The latest in this week's public versus private schools boys' basketball showdowns went to the private school Wednesday night.

 

Village Christian built a 20-point halftime and never looked back in a 76-62 nonleague victory against Chatsworth.

 

Bryan Alberts and fellow sophomore Marsalis Johnson turned in outstanding performances for the Crusaders, who became the first area team to reach 10 wins.

 

Alberts had 26 points, six rebounds and three assists. Johnson nearly had a triple-double with 14 points, 14 rebounds and nine blocks.

 

"It was a great win," Alberts said. "It was the first time we played a tough public school. Our bench played well. We still can get better."

 

Village Christian (10-1) didn't waste anytime against the undersized Chancellors (4-6).

Alberts made two 3-pointers in the first quarter and a late second-quarter flurry helped the Crusaders really take control.

 

Not only was Chatsworth at a disadvantage rebounding, top player Terrell Funches battled foul trouble all night before finishing with 25 points.

 

Funches picked up his third foul with 7:04 remaining in the second quarter, was whistled for his fourth foul with 2:00 remaining in the third quarter and finally fouled out with 4:26 left. "We came out slow, and then had to work really hard just to try and come back," Funches said. "They killed us on the boards and I got into foul trouble." Salvador Torres scored 17 points and Montel Shirley added 15 points for Chatsworth, which had only four players score.

 

Andrew English contributed 11 points and six rebounds for Village Christian, which was playing without starter Marquis Salmon, who was attending a funeral for a relative.

 

Alberts did a nice job taking on a more aggressive approach in his absence. "It is my coaches getting me to be a true leader," Alberts said. "I still can get to another level." Village Christian has lost only one game this season, a 61-44 setback against Renaissance Academy in the Burbank tournament.

 

The Crusaders have high hopes for a championship run in Div. V-AA. They will have to battle St. Bernard, but there hasn't been this much excitement on the Sun Valley campus in quite some time.

"We are just getting ready for the next game," Alberts said. "There are no breaks. We will be back at practice."