BASKETBALL ROUNDUP; ONE HALF ENOUGH FOR CHAMINADE.

Byline: Daily News

The first quarter belonged to Ryan Arceo. Scott Borchart owned the third. In the end, that was more than enough for the Chaminade boys' basketball team to win its fifth Chaminade Tournament championship on Thursday with a 60-49 victory over San Francisco's Riordan High.

Arceo, a junior sharp shooter, scored nine of his game-high 20 points in the opening period to erase an eight-point deficit and put Chaminade of West Hills ahead 15-14 at the end of the period.

Borchart, handcuffed in the first-half by Riordan's double- and triple-teams, broke lose for eight of his 19 points in the third period to help the Eagles open a 12-point lead to start the fourth quarter.

Chaminade cruised from that point, opening an 18-point advantage in the fourth quarter. Borchart, a 6-9 junior forward, also had 13 rebounds and was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player.

The Crusaders took a 12-6 lead midway through the first quarter, but Arceo hit three straight 3-pointers to put Chaminade ahead to start the second.

Marquise Kately had 23 points to lead the Crusaders. Frank Black added 12.

- Vincent Bonsignore

IN THE MOREY ELMORE CLASSIC:

--Taft 62, North Hollywood 41: The Woodland Hills-based Toreadors lost to North Hollywood in last year's final and had fallen in the title game for three of the past four years before winning this time.

All-tournament selections GreggGuenther and Steve Smith boosted the Toreadors (10-1) to their first Eagle Rock tournament title since 1988 and their 10th victory in a row after a season-opening overtime loss to Marshall.

The 6-9 Guenther, a transfer from Crespi, had 18 points and 12 rebounds. Smith contributed 17 points, 11 rebounds, six steals and four assists for the Toreadors.

Ronald Gray, who scored 11 points, was selected as the tournament's MVP. Ken Hauser and Eric Roller made all-tournament for North Hollywood (11-3).

"We were upset and we've come back better than ever," Gray said. "Everybody is on the same page this year. What can you say about Steve Smith. He scores. He rebounds. He does everything."

Even dunk. The 6-0 Smith ended the third quarter with a two-handed breakaway slam at the buzzer to give Taft a 47-26 lead and culminate a 12-0 run.

Taft never trailed behind Smith, who scored the Toreadors' first seven points to help open a 9-2 lead. The Toreadors led 29-19 at halftime.

- Kirby Lee

IN THE HART HOLIDAY CLASSIC:

--Saugus 80, LACES 66:Saugus (10-5) won its sixth consecutive game and the 27th edition of this tournament with an impressive transition game and teamwork.

Chad Crogh led the Centurions with 25 points. Mike Gristanti added 19 and 10 rebounds, and tournament MVP Tim Tampus scored 17.

LACES (6-4), which had a four-game winning streak, never got closer than eight points in the second half.

Brishen Foley and Jamal Johnson scored 15 points each.

With Saugus up by eight midway through the fourth quarter, the Centurions went on an 11-4 run to put the game away.

- Gerry Gittelson

IN THE WESTLAKE TOURNAMENT:

--Crespi 74, Hueneme 48: The Celts (8-5), admittedly inconsistent prior to a 3-1 Westlake tournament mark, dominated the undermanned Vikings (8-5) after falling behind 10-2 early.

"This is going to give us a lot of confidence going into league play. And we have to play Harvard and Chaminade right away," said senior guard Pat Casella, who scored 20 points in the final to earn tournament MVP honors.

The Celts made few mistakes against the Vikings, getting easy baskets thanks to a stifling defense.

All-tournament selection Andrew Moore added 11 points and the Celts got a boost off the bench from center Brandon Duplessie and guard Kingsley Anyanwu (10 points apiece).

Crespi went on a 7-0 run to end the half for a 33-22 advantage, then finished the third quarter on an 11-3 spurt to lead 50-31 and cruise thereafter.

- Chris Cocoles

GIRLS

IN THE THOUSAND OAKS TOURNAMENT:

--Royal 69, Westlake 64: As if they needed another reminder, the Royal girls' basketball team learned firsthand how tough the Marmonte League will be this season.

"I hope all the league games won't be quite that tough, but we can't be overconfident," said Kristen Galbreath, who scored a game-high 22 points.

Royal is expected to contend for the league title, Westlake perhaps to claim a playoff berth, but the Warriors were in control for much of the game.

The Warriors led by six points with less than six minutes remaining, but Galbreath took over from there, scoring 10 of her team's final 14 points.

Royal made 9 of 10 free-throw attempts in the fourth quarter, and took the lead for good when Galbreath's two free throws put the Highlanders up 62-60 with 2:37 remaining.

Kellie Gesell added 17 points and Leticia Saldain added 15 for Royal. Tawny Thorp and Lottie Kanama each scored 17 points to lead Westlake.

The Highlanders also started strong, and took an 8-0 lead less than two minutes in, but the Warriors quickly rallied behind the strong inside play of Kanama and the perimeter shooting of Thorp to take a six-point lead to start the second quarter.

Royal slowly chipped away at the deficit, and took a one-point lead at halftime.

- Rich Hammond 

IN THE BELL-JEFF TOURNAMENT:

--North Hollywood 65, Valencia 60: Richelle Sherman scored 19 points and the Huskies hit five 3-pointers en route to a victory in the final.

North Hollywood (9-4) buried four 3-pointers to start the game and lead 12-2 early in the first quarter.

The Huskies, who have won six straight, improved to 9-4.

Kaipresha Price added 18 points and hit seven of eight free throws in the fourth quarter for North Hollywood.

Valencia (7-6) rallied from its early deficit and even led at 56-55 in the fourth quarter. Marissa Meadows scored 17 points and Valerie Pina added 15 for the Vikings.

Megan Honaker hit four 3-pointers for Valencia, including the one that gave the Vikings a brief lead.

North Hollywood, however, responded by hitting ten of 12 free-throws in the fourth quarter to secure its victory.

- Bryan Rodgers

CAPTION(S):

photo

Photo: Chaminade's Scott Borchart gets double-teamed Thursday against Riordan.

Eric Grigorian/Special to the Daily News