Boys’ basketball: Plenty of postseason action all over the Southland
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Was going back and forth about which Southern Section playoff game to blog from earlier tonight before finally deciding to stay close to home and check out the Division III-AA semifinal between Campbell Hall and La Canada. In retrospect, it wasn’t a bad choice.
My evening proved to be mildly entertaining. The top-seeded Vikings won, 81-47, and I got to talk shop with the Daily News’ Gerry Gittelson. Thing is, the two other games at the top of my list turned out to be barn-burners. It’s funny how things work out sometimes, isn’t it?
Oak Park nearly pulled off a huge upset in the other Division III-AA semifinal. The sixth-seeded Eagles gave second-seeded Price all it could handle, pushing the game into overtime before losing, 46-44, after Sam Levine missed a 3-pointer as the buzzer sounded in the extra session. Seriously contemplated heading out to Inglewood for this thriller, until I realized the traffic would have been a drag.
Perhaps the biggest shocker of the night was in Division II-A. Paul George nearly single-handedly carried sixth-seeded Knight to a semifinal victory, finishing with 16 points, eight rebounds, five assists and two blocks in a 64-49 stunner over second-seeded Corona Centennial. Was real close to making the trip out to the Antelope Valley to see this one.
Suppose I should get over the fact my judgment might not have been the best tonight and take consolation in knowing there’s more basketball to be played in the very near future. For those in the same boat, click here for an overview of the championship games this weekend. See you courtside.
--Sean Ceglinsky