Southern Section

SOUTHERN SECTION PLAYOFFS

Saturday, March 6

Championships

DIVISION I-AA

Long Beach Poly 50, Etiwanda 34
Legends can be difficult to replace, but Long Beach Poly Coach Sharrief Metoyer is off to a good start.

In his first season since replacing Ron Palmer, who guided the Jackrabbits to eight section titles and one state championship between 1976 and 2002, Metoyer led second-seeded Poly to its fifth title in the last 11 years with a 50-34 victory Saturday night over top-seeded Etiwanda in a Division I-AA final at the Arrowhead Pond.

The Jackrabbits (28-3) went on a 10-0 run midway through the second quarter to take a 26-8 lead and Etiwanda (29-2) never got closer than 13 points the rest of the game.

Marcus Lewis, a 6-8, 240-pound senior center, scored 16 points to lead the Jackrabbits to their 21st consecutive victory.

Etiwanda, which came into the game riding a 24-game winning streak, played another strong defensive game, holding the Jackrabbits to nearly 13 points under their season average. But the Eagles were unable to match the Jackrabbits’ inside presence. The Eagles made just four of 18 field goals in the first half, when Poly built a 31-14 lead.
--Dan Arritt

Poly 11 20 5 14 -- 50
Etiwanda 6 8 8 12 -- 34

LONG BEACH POLY -- Lewis 16 (and 18 rebounds), Fields 12, Laguana 7, Buggs 7, Allen 5, Han 3.

ETIWANDA -- Carter 11 (and 9 rebounds and 4 blocks), Pendergraph 10 (and 9 rebounds), Rougeau 5, Taylor 2, Collison 2, Smits 2, Houtz 2.

Records: Long Beach Poly 28-3 ; Etiwanda 29-2.

DIVISION I-A

Mission Viejo 64, Huntington Beach Marina 57
The fourth-seeded Diablos scored the final five points in the Division I-A championship game to secure the program’s first section title.

Marina (24-8) had trimmed a nine-point fourth-quarter deficit to two on Jeff Rivera’s put-back with 2:15 remaining. But Mission Viejo’s Jed Collins sank three of four free throws down the stretch and the Viking missed thier final four field goal attempts.

Collins scored nine of his 19 points in the final quarter. Marcus Blackshire contributed 16 points and 11 rebounds for the Diablos (26-5).

Matt Brennan scored 24 points to lead Marina, but was held scoreless in the final quarter.
--Dan Arritt

Marina 15 15 17 10 -- 57
Mission Viejo 14 20 15 15 -- 64

MARINA -- Becker 6, Delaunay 11, Lambert 9, Rivera 5, Brennan 24, Lee 2, Wijeseckera 2

MISSION -- Webster 12, Sanchez 2, Gusiff 1, Billingsley 5, Blackshire 16 (and 11 rebounds), McCracken 7, Larson 2, Collins 19

Records: Marina 24-8; Mission Viejo 26-5.

DIVISION II-AA

Sunny Hills 41, Villa Park 38
The Lancers rallied from a 10-point third-quarter deficit in the Division II-AA final, holding Villa Park to one point over a 10-minute stretch of the second half to secure the program’s first section title.

James Kim again played well down the stretch, scoring 10 of his 14 points in the fourth quarter. In upsets over third-seeded Los Angeles Loyola and second-seeded Mission Viejo Capistrano Valley, Kim also keyed late comebacks.

Kim’s three-pointer with 5 minutes 10 seconds remaining gave unseeded Sunny Hills a 31-30 lead, its first since making the game’s opening basket. Steve Schneider contributed 12 points and 12 rebounds and Mickey had 12 points and 11 rebounds for the Lancers (19-13), which out-rebounded Villa Park, 38-26.

Kyle Johnson scored 11 points to lead Villa Park (23-9), which took a 24-11 lead into halftime, its biggest of the game.
--Dan Arritt

Villa Park 15 9 5 9 -- 38
Sunny Hills 5 6 10 20 -- 41

VILLA PARK - Johnson 11, Gibson 4, Viney 3, Lezama 2, Yakanian 6, Harmon 10, Cawthorne 2.

