The Montgomery High School boys basketball team appears to be reaching for the sky this season with an 11-1 record after defeating Mount Miguel, 74-33, to capture the championship title of the 36th annual Aztec Holiday Classic on Dec. 29.
The host Aztecs won all four of their tournament games, eclipsing the 100-point mark in a 101-44 victory against Vincent Memorial and topping Point Loma by a 90-67 score while tacking on blowout wins over Southwest El Centro (78-28) and Mount Miguel for good measure.
Montgomery, a CIF quarterfinalist last season, tips off Mesa League play on Jan. 9. One has to wonder if another championship is in the team’s future this season?
“We’ve gotten stronger as the season has progressed,” Aztec head coach Ed Martin said. “The core of this team has been together since halfway through their freshmen year. I knew that would be the future of the team.”
It certainly has made for an exciting present day adventure.
The win over Mount Miguel was the team’s 11th consecutive following a season opening 96-47 loss to Chatsworth Sierra Canyon, one of the top-ranked teams in the state, in the San Diego Tip-Off Challenge on Nov. 15.
Fans have seen a Montgomery team that has performed well at both ends of the court, with solid defensive play leading to an exciting offensive scoring punch.
The team is filled with sharpshooters.
“Team chemistry is definitely one of our strongpoints, we’ve known each other forever,” senior guard Kyle Paranada remarked.
“We play for each other,” senior forward Sebastian Morgan pointed out.
Paranada tops the Aztecs in season scoring with 22.5 points per game, followed by senior guard Rahin Williams (16.2 ppg), senior guard Ze’taime Burton (11.0 ppg) and Morgan (10.3 ppg).
Williams, who leads the team with 5.7 rebounds per game, poured in 37 points in the win over Point Loma while Paranada dropped in 16 points.
The Aztecs led by 30 points at one point in the contest against the Pointers and entered the fourth quarter with a commanding 63-28 lead over Mount Miguel.
But Martin said his team cannot rest on its midseason showing. He said his squad will need to continue to improve and play as a cohesive unit if it is to find success the rest of the season.
“We don’t have the tallest team, so we have to play solid defense to be successful,” Martin said. “The schedule is only going to get tougher.”
The Aztecs return to the playing court on Thursday, Jan. 3, with a non-league game against La Costa Canyon (7-6).
Montgomery tips off Mesa League play with a game at Otay Ranch (10-7) on Jan. 9.
MONTGOMERY AZTECS – 36th Annual Aztec Holiday Classic Champions
HOOP-A-HOLICS
The Montgomery High School girls basketball team recorded a runner-up finish in the 36th annual Aztec Holiday Classic after dropping a 53-21 decision to Scripps Ranch in finals last Saturday.
Amanda Kramer led the victorious Falcons (6-4) with nine points in the contest.
Montgomery, which saw its record dip to 5-6 on the season, hosts Liberty from Henderson, Nev., in a non-league game Friday, Jan. 14, starting at 6 p.m.
Sweetwater finished runner-up in the Mayors Division championship game at last week’s Torrey Pines Holiday Classic after coming up short 85-77 in overtime to Rancho Buena Vista. The loss snapped a seven-game winning streak by the Red Devils (8-4).
The Longhorns (16-2) out-scored Sweetwater 15-7 in the overtime period after the teams came up even at 70 points through four quarters.
C.J. Jackson led the Devils with 25 points while Craig McMillan was right behind with 24 points. McMillan, who was 12-for-14 at the free throw line, led SuHi with 12 rebounds. Jackson had 11 boards.
Sweetwater returns to South Bay League play with a game Friday at Castle Park. The Devils are 1-0 in league play; the Trojans are 0-2 in league, 2-12 overall.
