HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL PLAYOFFS : Simi Valley Turns Back Peninsula in 48-46 Win

Never trailing, Simi Valley held on to defeat Peninsula, 48-46, in a boys’ Division I-AA quarterfinal game at Royal. The Pioneers (24-5) led by as many as 10 points in the second half. However, when Peninsula resorted to fouling in the fourth quarter, the Pioneers made only five of nine free throws, allowing the Panthers to sneak back into the game.

Senior guard Jason Conmay scored 11 to lead the Pioneers, who advance to the semifinals to face second-seeded Lynwood.

In other Southern Section quarterfinal games:

Notre Dame 56, Rancho Verde 54--Monte Marcaccini scored 15 points and grabbed nine rebounds, and teammate Ryan Stromsborg connected on a pair of key three-point shots in the fourth quarter as the Knights (22-6) held off Rancho Verde (15-9) in a Southern Section Division III-A quarterfinal at Notre Dame.

Notre Dame made just 10 of 24 free-throw attempts, including three misses in the final 20 seconds. But the Knights advanced to play La Canada in the semifinals when Rancho Verde’s final attempt to tie the game missed at the buzzer.

Faith Baptist 43, Capistrano Valley Christian 38--Contender James DeCarriere scored 10 of his game-high 17 points in the fourth quarter as host Faith Baptist overcame a nine-point halftime deficit in a Southern Section Division V-AA quarterfinal game.

DeCarriere, a senior point guard, also had four steals to lead the Contenders (16-11) to a semifinal matchup with top-seeded Chadwick.

Verbum Dei 76, Village Christian 67--Host Village Christian took a 35-31 lead early in the third quarter of the Division IV-A game, but Verbum Dei responded with a 21-7 run to end the quarter and take a 10-point lead into the fourth period.

David Fennell scored a team-high 17 points for Village Christian and David Gustafson added 14 for the Crusaders (20-5), who had their 13-game winning streak snapped.

Brethren Christian 77, Montclair Prep 65--Freshman Jerome Joseph scored a game-high 28 points, but that wasn’t enough to keep host Montclair Prep from falling in a Division V-AA game.

Trailing, 59-46, at the end of the third quarter, Montclair Prep (17-9) trimmed its deficit to seven points midway through the final period, but the Mounties could draw no closer as Brethren Christian (21-4) made 16 of 18 free throws in the fourth quarter.

CITY SECTION BOYS

San Fernando 52, Gardena 50--The Tigers scored the game’s final 10 points in the last two minutes of a 3-A quarterfinal. San Fernando junior guard Javier Ramos made a three-point basket with a minute to play and a layup to tie the score, 50-50, with 40 seconds remaining. The Tigers’ full-court press then forced a Gardena turnover and Barry McWright made a baseline jump shot with 20 seconds remaining for the winning margin.

Ramos and Jerome Elliott each scored a game-high 17 points for San Fernando (16-7), and Elliott hauled down 10 rebounds.

Monroe 60, Garfield 53--Viking Tweedy Stiner scored seven of his 16 points in the fourth quarter of a City Section 3-A second round playoff game. Host Monroe (22-3) advanced to the semifinal round, where it will play Tuesday against San Fernando.

Jeff Nadeau led the Vikings with 17 points. Kenyatta Niles added 14.

CITY SECTION GIRLS

North Hollywood 48, Marshall 30--Junior forward Darvena Merritt totaled 21 points and 12 rebounds, and the Huskies (20-6) used a 16-2 first-quarter scoring in a convincing 4-A quarterfinal victory at Marshall (21-6).

Sophomore Anna Celaya added 10 points, 11 rebounds, eight steals and six assists for North Hollywood

Monroe 60, Bell 47--Dimara Haymond scored 24 points and pulled down 13 rebounds, and Deanna Nakamura contributed 11 points, 11 assists and seven steals to lead the Vikings (12-3) in a City 3-A quarterfinal game at Monroe.

Anna Marquez added eight points and 12 rebounds for Monroe.