SOUTHERN SECTION BOYS’ BASKETBALL PLAYOFFS : DIVISION I-A : Thousand Oaks Sinks Irvine, 47-41

Some extra practice at the free-throw line on Saturday mornings for the past month paid off for Thousand Oaks guard Denny LeVine.

LeVine, once a 65% shooter from the line, showed that practice makes perfect Monday night in the Lancers’ 47-41 victory over Irvine in the Division I-A boys’ quarterfinals at Christ College Irvine.

LeVine made four free throws in the final minute of play to help Thousand Oaks (26-1) advance to the semifinals for the first time in the school’s 30-year history. Wednesday night, the Lancers will face Huntington Beach (26-3).

Thousand Oaks earned its 23rd consecutive victory by keeping its composure after Irvine had rallied twice from big deficits. Irvine’s strategy was simple: Keep the score low and hope to be close at the end against the second-seeded Lancers.

Irvine (21-8) followed the formula and appeared to be headed for an upset after Greg Wakeham made two free throws with 2 minutes 5 seconds remaining to bring the Vaqueros to within 43-41. But LeVine made sure Irvine got no closer.

“We held the score down just like we wanted, but we couldn’t get over the hump,” Irvine Coach Steve Keith said. “We knew we had to shoot a high percentage because you’re not going to get many second shots against them.”

Thousand Oaks features twins Paul and Nick Foster (6 feet 7) and center Jason Hartman (6-6) on the front line. Predictably, Irvine made only 19 of 46 shots.

Guard Jim French was the team’s only effective offensive weapon, scoring 19 points. French had 13 of his team’s 19 points in the second half.

“The teams pretty much played it straight up. They just had a little more firepower than us,” Keith said. “Still, I’m very proud of the progress this team made the past month. A month ago, we were struggling with a 5-5 record in the Sea View League and wondering if we would qualify for the Southern Section playoffs.

“Jim French became our point guard out of desperation and carried us the past month. Unfortunately, we couldn’t hit the big shot when it mattered most tonight.”

Thousand Oaks opened a 27-16 lead midway through the second quarter, but Irvine rallied for 11 consecutive points. French’s three-point play tied the score, 27-27, with 5:46 remaining in the third quarter.

Thousand Oaks regained control and led, 37-29, with 55 seconds remaining in the third quarter after Paul Foster hit a 15-foot jump shot. But French rallied Irvine a second time, scoring eight points down the stretch.

French’s driving layup with 4:14 remaining got Irvine within four points, 41-37, but LeVine countered with a 14-foot jump shot. When Wakeham’s two free throws trimmed Thousand Oaks’ lead to two points, LeVine answered with four free throws in the final minute.

“This team is unflappable,” Thousand Oaks Coach Ed Chevalier said. “The kids never show any emotion on the court. That’s been the nature of the team all year.”

Next up for Thousand Oaks are the third-seeded Oilers. The site of the game will be determined today at the Southern Section office on a coin flip.