Staff Reports

CHINO HILLS – Chino Hills High boys’ basketball team received an early Christmas gift last Wednesday when they won the City of Palms Classic Tournament in Florida.

The Chino Hills Huskies won the prominent tournament with a 66-60 overtime victory against Patrick School of Elizabeth, N.J.

“It’s the best tournament in the nation,” said Chino Hills coach Steve Baik. “I think we have a chance to be named No. 1 in the nation now, so to have this opportunity, for a little public school out in California, it’s like a dream come true. We want to keep it rolling.”

The Huskies knocked off some of the nation’s best boys basketball teams to reach the top including Thomas Jefferson High of New York, Monteverde Academy of Florida, and High Point Christian of North Carolina.

With the victory, Chino Hills became the fifth California school to win the tournament and the first since Santa Ana Mater Dei in 2008.

The UCLA-bound senior Lonzo Ball was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player and scored 20 points in the final. His brothers, LiAngelo and LaMelo, Onyeka Oknongwu and Elizjah Scott also made impressive plays to take the All-Star Team to victory.

The Huskies are also seeking to be named the best boys’ basketball team in the country when ranking results are released this week by a USA Today High School Sports Poll.

The Huskies winning streak will continue at the MaxPreps Holiday Classic Tournament through Dec. 29 in Rancho Mirage.