Sports Briefs: Amborn takes charge, but San Domenico falls in San Diego

San Domenico’s girls basketball squad opened the SoCal Holiday Classic on Wednesday with a big challenge in San Diego. The Panthers lost 68-53 to Division 1 powerhouse Oak Ridge, the third-ranked team in the CIF Sacramento Section.

Junior Carly Amborn led the Panthers 26 points, including a long-range three to cut the gap to 11 points entering halftime. Summer Jenkins, Lily Reeser and Antonina Konczak each chipped in with seven points.

The Panthers take on another big challenge Thursday against D-1 foe Long Beach Poly at 4:30 p.m.

Boys basketball

Charles Williams flashed his speed on the court with a late steal that he turned into two points as host Marin Catholic defeated Mills, 49-43, Wednesday in the opening round of the Don Bambauer Tournament. Williams led the Wildcats with 20 points, seven rebounds and four steals in a standout performance, while Jake Ryan added eight points,

• Archie Williams kept the game close through the first quarter before St. Ignatius pulled ahead to hand the Peregrine Falcons an 82-56 defeat Wednesday in the opening round of the Bambauer Tournament, hosted by Marin Catholic. The Falcons (5-5) are scheduled to play Urban at 2 p.m. Thursday.

In other tournament matchups, Arcata beat Lincoln, 93-81, Miramonte beat Vintage, 72-49, Montgomery beat Heritage, 68-46, University beat Woodside Priory, 90-60, and MLK edged Central Catholic, 62-59.

• The Branson School went tooth-and-nail against Roosevelt in Wednesday’s opening-round 68-64 loss to Roosevelt at the Damien Classic in LaVerne. The Bulls led 34-27 at halftime before Roosevelt rallied in the third quarter. The two teams then battled back and forth to the final buzzer. Semetri Carr went to the line to give the Bulls a 64-63 lead, but Roosevelt then went on a 5-0 run to close out the game.

Branson is scheduled to play La Mirada at 1 p.m. Thursday.

San Marin and Redwood were in late action at the Damien Classic on Wednesday.

• San Rafael saw its slim halftime lead vanish in a 51-39 loss to McClymonds in the first round of the Damian Lillard Classic on Wednesday.