. Tipoff is at 7:30 p.m., and the winner has an instant inside track to the league title.

Calabasas is 4-0, and Royal is 5-3 but against tougher competition.

“We can really make a statement tonight to the rest of the Marmonte League by winning against Royal,” Calabasas forward Josh Cohan said. “Royal plays hard, and they play very well together, so it will be a great test for us.”

Calabasas has won every game so far by 13 points or more, but the Coyotes have yet to face such a tough opponent. Plus, the visiting Coyotes have not played a game in 10 days, so no one is quite sure what to expect.

“Our team has worked tremendously hard to prepare, and if we can continue to work together, we can accomplish our goals,” guard Spencer Levy said.

Levy is having a strong season. He was named MVP of the Campbell Hall tournament.

Calabasas continues Friday against visiting Simi Valley in antoher Marmonte League game. Tipoff is 7:30 p.m.

VIEWPOINT HOOPS LOOKIN’ GOOD

boys basketball could be on the brink of something special.

Just as the football team made a huge turnaround this past season by going from 2-7-1 to making the playoffs, the basketball team is looking good, too.

The Patriots are 6-2, including an appearance Saturday in the championship game of their own Patriot Winter Classic tournament. Though Viewpoint lost 71-40 to an highly competitive Village Christian team, the host’s performance showed Viewpoint is to be taken seriously this season – especially when considering top players Jack Borenstein, Jonny Paul and Joey Verhaugh were not available.

Borenstein was out for personal reasons, and Paul (foot) and Verhaugh (ankle) are injured.

“It was tremendous preparation to play in a playoff-type game so early in the season – especially without Jonny, Jack and Joey,” Viewpoint coach J.J. Prince said. “It was a great experience.for our players.”

Along the way, Viewpoint defeated Villanova Prep, AGBU and Hueneme over four days to qualify for the championship. Village Christian, a returning section quarterfinalist, features three of the San Fernando Valley’s top players in returning All-Southern Section honoree Marquis Salmon along with Sierra Canyon transfers Marsalis Johnson and Bryan Alberts.

Viewpoint’s Tim Howell and Matt Pournazarian earned all-tournament honors.

Viewpoint plays another tough opponent Friday at 7 p.m. against visiting Pacific Hills (2-2), like Village Christian one of California’s top small-school programs.

Then there is an 11-day winter break before Viewpoint resumes Dec. 27 at the MaxPreps tournament in Indio with an opening game against Shadow Hills.(2-1).

Verhaugh, also the quarterback of the football team, is expected back Friday. Paul should return, too, but Paul, missing since the first game, probably won’t return until the Maxpreps tournament.