HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL SOUTHERN SECTION BOYS’ CHAMPIONSHIPS : Santa Clara Manages to Hold Off Verbum Dei

Santa Clara won its third consecutive Southern Section title by defeating Verbum Dei, 56-52, in the IV-AA Division championship Friday night at Cerritos College.

The win assures Santa Clara (25-4) an automatic entry into next week’s Southern Regional State tournament, where the Saints will have a chance to defend two consecutive titles.

Forward Anthony Maestas led Santa Clara with 15 points and guard Art Barron added 12. Robert King led Verbum Dei (17-11) with 22 points.

Charles Barnes, who had 15 points, created problems inside for Santa Clara.

The game was close throughout, and when King made a three-point basket with 3:17 left, Verbum Dei led, 47-46.

From there, Santa Clara raised its game to another level. Barron scored on a drive to make it 48-47. Then, after Barron rebounded a Verbum Dei miss, he made a free throw and missed the next. Stevie Amar, though, grabbed the rebound and banked in a short shot to make it 51-47 with 2:34 left.

After a Barron steal, Amar missed two free throws. But Isaiah Mustafa grabbed the rebound after the second miss and sank a five-foot jump shot to make it 53-47 with 1:38 left.

After King sank two free throws to narrow the score to 53-50, Chris Cole responded with two free throws to give Santa Clara a 55-50 lead with 38 seconds left.

DIVISION IV-A

St. Monica 90, St. Joseph’s 75--Junior forward Jarrett Wendt came off the bench to score 21 points as the Mariners finished the game with a 25-10 run at Loyola Marymount.

Keith Walk-Green scored 21 points and Alex Davis added 16 for St. Monica (18-8).

St. Joseph’s led, 57-55, at the end of the third quarter, and the score was tied, 65-65, with 5 1/2 minutes left.

Senior center Lafelle McGilvery had 28 points, 18 rebounds and seven blocks for St. Joseph’s (24-3).

DIVISION V-AA

Brentwood 64, North Hollywood Campbell Hall 59--The Eagles, who entered the postseason as a wild-card team, won their first basketball title, at Occidental College.

Brentwood (18-10) has now won eight games in a row, including six in the playoffs.

Campbell Hall (24-4), which had twice defeated Brentwood in Delphic League play, led by eight points in the third quarter.

But Brentwood outscored the Vikings, 16-4, to take a 41-37 lead with 2:34 left in the third quarter. The Eagles led, 47-44, entering the fourth.

Junior guard Austin McKellar of Campbell Hall led all scorers with 30 points. Scott Clarey, a 6-6 senior center, led Brentwood with 24 points. He scored 15 in the second half. Forward Jeff Howarth added 21 points for the Eagles.

DIVISION V-A

Ribet Academy 95, Rio Hondo Prep 69--Chris Maxwell scored 25 points and and Jaiquin Moore added 20 to lead the Fighting Frogs at Glendale College.

Ribet Academy (28-2) took control of the game in the second quarter. It led, 28-19, at the end of the first quarter and 56-32 at halftime.

Mike Whiteside scored 20 points for the Kares (25-2).