Day One of The Classic at Damien delivered exactly what Southern California’s premier holiday basketball tournament promises: high-level competition, nationally relevant matchups, and standout performances across multiple divisions as teams from California and beyond tipped off five days of action.
With games spread across several divisions, opening-day results set the tone for what is shaping up to be a deep, competitive tournament field.
Platinum Division: National Caliber Matchups Set the Bar
Out-of-state power Sunnyslope (AZ) made a statement in its opener, pulling away late to defeat Eastvale Roosevelt 64–52 in one of the day’s marquee matchups.
Host school Damien also impressed on its home floor, earning a 64–56 victory over Parish Episcopal (TX). The Spartans showed poise and balance in their opening game, giving the home crowd plenty to be encouraged about moving deeper into the Platinum bracket.
Diamond Division: Rancho Cucamonga Survives Tight Battle
In one of the most competitive games of Day One, Rancho Cucamonga edged Branson 58–55 behind a strong all-around effort.
Rancho Cucamonga leaders:
Kavan Bowden: 20 points, 8 rebounds
JC Corneille: 11 points, 6 assists
Carter Johnson: 9 points, 6 rebounds
Bowden’s scoring punch proved decisive in a game that remained tight until the final possessions.
Green Division: Close Finishes and Offensive Explosions
The Green Division saw a mix of tight contests and decisive wins:
Alta Loma 50, Fresno Roosevelt 43
Huntington Beach 75, Chino 68
Wiseburn Da Vinci 66, Claremont 53
Chino Hills 52, South Bakersfield 48
Temecula Valley 77, West Covina 16
Chino Hills showed composure in a close four-point win, while Temecula Valley delivered the most convincing win of the division on opening day.
Iron Division: San Dimas Leads Balanced Game
Several close games highlighted the Iron Division, including Temecula Prep’s 64–62 win over Diamond Ranch and Calvary Chapel S.A.’s 44–42 victory against Charter Oak.
San Dimas earned a convincing 64–25 win over La Sierra, powered by a balanced scoring effort:
San Dimas scoring leaders:
Andrew Diep: 16 points, 4 three-pointers
Daniel Barreles: 12 points Angelo Fares: 9 points
Landon Tangco: 8 points
Also in the division, Citrus Valley defeated Don Lugo 66–56.
Bronze Division: Los Osos, Glendora Open Strong
Los Osos 69, Central East 61
Glendora 63, Marquez 18
Glendora wasted no time establishing control, rolling to one of the more decisive wins of the day.
Copper Division: Diamond Bar Delivers Complete Performance
The Copper Division featured several competitive games, including Brea’s 49–48 win over Chaffey.
Diamond Bar stood out with a 72–55 victory over Franklin, showcasing depth and ball movement.
Diamond Bar leaders:
Jedison Chow: 20 points, 10 rebounds, 7 assists
Ayden Ellis: 15 points, 6 assists, 2 steals
Ezekiel Alegado: 12 points, 5 rebounds
Jacob Kim: 14 points
Demi Sobiye: 7 rebounds
Other Copper results:
Rialto 66, L.A. Salesian 58
Bonita 57, Pondersosa 36
Culver City 68, Norton 52
Gold Division: Etiwanda Edges Past San Joaquin Memorial
In a tightly contested Gold Division opener, Etiwanda held off San Joaquin Memorial 53–50.
Etiwanda scoring leaders:
Armaun Pollock: 14 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal
Samuel Funn, Devin Mitchell, Achilles Orji: 9 points each
Isaiah Ben: 8 points
What’s Next
With Day One in the books, teams now turn their focus to bracket positioning and momentum as tournament play continues through December 30.
To view all Day One scores, visit The Classic at Damien website, and stay locked in to Sportscenetv.net for continued coverage, daily recaps, and tournament updates throughout the week.