SUNNY HILLS - Ar. Rivera 2, Kim 14, S. Schneider 12 (12 rebounds), Galligan 1, Gonzalez 12 (11 rebounds, 3 blocks).

DIVISION II-A

Dominguez 71, Inglewood 58
LaMar Roberson, a transfer from Louisiana, had 32 points and 13 rebounds to lead the top-seeded Dons to the Division II-A title.

Unseeded and much smaller Inglewood tried clogging the middle passing lanes in hopes of forcing the Dons outside, but when they came inside, the Sentinels got into foul trouble.

Trouble came early in the second half when Dominguez (27-5) kept pounding the ball inside to Roberson.

Dominguez led, 51-46, with 6:45 left in the game when Inglewood forward Adenla Dagunduro fouled out. With three other Sentinels playing with four fouls each, The Dons (27-5) put the game away by going inside to Roberson or kicking the ball out to Bryan Harvey. The two combined for 15 points over the next three minutes as Dominguez extended its lead to 64-51.

Inglewood committed costly turnovers from there and a three-pointer by Dominguez’s Derek Wright put the Dons ahead, 69-53 with 2:06 to go.

Harvey finished with 18 points and nine rebounds. Jonathan Joshua had 15 points to lead Inglewood (21-11), which lost its second consecutive section title game.
--Mike Besack

Inglewood 13 14 14 17 -- 58
Dominguez 17 15 16 23 -- 71

INGLEWOOD -- Joshua 15, Draper 14, Kinsey 8 (and 8 rebounds), Dagunduro 6, Ogheneisohwa 4, Ward 4, Gunn 2, Flemming 2, Richards 2, Bell 1.

DOMINGUEZ -- Roberson 32 (and 13 rebounds), Harvey 18 (and 9 rebounds), Wright 9, Tolbert 4, Murdock 4, Otis 2, Malone 2.

Records: Inglewood 21-11; Dominguez 27-5.

DIVISION III-AA

Santa Margarita 57, Calabasas 55
The Eagles utilized their size advantage and turned away a fourth-quarter rally to win the Division III-AA title. one year after losing in the final.

Calabasas trailed by two and had the ball with 13.2 seconds remaining. But Santa Margarita’s James Keefe blocked a shot on a drive to the basket by point guard Drew Housman with one second left to seal the victory.

Santa Margarita (27-3) took a 39-31 lead into the fourth quarter, but a three-point basket by the Robert Babadjouni tied the score at 55-55 with 46 seconds left. After an Eagle timeout, Keefe scored on a put-back after a Tyler Smith miss with 19 seconds left.

The Eagles had a 31-14 halftime advantage and extended it to 37-18 with 3:27 left in the third quarter after a steal and layup by Smith. The Coyotes, however, cut it to 39-25, with 2:19 left when Housman scored 9 points in 58 seconds. Calabasas (25-5) got two more back-to-back three-pointers by Housman, including one for a four-point play, to come to within 53-52 with 1:40 left in the game.

Smith finished with 24 points for Santa Margarita. Housman led all scorers with 26 points, including five three-point baskets, for Calabasas (25-5).
--Mike Besack

Calabasas 6 8 17 24 -- 55
Santa Margarita 14 17 8 18 -- 57

CALABASAS -- Housman 26, Fitzgerald 10, Babadjouni 9, Saunders 5, Radley 3, Einhorn 2.

SANTA MARGARITA -- Smith 24 (and 5 steals), Follmer 13, Matthews 10, Keefe 8 (and 10 rebounds), Sanderson 2.

Records: Calabasas 25-5; Santa Margarita 27-3.

DIVISION III-A

Harvard-Westlake 74, Compton Centennial 63
Evan Harris, a shy 6-foot-9 senior at North Hollywood Harvard-Westlake who plays string base in the school band and is nervously waiting to learn if he has been accepted to Harvard University, might want to revise his resume before the admission board makes its final decision.

