Boys’ basketball: Lucas Siewert, Kobe Paras come through for Cathedral

Lucas Siewert from Brazil and Kobe Paras from the Philippines are starting to like American basketball.

They made major contributions on Thursday night in helping Cathedral get past Redondo, 61-56, in an opening game of the Southern Section Open Division playoffs.

The 6-foot-10 Siewert scored 18 points and was four of four on free throws in the fourth quarter. The 6-6 Paras had 13 points, including two critical baskets in the fourth quarter. Milan Acquaah added 16 points. Leland Green led Redondo with 19 points.

Cathedral (20-6) will play No. 1-seeded Bishop Montgomery on Wednesday at home in the quarterfinals. Cathedral is 0-2 against Bishop Montgomery this season.

“I enjoy this,” L.A. Cathedral Coach William Middlebrooks said. “It’s about playing the best.”

Stephen Thompson Jr. scored 27 points in Bishop Montgomery’s 81-55 win over North.

The biggest opening surprise was No. 12 Orange Lutheran defeating No. 5 La Verne Damien, 60-59. C.J. Hankins scored 20 points and Keisean Lucier-South had 17 points. No. 11 Chino Hills defeated No. 7 Long Beach Poly, 78-54, with UCLA commit Lonzo Ball scoring 35 points.

Chino Hills will host No. 2 Santa Ana Mater Dei on Wednesday. Mater Dei, leading by only one point after three quarters, was able to defeat Los Angeles Price, 65-56. M.J. Cage had 22 points and La’Vette Parker 18.

Kahlil Ahmad had 29 points and Sedrick Barefield 23 in Corona Centennial’s 95-69 win over Alemany. No. 4 Centennial will play Orange Lutheran at Hope International University. Cody Riley had 21 points in Sierra Canyon’s 75-63 win over Bellflower St. John Bosco. Sierra Canyon will play the winner of Friday’s game between Etiwanda and Cantwell-Sacred Heart.

Twitter:@LATSondheimer