With its star player ailing and its best shooter misfiring for most of the game, the Lowell boys’ basketball team still managed to do what it has done so frequently over the past two seasons — win.

Travis Hom, playing for the first time in two weeks because of a wrist injury, scored 10 points and Alex McNabb added 11 — including nine in the pivotal third quarter — to help host Lowell defeat Oceana 48-29 in the first round of the Cardinal Classic.

“We’re basically just trying to get used to playing with each other,” Lowell coach Robert Ray said. “A win is nice, but my main concern right now is finding the right combination of guys out on the floor for us.”

Despite facing a serious size disadvantage, the plucky Sharks (0-3) trailed just 26-22 midway through the third quarter before Lowell found its offensive rhythm. McNabb, the top returning shooter from a Cardinals team that won 29 games last year, snapped out of an early-game shooting funk to hit three 3-pointers in an 11-0 Lowell run that closed out the quarter.

With the win, Lowell moves on to play San Lorenzo today at 8 p.m. in the semifinals.

Lowell 48, Oceana 29

Cardinal Classic

Aragon 62, St. Thomas More 44

Greg O’Neil scored nine points to lead a balanced effort as the Dons (3-3) defeated <a title=”Thomas More” href=”/Subject-Thomas_More.html” target=”_blank” onClick=”var s=s_gi('examinercom'); s.tl(this,'o','Inline Entity Link'); ” >St. Thomas More (1-3) in the opening round of the Cardinal Classic. Aragon will move on to face Lincoln today at 6:30 p.m. in the semifinals.

—Will Reisman

Lincoln 63, Mountain View 49

Deend Parker had 22 points as the Mustangs (2-2) knocked off the Spartans (2-3) in the first round of the Cardinal Classic.

— Will Reisman

NONCONFERENCE

Bentley (Lafayette) 50, Jewish Community 22

LAFAYETTE — Despite Pavel Krylov’s 10 points and 10 rebounds for his sixth straight double-double, the Wolves (1-6) were beaten by the Phoenix (3-1).

— Staff report

BRET HARTE TOURNAMENT

Wallenberg 50, Escalon 37

ANGELS CAMP — Chibuzo Emeka scored 24 points to lead the Bulldogs (4-0) over the Cougars (0-1) in the first round of the Bret Harte Tournament.

— Staff report

GRYPHONS’ HOLIDAY SHOOTOUT

International 56, Drew 24

HILLSBOROUGH — Charlie Boatwright hit three 3-pointers and finished with 14 points as the Jaguars (6-1) beat the Dragons (5-1) in the Boys’ Gryphons’ Holiday Shootout Basketball Tournament.

— Staff report

GIRLS NONCONFERENCE

Drew 56, Jewish Community 7 Claire Ishizaki scored all 12 of her points in the first half as the host Dragons (3-4) beat the Wolves (1-3) in a nonconference game.

— Staff report

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