He added a third consecutive Southern Section boys’ basketball championship to his list of accomplishments after he contributed eight consecutive points during a decisive three-minute stretch of the fourth quarter Saturday in lifting the Wolverines (22-7) to a 74-63 victory over Compton Centennial in the Division III-A final at the Arrowhead Pond.

Top-seeded Centennial (28-3) lost for the fifth consecutive year in the section championship game and was left wondering what it could have differently to counter the dominating inside play of Harris and 6-8 sophomore Alex Stepheson.

Harris finished with 18 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks. Stepheson had 16 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks. Harvard-Westlake outrebounded the Apaches, 38-23.

Centennial’s strategy was to rely on its outside shooting, and it worked for much of the game. The Apaches led by as many as 10 points in the first half. Sophomore Tyre Thompson scored 35 points and contributed five of Centennial’s 10 three-point baskets.

“We felt if they were going to shoot like that, we were going to shake their hands at the end of the game and say, ‘Great job,’ ” Harvard-Westlake Coach Greg Hilliard said.

But Centennial started missing shots midway through the fourth quarter, and the Wolverines pulled away. Harris made two free throws with 4:53 left to break a 56-56 tie. He scored the Wolverines’ next three baskets for a 64-58 advantage with 2:05 left.

It was Harvard-Westlake’s 10th consecutive victory and demonstrated how much the Wolverines had improved after struggling in December and January. They had been relying too much on the scoring of Oregon-bound Bryce Taylor. On Saturday, Taylor, averaging 24.7 points, had 15 points and 10 rebounds. Ed White added 15 points, giving the Wolverines four players in double figures.

“During the winning streak, we’ve been sharing the ball a lot,” Harris said. “That’s the reason for the wins.”
--Eric Stephens

Harvard-Westlake 17 17 13 27 -- 74Compton Centennial 19 18 10 16 -- 63

HARVARD-WESTLAKE -- Harris 18 (and 11 rebounds), Stephenson 16 (and 10 rebounds and 4 blocks), Taylor 15 (and 10 rebounds), White 15, Hooks 5, Woolridge 5.

CENTENNIAL -- Thompson 35, Affalo 15, Jer. Johnson 5, Berry 3, Woodard 3, Nichols 2.Records: Harvard-Westlake 22-7; Centennial 28-3.

Thursday, March 4

Championships

DIVISION IV-AA

Santa Maria St. Joseph 73, St. Bernard 60
The top-seeded Knights closed the game with a 13-4 run to secure the Division IV-AA title.

Joe Tilley scored 26 points, including six in the final quarter and Stewart Kussler had seven of his 22 points in the fourth for St. Joseph (27-3).

Nonso Nibo scored 18 points to lead unseeded St. Bernard (20-11), which trailed, 40-28, at the half.
--Dan Arritt

St. Joseph 24 16 12 21--73
St. Bernard 17 11 17 15--60

ST. JOSEPH--Merlo 2, Tilley 26, Adlesh 11, Schmalbach 10, McConkey 2, Kussler 22

ST. BERNARD--Copes 11, Williams 10, Ceballos 8, Wilson 8, Nibo 18, Garrison 3, Lucas 2

DIVISION IV-A

Verbum Dei 73, Flintridge Prep 48
The top-seeded Los Angeles Verbum Dei boys basketball team didn’t let the departure of its best player get in the way of its goal to win a third straight Southern Section Division IV-A title.

The Eagles accomplished that goal Thursday night with a victory over second-seeded La Canada Flintridge Prep, putting the transfer of 6-9 center Amir Johnson further out of their minds.

Johnson transferred to Westchester shortly before the start of the season, setting in motion recruiting allegations that ultimately led to the ineligibility of Johnson this season and the banishment of the two-time state Division I champions from the current postseason.

“We went through a heck of a lot this season,” said Verbum Dei coach DeAnthony Langston. “People were trying to tear us down for whatever reason.”

