HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL PLAYOFFS : Crespi Comeback in Final Minute Falls Short, 55-51

Crespi’s wild comeback bid in the final minute fell short and the Celts lost, 55-51, at Laguna Beach in the first round of the Division IV-AA playoffs.

Crespi (12-13) trailed, 53-45. But Crespi’s Scott Eschner, who scored a game-high 25 points, hit a three-point shot and was fouled with 11 seconds remaining. Eschner then made three free throws, two coming after Laguna Beach (14-10) was tagged with a technical. The six-point play pulled Crespi to within two, and the Celts had the ball out of bounds.

Jason Muir missed a 10-foot shot, though, and Laguna Beach rebounded the ball and hit two free throws to preserve the victory.

Glendale 56, Santa Monica 54--Ramon Jose stole an outlet pass with 15 seconds remaining to preserve the Dynamiters’ first-round I-AA victory.