Name : Nate Garcia
School : Damien
Sport : Basketball
Grade : Sophomore
Position : Center
Boys Athlete of the Week:
Damien entered the 2022-23 season needing to replace all five starters from the 2021-22 state championship team.
Who would step up for Mike LeDuc’s program?
If the first week is any indication, his name is Nate Garcia.
The Spartans’ 6-foot-11 center led DHS to a 4-1 mark at the Sunny Hills Tournament.
Garcia scored 26, 22, 12, 16 and 28 in games against Sunny Hills, Santa Fe, Orange Lutheran, Riverside Poly and La Mirada, respectively.
And Garcia saved his best for last.
In Saturday’s 51-50 victory over La Mirada, Garcia helped erase a 30-22 deficit at the break.
Garcia scored a career-high 28 points.
Eighteen of those 28 came in their second-half surge, and Garcia would score seven of Damien’s 11 fourth-quarter points.
Up next: The Spartans will face off with King-Drew next Saturday in tournament play.
Damien Scores at Sunny Hills Tournament:
Mon: Damien 75, Sunny Hills 51
Tues: Damien 76, Santa Fe 39
Wed: Orange Lutheran 63, Damien 51
Fri: Damien 46, Riverside Poly 38
Sat: Damien 51, La Mirada 50
Nate Garcia’s Week:
Mon: 26 points in Damien’s 75-51 victory over Sunny Hills
Tues: 22 points in 76-39 victory over Santa Fe
Wed: 12 points in Damien’s 63-51 loss to Orange Lutheran
Fri: 16 points in 46-38 victory over Riverside Poly
Sat: 28 in 51-50 victory over La Mirada
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