Verbum Dei (18-9) only led by 10 at the half, but made 11 of 19 shots in the third quarter to go ahead 56-36.

Tim Mercer scored 20 points and Ramses Barden added 13 points for Flintridge Prep (19-9).
--Dan Arritt

Flintridge Prep 12 10 14 12--48
Verbum Dei 20 12 24 17--73

FLINTRIDGE PREP--Walworth 2, Barden 10 (and nine rebounds), Nakauchi 3, Simon 4, Brown 3, Beck 4, Mercer 20, McLean 2

VERBUM DEI--Nolan 2, Pagan 20, Diggs 2, Shaw 15 (and 11 rebounds), Cotton 2, Malone 4, Anderson 6, Fuller 8, Grissom 14

DIVISION V-AA

Rolling Hills Prep 79, Granada Hills Hillcrest Christian 70
Jason Daley made 16 of 25 shots, including three of seven from behind the three-point line, and scored 39 points to lead top-seeded Rolling Hills Prep (18-7) to its third consecutive Division V-AA .

Daley, a 5-10 senior guard, also had 10 rebounds and five assists. Steve Flores scored 13 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter when Hillcrest Christian (21-8) outscored Rolling Hills Prep, 27-17.

Courtney Beach scored 10 of his 17 points in the third quarter to help the Huskies outscore Hillcrest Christian, 23-14.
--Dan Arritt

Hillcrest Christian 18 11 14 27 -- 70
Rolling Hills Prep 20 19 23 17 -- 79

HILLCREST CHRISTIAN -- Haliday 12 (and 3 blockeds shots), Rigney 16 (and 5 assists), Brankow 4, Flores 21 (and 9 rebounds), Sindon 17 (and 9 rebounds).

ROLLING HILLS PREP -- Smith 10 (and 8 assists, 3 steals), Edison 4 (and 11 rebounds), Washington 9, Beach 17 (and 10 rebounds, 4 blocked shots), Daley 39 (and 10 rebounds, 5 assists).

DIVISION V-A

Price 86, Antelope Valley Christian 31
The top-seeded Knights posted the largest margin of victory ever in a Southern Section boys basketball final.

Thirteen players scored for Price (21-7), which won its sixth consecutive Division V-AA title. Darren Morrison scored 20 points and Schuyler McKay had 17 points and 11 rebounds for the Knights, who used their height advantage to outrebound third-seeded Antelope Valley Christian, 61-24, including 23-4 on the offensive end.

The previous largest margin of victory came in 1995, when Santa Ana Mater Dei defeated La Puente Nogales, 83-33, in a Division I-A final.
--Dan Arritt

AVC 6 8 10 7 -- 31
Price 28 23 15 20 -- 86

ANTELOPE VALLEY CHRISTIAN--Nurse 10, Doster 2, James 8, Talton 11 (and 11 rebounds)

PRICE--McDonald 2, Lo. Johnson 4, Li. Johnson 3, Morrison 20 (and 5 assists), McKay 17 (and 11 rebounds), Peace 6, Phillips 2, Meeks 2, Sutton 4, Palmer 6, Jackson 4, Jenkins 4, Henry-Ala 12

Tuesday, March 2

Semifinals

DIVISION I-AA

Long Beach Poly 72, Lynwood 55
Second-seeded Long Beach Poly (27-3) started four seniors and its playoff experience showed as the Jackrabbits won their 20th in a row. Marcus Lewis led the way with 27 points and 11 rebounds, Chris Fields had 20 points and Curtis Allen added 13 points.

Lynwood, which had five players averaging in double figures in scoring, were led by Gerry-Davon Jefferson with 22 points and 10 rebounds and Seketoure Henry added 17 points. No one else scored more than eight points and at the half trailing, 39-30, only three players had scored.

“We stunk,” said Lynwood Coach Mike Acheanpong. “Offensively their was no cohesiveness, no patience and we didn’t stick to the script, the things that got us here.”

