SAN JOSE - Leigh moved closer to a BVAL-Mt. Hamilton title on Tuesday night, blitzing host Oak Grove 67-53.
The Longhorns (18-1, 9-0) made 11 3-pointers en route to their 11th consecutive victory. They haven't tasted defeat since the day after Christmas when they fell 82-50 to San Ramon Valley in the St. Francis Holiday Classic.
"It's really fun because we work it inside and out," Leigh guard Kyle Morrison said. "We get open shots and tonight we just happened to knock them down. Ball movement and transition is the key."
Leigh was tied 11-11 with Oak Grove, but scored the last 11 points of the first quarter to lead 22-11. Still up 40-28 at halftime, the Longhorns used the hot outside shooting of Morrison to increase the lead to 18 at one point in the third quarter.
Morrison, a four-year varsity starter, made three 3-pointers in the third quarter.
"Josh (Verner) was shooting it well in the first half and Kyle in the second half," Leigh center Jared Williams said. "I just do what's needed, whether it's getting rebounds or scoring on put-backs."
Leigh, with Williams operating well inside, moved the ball crisply and had little difficulty finding open shots against the Eagles.
Williams paced the Longhorns with 14 points and nine rebounds, Verner had 13 points, Morrison 12 points, Joe Giacchetti 10 points and Devin Miller eight.
Verner made 11 of his points and three of his 3-pointers in the first quarter.
"The one thing that makes it special is we have a lot of weapons," Leigh coach Patrick Judge said. "We'd like to play in the Open (Division) and test ourselves against the best of CCS."
Leigh has made the Central Coast Section Division II semifinals twice in four years under Judge, losing to St. Francis both times.
It looks like Piedmont Hills (16-3, 8-1) is the only team in league that can challenge the Longhorns. The Pirates fell to host Leigh 45-43 on January 21. Leigh has defeated every other Mt. Hamilton opponent by double figures.
Josh Bongers was a force inside for Oak Grove (9-9, 5-4), scoring 16 points. He often forced his way inside and used excellent body control to maneuver around Longhorn defenders. Harace Bangah added 12 points for the Eagles, mostly from outside.
Leigh is at Willow Glen at 7 p.m. Thursday and Oak Grove is at Independence.
