Southern Section Boys Basketball Playoffs : Santa Monica Reaches 4-A Title Game, 69-60

Can it really be that Santa Monica High lost six straight basketball games this season? That it began Ocean League play with a 4-8 record?

On paper, maybe. But on the court, the Vikings of late February and early March are related to the group from December and January in name only, and that became all the more clear Tuesday night as Santa Monica earned a spot in Saturday’s Southern Section 4-A title game with a 69-60 semifinal win over Diamond Bar at Glendora High.

The Vikings are heading to the Sports Arena, not the basement.

“I’m a great admirer of Denny Crum and Louisville, and I don’t worry a whole lot about what happens in the preseason,” said Santa Monica Coach Cliff Hunter, whose team is 17-9 and has won 8 straight and 13 of 14. “I guess you could say this is my kind of team.”

Not surprisingly, senior guard Danny Price is also his kind of player. Especially after scoring 28 points on 10-of-15 shooting from the field and 8 of 8 from the free-throw line.

“He’s been that way all playoffs,” Hunter said of Price, who is 27 of 41 in field goals (65.9%) in consecutive wins over Santa Ana, Simi Valley and Diamond Bar. “That kid can play.”

So can Brian Hendrick, a 6-foot 7-inch junior forward for Diamond Bar. But unfortunately for the Brahmas (26-3), who had a 14-game winning streak snapped, he did just about all his damage in the first half.

Santa Monica held a 35-30 lead at the midway point, and Hendrick had 20 of Diamond Bar’s points, including 11 of its 13 in the second quarter. He was held scoreless by the Vikings’ sag-to-the-inside coverage in the third quarter and finished with 22 points.

Trane Hunter added 15 points and Keith Neal had 14 for Santa Monica. Bill Miller scored 12 and Joey Madott had 10 for Diamond Bar.