Loyola Stuns Sherman Oaks Notre Dame in Exciting Mission League Opener

Upsets and Dominant Wins Mark Opening Night of Mission League Basketball

On Wednesday night, the Mission League basketball action featured remarkable upsets and decisive victories, setting the tone for an exciting season.

Loyola pulled off a stunning comeback against Sherman Oaks Notre Dame, erasing a 16-point deficit to secure a thrilling 72-68 win. Deuce Newt led the Cubs with 23 points, showcasing his talent since becoming eligible following a transfer from Campbell Hall on December 26. First-year coach Cam Joyce expressed pride in his team’s growth, with Randall Sanders contributing an additional 15 points.

In another tightly contested matchup, No. 1-ranked Sierra Canyon narrowly defeated St. Francis 50-47. The Golden Knights nearly tied the game in the closing moments, but Maxi Adams sealed the victory for the Trailblazers with two crucial free throws. Brandon McCoy shone for Sierra Canyon with 19 points and 12 rebounds, while Cherif Millogo scored 14 points for St. Francis.

Harvard-Westlake continued its impressive form with an 84-51 triumph over Chaminade, improving its record to 18-2. Amir Jones sparkled with six three-pointers and a total of 26 points, while Joe Sterling and Dominique Bentho added 22 points and a double-double of 11 points and 13 rebounds, respectively.

Crespi also secured a strong win, defeating Bishop Alemany 87-59. Jasiah Williams and Christian Tshina-Nzambi each tallied 20 points, contributing to Crespi’s successful performance.

Looking ahead, Friday’s matchups include Notre Dame visiting Sierra Canyon, Harvard-Westlake at Crespi, and Chaminade traveling to Loyola.

In other scores from Wednesday night:

• Arcadia triumphed over Burroughs 87-51, with Owen Eteuati Edwards scoring 23 points and grabbing eight rebounds.
• Fairfax defeated Carson 77-40, bolstered by Dominick Bowie’s 14 points.
• San Pedro emerged victorious against Hamilton 67-37, thanks to Chris Morgan’s contributions of 14 points and eight rebounds.
• California bested Saddleback 105-77, led by Jair Linares with 26 points.
• Tesoro dominated Capistrano Valley 78-39, as Dean Mika scored 23 points.
• St. Monica edged out St. Bernard 67-58 in overtime, with Jordan Ballard scoring 20 points for St. Bernard.
• Los Alamitos took down Huntington Beach 57-47, with sophomore Isaiah Williamson contributing 11 points and 12 rebounds.

As the season unfolds, these results highlight the competitive nature of the Mission League and the promising talent on display.