DIVISION III-A ROUNDUP

Santa Margarita 59, La Canada 57 (OT)--Although only 5-feet-11, Santa Margarita’s Mike Carpenter challenged La Canada’s big defenders and made a leaning 13-foot jump shot at the buzzer in overtime to give Santa Margarita an upset victory over the third-seeded Spartans at Christ College Irvine.

Santa Margarita (16-9) advances to face Angelus League rival Servite in the semifinals Tuesday.

“I could live forever with Carpenter taking the last shot,” Santa Margarita Coach Roger Holmes said. “He’s a class kid and he came through for us again.”

With 18 seconds remaining in overtime, Carpenter made the front end of a one-and-one to give the Eagles a 57-54 lead, but La Canada’s Ryan Asplund answered with a three-pointer from the top of the key with nine seconds left to tie the score, 57-57. Then came Carpenter’s heroics.

“I just told our point guard Mike (Guevara) that I wanted the ball,” Carpenter said. “I felt if I drove, I could draw a foul.”

After receiving a pass from Dan Bathey (13 points), Carpenter drove from the top of the key and lofted his shot over the outstretched arms of 6-10 La Canada center Richard Mandeville and 6-6 Jeff Burns for the game-winner.

Carpenter scored 12 points including three three-pointers, while Guevara added 12 points and seven assists. Center Jeff Layne scored four of his nine points in overtime, and added 10 rebounds.

Mandeville scored a game-high 23 points, but only nine in the second half after Santa Margarita switched to a trapping zone defense.