Here are some stories that include some of our BTI players in local news coverage. 

Nick Stover, Josh Hearlihy, Spencer Levy - LA Times Article by Eric Sodheimer

Two of the top teams in Southern Section Division 4AA, La Verne Lutheran and Los Angeles Windward, met in an early season showdown game on Tuesday night, and it was Windward upsetting the No. 4-ranked Trojans, 64-62.

Windward (3-3) received 27 points from Nicholas Stover. Lutheran (5-1) fell behind by 13 points in the fourth quarter, then came close to pulling off a frantic comeback.

"I knew we were going to be good," Windward Coach Miguel Villegas said.

Windward still hasn't gotten back standout point guard Charles Dawson, who was injured during the football season and won't be back until January.

Los Angeles Price defeated previously unbeaten Sherman Oaks Buckley, 82-59. Skylar Spencer scored 16 points, had nine rebounds and eight blocks.

Studio City Harvard-Westlake (3-2) defeated Manhattan Beach Mira Costa, 86-59. Zena Edosomwan scored 22 points and had 16 rebounds. Josh Hearlihy added 21 points.

Etiwanda (6-1) defeated Fontana Miller, 64-26. Sophomore Jordan McLaughlin scored 16 points.

In a Marmonte League opener, Westlake received 21 points from Grant Lozoya to defeat Newbury Park, 80-44. Calabasas (5-0) defeated Royal, 50-47. Jeremy Lieberman had 16 points and Spencer Levy 12. Moorpark defeated Simi Valley, 71-61.

Davis Dragovich - Crescenta Valley Weekly

Davis said winning MVP “feels cool,” and added the only other award that compares was being selected as an honorable mention in the All-Pacific League team.

The Falcons (4-0) lost in the championship game to Chatsworth last year in the tournament, but this year it looked like they were on a mission. They beat South Pasadena 79-34, Simi Valley 74-53 and Antelope Valley 66-34 to reach the final round against Hart. That’s right, the average margin of victory in those games was 32.6.

Although the Indians provided a much tougher challenge – they entered the game 4-0 – the Falcons managed to pull away late due to an all-around offensive effort from the CV starting five.

The Falcons led at halftime 37-20, thanks to the outside shooting of Dragovich and senior guard Dylan Kilgour. Dragovich had 10 points in the first quarter and finished with 14. Kilgour had a team-high 20 points.

But a 16-point lead in the second half evaporated as Hart’s trio of Austin Maly, Ben Johnson and Lewis Stallworth brought the Indians back. Maly had a game-high 23 points. The lead late in the fourth dwindled down to 69-65, but CV continually solved Hart’s full-court pressure leading to a Kilgour layup and a Misi jumper to push the lead to 73-67 with a minute left, and Hart never scored again.

“Seeing our team come together like that when [Hart] made a run, staying together, that was probably the most important part,” Dragovich said.

To read the full article GO HERE

Michael Avery commits to Sonoma State - LA Times Article by Eric Sondheimer

Michael Avery of Encino Crespi has committed to Sonoma State.

The 6-foot-5 senior guard committed to Kentucky prior to his freshman year, receiving national attention as one of the youngest commitments ever. The offer was taken away after Billy Gillispie left Kentucky. Avery sat out his junior season after returning to Crespi following a transfer to Montverde Academy in Florida.

Crespi Coach Russell White said in a statement, "Obviously, a lot has changed for Mike since he committed to Kentucky prior to his freshmen year at Crespi. But what hasn't changed is his love for the game. On a recent visit [to Sonoma State], Mike fell in love with the campus, Coach Pat Fuscaldo, and the current players. Our program is excited that Mike will continue his basketball journey at the next level."