Monarchs Win in Overtime Despite Frantic Serra Rally : Tournament: Lakewood, Peninsula and Mira Costa are also winners in Pacific Shores quarterfinals.

The Morningside and Serra high boys’ basketball teams are so evenly matched that the clubs had to go to overtime to determine a winner Wednesday night.

Ultimately, Morningside came out ahead, defeating Serra, 82-80, in the quarterfinals of the 41st annual Pacific Shores Tournament at Redondo Beach High.

Forward Dwight Curry scored a game-high 25 points and pulled down 14 rebounds to lead the Monarchs (2-0) to the win. Center Corey Saffold, who scored four points in overtime, finished with 21.

Guard Donminic Ellis added 16, while Stais Boseman had his second straight sub-par game, finishing with nine points and one block.

The Monarchs face Peninsula/Redondo Beach in tonight’s semifinal game at Mira Costa.

A seemingly helpless Serra (1-1) watched Morningside score the game’s first 13 points. The Cavaliers rallied, however, and sent the game into overtime on Roderick Swift’s basket with two seconds remaining.

Serra received 24 points and 10 rebounds from Arthur Tate and 19 points and eight rebounds from 6-7 center Akelia Jackson.

With four returning starters from last year’s Division III state championship team, the Monarchs would seem difficult enough without spotting them a big early lead.

“We fought real hard to get back into the game and didn’t give up or back down,” Serra Coach Dwan Hurt said. “But we fought so hard that we seemed a little run-down once we got into overtime.”

Saffold’s six points sparked Morningside to a 13-0 lead. Tate then scored 10 second-quarter points to help Serra pull to 36-30 at intermission.

Trailing, 76-74, Serra sent the game into overtime on Swift’s basket with two seconds remaining.

Peninsula 76 Redondo Beach 71

The Panthers (2-0) received 16 points from 6-7 center Mark Acres to set up a semifinal match with Morningside tonight at Mira Costa.

Forward Dan Hyde scored a game-high 18 points for Redondo (1-1).

Lakewood 76 Inglewood 50

Lakewood had little difficulty in posting a quarterfinal victory over Inglewood.

The win improved Lakewood’s record to 2-0, while Inglewood fell to 1-1.

The Lancers opened up a 14-2 lead late in the first quarter and never trailed in the game.

Lakewood extended its lead to 36-19 at the half before Inglewood staged a brief rally early in the third period.

But Lakewood extended its advantage to 48-37 after three quarters and broke the game open in the fourth quarter.

Lakewood was sparked by the shooting of guard Mike Sutton, who scored 22 points, including 16 in the first half.

Mark Bell scored 14 points and Mike Pickett and Neely Dinkens each added 10 for the Lancers.

Inglewood was led by Givon Hester with 14 points, Howard Jones with 13 and Damon Brisco with 10.

The Sentinels played without guard Chris White, one of their top scorers from last season, who missed the game because of a back injury.