SANTA ANA, CA - Game seven of the 23rd Nike Extravaganza featured Oak Park taking apart Colony-Ontario, 71-48, a game in which Oak Park never trailed. Six-foot-ten senior power forward and Utah commit Riley Battin dominated inside for Oak Park, scoring 26 points and grabbing 20 rebounds.
Dartmouth commit Wes Slajchert shot 50 percent from the three point line and finished with 17 points. “We had a good game plan coming in to take care of their drivers and speed the game up on the other end,” he said. “Hitting shots always helps and we really executed.”
His younger brother, Clark, scored 17 points as well. “It’s a crazy opportunity, not a lot of kids get to play with another good player on their team that is their brother,” said Wes, about the chance to play with a sibling. Oak Park dished out 13 total assists to Colony’s four, and out-rebounded the opposition by 18.
Colony was led by guard Sedrick Altman (14 points, five rebounds) and freshman Brenton Knapper (11 points, two steals). Altman and Knapper led a strong second quarter surge, as Colony outscored Oak Park 16-15 for the quarter. Oak Park took a 16-5 lead down the stretch of the first quarter, thanks to buckets from Slajchert and Battin.
Clark Slajchert slashed through defenders and scored at the rim moments later, and Colony responded with a made three-pointer. Wes Slajchert drew a foul to end the quarter and sank two free throws to give Oak Park a 20-10 advantage.
Colony struggled to score throughout the third quarter, while Oak Park continued to drain shots. Battin finished the third with 17 points and led Oak Park’s offensive run, extending their lead to 53-33 by the end of the quarter.
Lorenzo Bright (six points) scored to open the fourth quarter for Colony, and the Eagles picked up full court. The pressure didn’t rattle the Slajchert brothers or Battin, however, as Oak Park kept scoring.
Colony scored on the first possession of the second quarter, but allowed a Battin field goal at the rim one play later. Mark Burns (nine points) nailed his second three of the game for Colony, but Battin fired right back and posted another two points. Oak Park took a nine point lead into the break and finished with 25 total first half rebounds.
Oak Park moves to 19-6, and are a perfect 7-0 in league play. The Eagles travel to Moorpark to end their regular season, next up. Colony drops to a still strong 22-5, and are also undefeated in league at 8-0. Two games against Ontario and Alta Loma remain for Colony.
