HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL PLAYOFFS : Antelope Valley Relies on Walters in 81-76 Victory Over Montebello

In a game that featured 22 three-point baskets, Antelope Valley High advanced to the second round of the Southern Section 5-AA Division basketball playoffs with an 81-76 win over Montebello on Tuesday night at Antelope Valley.

Chris Walters, a 6-foot-2 forward headed for Texas El Paso, led the Antelopes (21-5) with a game-high 27 points. Teammate John Pletsch added 20. Pletsch, a 6-8 center, was held scoreless Friday in a Golden League loss to Palmdale.

Antelope Valley, the two-time Golden League champion, trailed, 45-44, at halftime but outscored Montebello, 16-10, in the third quarter.

The Antelopes, who lost three-year starter Jabbar Briggs to academic ineligibility last week, were helped by guard Bobby Paiz (15 points) and forward Brock Chase (14).

Jim Webster led Montebello (13-12) with 26 points.

In other first-round 5-AA games:

Lakewood 69, Palmdale 61--Palmdale trailed by 13 points entering the final period but closed to within three points with two minutes to play before Lakewood (16-10) pulled away again. Jason Grimes led Palmdale (15-11) with 15 rebounds and 21 points, including nine points in the fourth-period rally.

Chris DeGlopper added 18 points and seven rebounds for Palmdale and scored 10 points in the fourth quarter. John Johnson had 13 points for Palmdale, which played its first home playoff game in 27 years.

4-A DIVISION

Crescenta Valley 70, Hacienda Heights Wilson 54--Bill Crockett (10 points), Mike Johnson (10 and 11 rebounds), Paul Matijasevic (13 points), Lamar Breeding (11 and six assists), Steve Finch (10) and Bruce Jacobsen (15 and 11 rebounds) all scored in double figures for Crescenta Valley (16-8).

Matijasevic, the team’s leading scorer, was sidelined in the second half because of a sprained ankle. The extent of the injury is unknown.

Walnut 52, Camarillo 49--Fred Tepesano and David Harbour tied for game-high honors with 17 points each, but Camarillo (16-9) fell at Walnut (21-3).

3-AA DIVISION

Atascadero 54, Newbury Park 49--Chris Smith and Scott McClain scored 21 points each to lead Atascadero (17-6) past visiting Newbury Park (7-17). The score was tied at 34 entering the fourth period, in which Smith scored 11 of his points.

Chris Falzone led Newbury Park with 13 points, and Kevin Loveall added 10 points and nine rebounds.

3-A DIVISION

Moorpark 54, Calabasas 46--Senior guard Brian Lester scored a game-high 32 points and had seven assists, and teammate Jodie Kitt pulled down 11 rebounds for host Moorpark (14-9).

Calabasas (10-13) led by as many eight points in the first half, but host Moorpark staged a decisive fourth-quarter rally.

Azusa 72, Burbank 53--Jason Robarts scored a team-high 16 points in a losing effort for Burbank (3-18) at Azusa, including five three-point baskets.

2-AA DIVISION

Chaminade 53, Carpinteria 36--Trailing 8-4 early, Chaminade put on a full-court press that began paying dividends in the second period, and the Eagles (13-10) moved into Friday’s second round, in which they will face Beaumont.

Center Mark Mirkovich led Chaminade with 22 points.

2-A DIVISION

L.A. Baptist 56, Kern Valley 43--Junior Larry Masters scored a team-high 15 points to lead L. A. Baptist (9-14) at home.

Serra 68, Bell-Jeff 54--Marvin Martinez (13 points), Victor Nunez (11) and D’Artagnan Phinnesse (10) scored in double figures for Bell-Jeff (9-14) at Serra.

Paraclete 66, St. Bonaventure 59--Shawn Preasmyer scored 17 points and grabbed 14 rebounds for Paraclete (10-13).

1-A DIVISION

Faith Baptist 69, Cate 56--A trio of underclassmen spurred Faith Baptist to the win at Carpinteria High. Sophomore Alex Estrada (21 points, five assists), junior Fernando Garcia (20 points) and sophomore Peter Rasmussen (16 points and 14 rebounds) led Faith Baptist (15-10).

Rosamond 65, Providence 52--Senior Tim Edgar scored a team-high 23 points for Providence (13-10) in a losing effort.

Holy Martyrs 66, La Sierra Academy 54--Apik Minassian scored 18 points and teammate Armand Dorian added 17 points as Holy Martyrs (20-1) won at home.

SMALL SCHOOLS DIVISION

Highland Hall 72, Coastal Christian 41--Bob Ramirez scored a game-high 23 points and added 10 assists at Woodbury University in Burbank to lead Highland Hall to its first playoff victory since 1981.