Saugus’ Enchanted Journey Continues in Regional Final

Jennifer Norris looked at her watch and scowled as the Saugus High basketball team trooped into a family restaurant in Valencia about midnight Wednesday.

“I was supposed to be off at 10,” said Norris, a waitress. “Every time Saugus wins, I have to work late.”

Norris may be the only person in the Santa Clarita Valley not smitten by the Centurions’ amazing journey through the CIF playoffs.

Saugus’ 47-39 win over Oceanside in Wednesday’s state regional Division II semifinal was its seventh straight postseason victory after entering the playoffs as a wild-card team. Saugus meets Woodbridge of Irvine in the regional final at 4:30 this afternoon in the Sports Arena.

Woodbridge (26-5), champion of the Southern Section 2-A, has won 16 straight games, including a 71-66 victory over Washington of Fresno on Wednesday.

The Warriors will enjoy a height advantage over Saugus (23-9). Center Adam Keefe is 6-8, and forward Vince Bryan is 6-7. No Saugus player is taller than 6-4.

Keefe, a junior, averages 23 points and 14 rebounds. In six postseason games, he has averaged 24.2 points and 17 rebounds and is shooting 78%. Bryan, who has accepted a scholarship to BYU, averages 15.1 points and 7.1 rebounds.

“They are big-time players,” Woodbridge Coach Bill Shannon said. “We definitely pound the ball inside. We’d be stupid if we didn’t.”

This will be the second trip to the Sports Arena for both teams. Woodbridge defeated Banning, 68-60, for the 2-A title last Saturday and Saugus defeated Rolling Hills, 66-53, for the 3-A title the same day.

“Returning to the Arena was a big source of motivation for my players,” Shannon said. “Both teams will probably be less nervous with the surroundings the second time there.”

Saugus Coach John Clark also will feel right at home.

“I’m going to ask for my own parking space,” Clark quipped.