It was Lywnood’s first semifinal appearance since 1992, the year it lost to Capistrano Valley in the Division I-AA final.
--Martin Henderson

Etiwanda 69, Lancaster 59

DIVISION I-A

Marina 47, Simi Valley 43
Stephen Becker made four free throws in the final 28 seconds to lift Marina (24-7) at Edison High. Becker, who finished with six points, closed out the scoring by making two free throws with 14 seconds to play. James Lambert led Marina with 19 points. John Schock had 18 points and Matt Voorhees had eight rebounds for Simi Valley (21-9).

Mission Viejo 48, Saugus 45
Jed Collins broke a 42-42 deadlock with three consecutive baskets in the fourth quarter to help the Diablos (25-5) advance to the Divison I-A championship game against Marina with a semifinal victory at College of the Canyons.

Collins finished with 15 points, fouling out with a 1:55 left, and also picked up a technical foul to allow Saugus (22-8) to close to 48-45 on three free-throws.

The Centurions were forced to commit seven fouls in the final 34 seconds trying to put Mission Viejo on the free-throw line in attempt to get the ball back. Marcus Blackshire missed free throws with three seconds and one second left, but Saugus never capitalized.

Shant Bicakci scored 12 points for Saugus, all in the first half.

“To win a close game in a hostile environment was nice,” Mission Viejo Coach Troy Roelen said, “we had three losses at the buzzard this year and thats were it pays off.”
--Eric Sondheimer

DIVISION II-AA

Sunny Hills 40, Capistrano Valley 36
Fullerton Sunny Hills is playing the role of Cinderella in the Southern Section boys’ basketball playoffs this season. Only these particular underdogs have fangs.

The Lancers employed a smothering half-court defense and upset second-seeded Mission Viejo Capistrano Valley at Placentia Valencia.

Sunny Hills (18-13) held the Cougars to less than half of their scoring average, forced them to miss 38 of 51 shots, and shut down their top two scorers to advance to its first section final since 1969.

“If you would have told me back in November that we would be playing at the Pond, I never would have believed it,” senior center Mickey Gonzalez said.

Even in December, the playoffs didn’t look hopeful for the Lancers. They lost seven straight games during the month and nine of 10. Gonzalez then returned from throat surgery, which kept him out most of the month, and Sunny Hills has won 15 of 19 games since, allowing more than 50 points only once.

The teams stayed within four points of each other until Sunny Hills scored five straight to take a 33-26 lead with 4 minutes 13 seconds left.

Capistrano Valley (26-4) came within two points three times in the closing minutes, but James Kim made seven of eight free throws down the stretch and the Cougars turned the ball over on three of their final four possessions.

Kim, who scored 12 of his 20 points in the final two minutes of a 57-48 victory over third-seeded Los Angeles Loyola on Friday, scored 18 to lead the Lancers.

Davis Baker led Capistrano Valley with 13 points, but only four came after the first quarter, and eight points below his average. Capistrano Valley’s second-leading scorer, Chad deCasas, scored seven points, nearly eight below his average.
--Dan Arritt

Villa Park 61, King 50
Rod Harmon had 18 points and Chris Yakanian had 16 points and 10 rebounds as Villa Park (23-8) upset top-seeded King (26-5). The Spartans will play Sunny Hills in the championship game.

DIVISION II-A

Inglewood 66, Mater Dei 56
Darryl Farris hit a three-pointer after Mater Dei had closed the lead to 54-50 with three minutes remaining, Jonathan Joshua had 33 points, including five three-pointers, and Jaron Kinsey had 11 points for host Inglewood (21-10). Marcel Jones had 20 points and freshman Taylor King had 16 points for No. 2-seeded Mater Dei (24-5), which was 21 for 38 from the free-throw line. The last time Mater Dei did not make a final was 1998.

Dominguez 70, Woodbridge 51

DIVISION V-A

Price 114, Redlands Adventist 64
Top-seeded Price (20-7) has outscored its three playoff opponents, 314-125.

Antelope Valley Christian 73, Maricopa 71