LA CANADA, CA - The 2026 Beat Cancer Challenge, powered by LA Court Report, brought together 14 high school basketball programs from Southern California for a seven-game showcase on Saturday, October 24, at St. Francis High School in La Cañada, California.
Organized by Steve Wachs, director of the showcase and head of LA Court Report, the event featured a competitive field of teams and talented prospects, including St. Francis standout Yann Kamagate, the nation's No. 1-ranked player in the Class of 2028.
With the 2026–27 high school basketball season approaching, the showcase provided an opportunity for programs to test themselves against quality competition while giving several emerging prospects a platform to make their mark.
Game 1: Eastside 60, Cathedral 46
Eastside opened the 2026 Beat Cancer Challenge with a convincing 60–46 victory over Cathedral, using a balanced offensive attack and strong interior play to establish control.
Eastside jumped out to an 18–8 lead after the opening quarter, setting the tone with transition opportunities and efficient scoring. Cathedral responded with a more competitive second period, but Eastside maintained a 30–22 advantage entering halftime.
Zhakari Fulcher led Eastside with 18 points, six rebounds, and three assists, while Jaydence Washington added 17 points, six rebounds, and two blocks. Washington was particularly effective around the basket, converting eight of his 15 field-goal attempts.
Eastside's offensive efficiency proved decisive. The team shot 49% from the field, recorded 19 assists, and scored 38 points in the paint.
Cathedral received a solid performance from Kaleb Johnson, who finished with 14 points and eight rebounds. Emilio Pinzon and Obamai Aisuan contributed 12 points apiece, with Aisuan also adding six rebounds and two blocks.
Ultimately, Eastside's early cushion and ability to generate high-percentage opportunities were enough to secure the opening victory.
Game 2: La Cañada 75, Oxnard 61
La Cañada delivered one of the more impressive offensive performances of the showcase, defeating Oxnard 75–61 behind a strong showing from Chris Spears and Alec Terzian.
The opening quarter ended tied at 17, with both teams exchanging perimeter baskets. Oxnard found success from beyond the arc, but La Cañada began separating itself in the second period, outscoring Oxnard 21–10 to take a 38–27 halftime lead.
Chris Spears led all scorers with 27 points, adding two steals and two blocks. Alec Terzian complemented him with an outstanding all-around performance of 19 points, five assists, four rebounds, four steals, and two blocks, connecting on four three-pointers.
Max Terzian provided a valuable presence inside, finishing with a double-double of 10 points and 11 rebounds, along with four assists and three steals.
Oxnard relied heavily on its perimeter shooting, knocking down 11 three-pointers on 23 attempts. Dom Angell scored 19 points and made five threes, while Jayden Angell contributed 14 points and six assists. Klay Staniland added 13 points with four three-pointers.
Despite Oxnard's impressive 47.8% shooting from deep, La Cañada's offensive balance and consistent production across the middle quarters proved too much to overcome.
Game 3: Pacifica 71, Palmdale 45
Pacifica turned in one of the most dominant team performances of the day, defeating Palmdale 71–45 behind an aggressive defensive effort and an outstanding showing from Andrew Valdovinos.
Pacifica wasted little time establishing control, jumping out to a commanding 20–6 first-quarter advantage. The lead grew to 43–19 by halftime, as Pacifica consistently forced turnovers and converted defensive stops into transition baskets.
Andrew Valdovinos delivered one of the top individual performances of the showcase, recording 26 points, seven rebounds, five assists, and four steals. He connected on four three-pointers and played a central role in Pacifica's offense.
Bryshon McGee added 18 points, four rebounds, and three steals, while Hector Garcia contributed nine points and eight rebounds.
Pacifica's defensive activity was especially impressive. The team finished with 15 steals, 31 points off turnovers, and 27 fast-break points, consistently pressuring Palmdale into difficult situations.
Palmdale struggled offensively but received strong rebounding performances from Bryce Scott and Drelon DeMerrill, who each grabbed 15 rebounds. Scott also scored 12 points.
Pacifica's combination of defensive pressure, transition scoring, and balanced offensive execution made it one of the standout team performances at the 2026 Beat Cancer Challenge.
Game 4: Santa Clara 71, Keppel 60
Santa Clara secured a 71–60 victory over Keppel in a matchup that featured a strong opening half from Santa Clara and a determined second-half effort from Keppel.
Santa Clara established an early 21–11 advantage after the first quarter and carried a 31–20 lead into halftime. Keppel responded with 22 points in the third quarter, cutting into the deficit and keeping the contest competitive.
However, Santa Clara answered with a 22-point fourth quarter to secure the win.
DJ Hughes led Santa Clara with 24 points and three steals, while JJ Ward delivered an excellent two-way performance, recording 16 points, five rebounds, four assists, and five steals.
Danny Grey contributed 13 points, seven rebounds, and two blocks, while Gio Gude provided a versatile performance with 10 points, eight rebounds, and six assists.
Keppel was led by Jake Amimoto-Ha, who scored a game-high 25 points, adding four rebounds, three assists, and two steals. Henry Liu also made a significant contribution, finishing with 17 points and eight rebounds.
Keppel's improved second-half offense made the matchup competitive, but Santa Clara's depth and late-game scoring ultimately preserved its advantage.
Game 5: Bakersfield Christian 75, Burroughs 54
Bakersfield Christian showcased its defensive pressure and balanced scoring attack in a commanding 75–54 victory over Burroughs.
After building a 21–10 first-quarter lead, Bakersfield Christian maintained control throughout the first half. The team then delivered its most impressive offensive stretch in the third quarter, outscoring Burroughs 29–11 to open a commanding 66–37 advantage entering the final period.
Braylen Smith led Bakersfield Christian with 16 points, seven assists, and three steals, helping direct an offense that consistently capitalized on turnovers.
