PREP BASKETBALL ROUNDUP: Q.H. NEARLY CATCHES NO. 1 NOTRE DAME.

Byline: Daily News

After a preseason that didn't include scrimmages, top-ranked Notre Dame was excited - perhaps too excited - to get its season under way Monday night at Canyon High School.

The Knights (1-0) squandered a 16-point halftime lead over Quartz Hill before Cody Pearson rescued them with three late free throws to preserve a 59-57 victory in the Cowboy Classic.

``We were too pumped up,'' said Pearson, who finished with 11 rebounds and a game-high 29 points. ``We wanted to come out and show everybody we're for real.''

Pearson took control early, scoring three of the Knights' first four baskets but was kept quiet while Quartz Hill (3-2) went on a 14-0 run at the end of the third quarter.

Scott Lankford, who finished with 20 points, pulled the Rebels to within a point in the final 20 seconds, but a Pearson steal and ensuing free throws sealed the victory for Notre Dame.

--Valencia 60, Monroe 41: Albert Ingram scored 24 of his game-high 26 points in the second half to lead the Vikings (2-3) to victory.

Monroe (0-5) used a trapping defense to slow Valencia in first half to take a 24-22 halftime lead. But in the second half, Valencia pulled away with several fast-break baskets.

Tony Psomostithis and William Savala led Monroe with 11 points apiece.

--Canyon 87, San Fernando 45: Brian Waite scored 21 points as Canyon (4-1) exploited its significant size advantage to take an early lead and handily beat San Fernando (2-3).

Matt Nelsen scored 16 and Jeremy Haggerty added 12 points, helping the Cowboys outscore the Tigers 45-19 in the second half.

- Kevin Flavin 

--Montclair Prep Classic: Despite missing four players who Montclair Prep thought they would have for this season, the host Mounties improved to 2-0 with a 75-67 first-round victory Monday afternoon over Santa Clarita Christian.

Tony McFadden has not played this season and Marko Bozovic, Slobodon Cvjovic and Lewh Blaise - foreign exchange students - were ruled ineligible for varsity competition by the Southern Section.

The Mounties were led Garen Hartunian with 22 points and Derek Daniels with 17. Charlie Kranzdorf and Baron Abdul-Mansour had 12 and 10 points, respectively, for Montclair Prep.

The three foreign exchange students played for Montclair Prep's JV team, which is in the varsity tournament. THe JV Mounties lost to Camp Kilpatrick 74-49.

Kilpatrick was led by Keilon Fortune with 28 points. Fortune, who might be one of the best players in Division V-AA, was a top player at nationally ranked Dominguez of Compton last year.

Bozovic led Montclair Prep JV with 20 points and Cvjovic scored 18. Blaise, a 6-foot-10 center from Camaroon, scored seven points.

Kenny Pollock scored 20 points and Valley Torah transfer Abey Malkin scored nine and had seven assists as the Panthers were victorious in a 76-28 trouncing of Faith Baptist of Canoga Park.

In other first-round action, San Gabriel upended West Los Angeles Baptist 64-56.

The tournament continues today with six more games, including two championship quarterfinal games.

- Jack Pollon

--Beverly Hills Tourney Hollywood survived a fierce fourth-quarter comeback, led by the Cavaliers' Derrick Lamby, to stop Cleveland 82-78 in overtime in the second round.

Lamby scored 22 points and had 17 rebounds. T.J. Stephens scored 16 points, and had six steals and six assists for Cleveland (0-2).