Peninsula Loses to Lynwood : Preps: The Knights go on a 6-0 run in final four minutes to win, 37-32.

Cameras were out in force as members of the Peninsula High girls’ basketball team posed for friends and supporters after the Panthers’ Southern Section Division I-AA quarterfinal playoff game against Lynwood Saturday night.

Photo day, however, came a little earlier than expected for the defending State Division I champions and there weren’t too many smiles after a 37-32 loss to top-seeded Lynwood at Peninsula.

Lynwood (25-0) avenged losses to Peninsula in last season’s Southern Section and Southern California regional title games.

The Knights’ victory also broke an 18-game postseason winning streak for Panther Coach Wendell Yoshida. Yoshida also guided Palos Verdes to a state championship in 1991 before Palos Verdes, Miraleste and Rolling Hills merged to form Peninsula last year.

“Any time a team beats you twice it feels good to win,” Lynwood center Shannel Tapusoa said. “This win just gives us more confidence that we can go on and win CIF and State too.”

Lynwood, which will play Long Beach Poly in the semifinals on Tuesday, used a 6-0 run in the final four minutes to break a 29-29 tie and open a 35-29 lead with 38 seconds to play.

Jill Kennedy made a three-point basket to cut the deficit to 35-32 with 16 seconds to play, but Elana Adams secured the victory on a breakaway layup with 10 seconds remaining.

Mimi McKinney had 15 points and nine rebounds and Kennedy added nine for unseeded Peninsula (17-9).

“We were very prepared and capable of beating them, but we made some key mistakes,” said McKinney, who also had nine rebounds. “I give them a lot of respect. I’m not ashamed of losing.”

Trailing 31-29, Peninsula wasted three scoring opportunities in the final three minutes, including a missed three-point basket by McKinney with 1:25 to play.

Ten seconds later, Tawana Grimes scored on a backdoor play to put the Knights ahead, 33-29.

Timicha Kirby scored on a layup after a Peninsula turnover to increase the lead to 35-29.

“We knew we would have to play very well to win,” Kennedy said. “We didn’t play our best tonight.”

Kirby and Adams, who were averaging 19 points apiece, were held to nine and eight as Peninsula became only the second team to hold Lynwood below 40 points. The Knights were averaging 59.1 points and winning by a margin of 24.5 points.