Daniel Gutierrez added 14 points, five steals, and three three-pointers, while Taiwo Daramola recorded a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds, along with three steals and a block.
Carter Steinback contributed 10 points and four rebounds.
Bakersfield Christian's ability to generate extra possessions and convert defensive pressure into scoring opportunities was a major factor in the result.
Burroughs received 10 points from Will Rowan, nine from Liam Paulk, and eight points and eight rebounds from Will Anderson.
Although Burroughs scored 17 points in the fourth quarter, Bakersfield Christian's dominant third period had already put the game out of reach.
Game 6: Village Christian 71, Rolling Hills Prep 70
The best game of the 2026 Beat Cancer Challenge saved its biggest moment for the final 30 seconds.
Village Christian, playing without star sophomore Will Conroy Jr., rallied from a late deficit to defeat Rolling Hills Prep 71–70, delivering the most dramatic finish of Saturday's seven-game showcase at St. Francis High School.
The matchup featured impressive guard play, momentum swings, and a fourth-quarter comeback that culminated in a game-winning three-pointer from Noah Porter.
Village Christian initially struggled to establish control against a Rolling Hills Prep squad led by Carter Fulton, Andre George, and Nick Welch Jr.
After trailing 16–13 at the end of the first quarter, Village Christian remained within striking distance, but Rolling Hills Prep continued building momentum. The Huskies entered halftime ahead 38–33 before extending their advantage to 60–53 entering the fourth quarter.
Rolling Hills Prep appeared to have control, but Village Christian had other plans.
Deion Lewis led the comeback, connecting on a pair of critical three-pointers during the fourth quarter. His second three cut the deficit to 65–64 with 5:28 remaining, and a transition jumper later tied the contest at 66 with 4:31 left.
Rolling Hills Prep responded behind Fulton, who converted several free throws to help his team regain a four-point advantage at 70–66 with 1:20 remaining.
Lewis answered again, knocking down a pull-up jumper with 1:07 remaining to trim the deficit to two.
Then came the defining possession.
Following a Rolling Hills Prep turnover, Village Christian had an opportunity to take the lead. James Van de Houten missed a jumper, but Mateus Kuhnen Silveira secured the offensive rebound and found Noah Porter, who buried the go-ahead three-pointer with 29 seconds remaining.
Village Christian suddenly led 71–70.
Rolling Hills Prep had one final opportunity, but Fulton's floating jumper with three seconds remaining missed. Lewis collected the defensive rebound, and Village Christian held on for the one-point victory.
Lewis finished with a game-high 26 points and six assists, including several of the biggest baskets during the comeback.
Porter scored 12 points, connecting on four three-pointers, none bigger than his eventual game-winner. Kuhnen Silveira delivered a strong all-around performance with 12 points, 11 rebounds, and three blocks, while Anthony Karayan added 11 points and three three-pointers.
Rolling Hills Prep received an impressive performance from Fulton, who recorded 21 points, eight assists, and five rebounds. George finished with 19 points, knocking down five three-pointers, while Welch Jr. posted a double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds, along with four assists.
Rolling Hills Prep controlled the glass, finishing with 50 rebounds, but Village Christian's late execution proved decisive.
For a Village Christian team missing one of its biggest offensive weapons, the comeback demonstrated its ability to generate offense from multiple contributors and execute under pressure.
The 71–70 thriller was unquestionably the game of the day at the 2026 Beat Cancer Challenge.
Game 7: St. Francis 63, North Torrance 44
The 2026 Beat Cancer Challenge concluded with host St. Francis defeating North Torrance 63–44, highlighted by another impressive performance from nationally ranked sophomore Yann Kamagate.
With Kamagate anchoring the interior, St. Francis established control immediately, jumping out to a 10–0 advantage and setting the tone with defensive pressure, rebounding, and transition scoring.
Kamagate made his presence felt early, scoring on a putback before throwing down a transition dunk that energized the St. Francis offense.
The Golden Knights led 18–10 after the opening quarter and extended their advantage to 36–15 at halftime. St. Francis continued controlling the matchup in the third quarter, taking a commanding 55–25 lead into the final period.
Kamagate finished with 20 points, eight rebounds, three blocks, and two steals, delivering a strong two-way performance in front of the home crowd.
His combination of size, athleticism, finishing ability, and defensive presence helped St. Francis control the paint throughout the contest.
Will Ellien added 15 points, seven rebounds, and two steals, providing another reliable scoring option.
Jaylin Conard also delivered one of the most complete statistical performances of the game, finishing with eight points, 10 rebounds, six assists, two steals, and a block.
North Torrance was led by Nathan Kasuyama, who produced an impressive shooting performance with 22 points on 8-of-12 shooting, including six three-pointers on 10 attempts.
Connor Clark added 11 points, but North Torrance struggled to generate consistent offense against the St. Francis defense.
Although North Torrance outscored St. Francis 19–8 in the fourth quarter, the Golden Knights' dominant opening three periods had already decided the outcome.
With Kamagate leading the way, St. Francis closed its home showcase with a convincing victory.
Final Takeaways
The 2026 Beat Cancer Challenge delivered a strong day of California high school basketball, featuring talented prospects, competitive matchups, and standout individual performances at St. Francis High School.
From nationally recognized players to emerging talent looking to establish themselves, the seven-game showcase offered an early glimpse of what to expect during the upcoming 2026–27 season.
Steve Wachs and LA Court Report put together another quality event, bringing programs from across California together for a day of competition while supporting a meaningful cause.
As the regular season approaches, several players and teams from the 2026 Beat Cancer Challenge will be worth keeping an eye on.
Stay connected with Gamebook Stats for more high school basketball game recaps, player standouts, scouting reports, and statistical coverage throughout the 2026–27 season.