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Brandon Benjamin does it again, leads Canyon basketball to victory over Foothill

January 24, 2025

SANTA ANA – Brandon Benjamin turned in another great performance Thursday, scoring 32 points for Canyon in a 65-38 win over Foothill in a Crestview League boys basketball game at Foothill High.

Benjamin, a 6-6 senior forward, went into the game averaging 31 points a game. He has scored 98 points over his past three games, including 40 points in a loss to Inglewood on Saturday and 36 in a 73-65 home win over Foothill on Tuesday.

The win put Canyon in sole possession of first place in the five-team Crestview League with a 4-1 league record. Crean Lutheran is at 3-1, including a home win over Canyon last week. Cypress is 2-3 after a win Tuesday over La Habra, which is also 2-3 in league. Foothill is 1-4.

Canyon is 19-5 overall and Foothill is 14-10.

All Crestview League teams are in the top half of this week’s Orange County Top 25. Crean Lutheran is No. 5, Canyon is No. 6 and Foothill, La Habra and Cypress are Nos. 9, 10 and 11, respectively.

Benjamin returned to Canyon for his senior year after spending his junior season at Mater Dei. Benjamin was the Orange County player of the year two seasons ago as a sophomore at Canyon.

Canyon coach Nate Harrison campaigned Thursday for another player of the year honor.

“If he’s not the best player in Orange County,” Harrison said, “it’s just because you don’t want to give it to him at this point, because he’s just incredible.”

Benjamin scored his 32 points on 16 2-point baskets. He took only one free throw and one 3-point shot, and missed both. And after missing his first four shots in the first quarter Benjamin still finished 16 of 27 from the floor, 59 percent.

He scored on short, quick-release jump shots in the lane and on his plethora of slick inside moves, left-handed and right-handed. Benjamin, who signed with University of San Diego, where former UCLA coach Steve Lavin is the coach, left the game with 5:08 remaining, the outcome clearly established.

Benjamin also guarded Foothill’s improving 6-11 senior Danny Kennard for much of Thursday’s game. Kennard led the Knights with 12 points, making 6 of his 10 shots.

Canyon took great care of the basketball. It committed only five turnovers, and three of those came in the fourth quarter when bench players got much of the playing time.

Defense was a major factor for Canyon. The Comanches held Foothill to single-digit scoring in the second and third quarters and forced six turnovers in the second quarter.

“Today I thought we played a lot more intense on defense,” Benjamin said. “When we played them on Tuesday we weren’t wanting it as much. We came out today and wanted it more.”

Canyon led the entire game. The Comanches had a 16-11 lead at the end of the first quarter. Benjamin scored 10 of Canyon’s 15 second-quarter points and the Comanches had a 31-19 lead at halftime.

Benjamin scored eight of Canyon’s 11 third-quarter points as the Comanches outscored Foothill 11-7 for a 42-26 lead going into the fourth quarter.

Canyon senior guard Staf Yilmazturk scored 9 points and reserve freshman guard Jonah Kim scored eight points for the Comanches.

Junior forward Braeden Davidson had seven rebounds for Foothill.

Canyon’s 27-point margin of victory was the largest of any Crestview League game this season.

Canyon and Foothill coaches had an unfriendly verbal exchange after the game, and some spectators jawed at each other postgame, too. It all went away after a couple of minutes.

Many Orange County boys basketball leagues were reworked coming into this season, but Foothill and Canyon remained together in what for many seasons has been a hot-blooded Crestview League.

“It’s a heated game every year,” Harrison said. “We have a lot of respect for them and for their program and for Yo (Foothill coach Yousof Etemadi). But we’re going to get after it here.”

Canyon plays a league home game Friday against Cypress.

Foothill’s next game is against Orange County No. 4 Los Alamitos in the Nike Extravaganza on Saturday at 3 p.m. at Mater Dei High. The Knights return to Crestview League action Tuesday at Crean Lutheran.

Orange County Register

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Brandon Benjamin does it again, leads Canyon basketball to victory over Foothill

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