South Torrance Boys Were Nearly Called for Traveling : Basketball playoffs: San Dimas’ upset of Fresno Central forced the Spartans to change their itinerary.

The road to a possible state title got considerably shorter for the South Torrance High boys’ basketball team Tuesday night.

After the Spartans beat visiting University High of San Diego, 72-56, in the first round of the Southern California Division III regional tournament, South Coach LaMont Henry said his players were prepared to travel to Fresno for their semifinal game.

“It’s funny, my guys don’t really mind going to Fresno,” Henry said. “They like traveling.”

However, South was more than happy to change its plans after learning that San Dimas had upset second-seeded Fresno Central, 54-52, to give the Spartans (27-3) another home game at 7:30 tonight against San Dimas (26-4). Had it won, Central would have played host to third-seeded South.

In other semifinals tonight, Morningside (27-5) plays host to Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks (25-6) at 8 p.m. in a Division III game, Serra (23-7) plays host to Corcoran (22-6) at 7:30 in a Division IV matchup, and Chadwick (22-8) plays at Calipatria (17-8) at 7:30 in Division V.

In girls’ semifinals, Morningside (27-2) meets Santana of Santee (27-1) at 6 p.m. in the first game of a Division III doubleheader at Morningside, and St. Bernard (27-4) plays host to Santa Ynez (27-2) at 7:30 in Division IV.

Tonight’s winners will advance to regional finals Saturday. The finals in Divisions I, II and III will be played at the Sports Arena, and championships in Divisions IV and V will be decided at Cal State Dominguez Hills.

South, which has won 15 of its last 16 games, expects to have a tougher time against San Dimas than it did against University. The Spartans never trailed and led by as many as 32 points early in the fourth quarter. Center Kyle McIntosh, a 6-foot-7 senior, led South with 19 points, and senior guard Jimmy Williamson scored 15. The two standouts sat out for a good portion of the second half.

Asked where University would have finished in the Pioneer League, Henry said: “Third or fourth. I wasn’t too impressed with their defense.”

Henry, though, doesn’t believe winning a blowout will lull South into a false sense of security.

“We had the same experience in league,” said Henry, whose team was 10-0 in the Pioneer League. “We were able to thump some teams real good, but we always came out and played just as hard the next game.”

San Dimas, the Southern Section III-A Division runner-up, is led by guards Jeremy Veal and Brad Alley, and 6-5 center Olin Chamberlain, the nephew of Wilt Chamberlain. The Saints lost to Notre Dame, 61-54, in the III-A final Friday.

Morningside’s reign as State Division III champion will be threatened by a Notre Dame team featuring several outstanding athletes. The Knights are led by 6-5 forward Monte Marcaccini, a University of Indiana recruit who scored 25 points Tuesday in a 70-59 regional victory over St. Augustine of San Diego.

Other standouts for Notre Dame include guard Glen Carson, a USC baseball recruit, and 6-8 center Tom Stillwell, who has signed to play volleyball for UCLA. Carson scored all 15 of his points against St. Augustine on three-point shots, making five of eight attempts.

Top-seeded Morningside overcame a slow start Tuesday in an 80-61 victory over Exeter of the Central Section. Stais Boseman led the Monarchs with 20 points and ignited a 20-6 run to end the second half. Guard Donminic Ellison added 19 points and center Corey Saffold scored 13.

Top-seeded Serra opened Division IV regional play in convincing fashion, taking a 62-21 halftime lead en route to a 112-45 victory over Clairemont of San Diego. Center Akeki Jackson and forward Michael Boyd each scored 21 points for the Cavaliers, who have dominated opponents in postseason play.

One of the reasons for Serra’s late-season surge has been the addition of point guard Alex Davis, who transferred from St. Monica midway through Camino Real League play. Davis had 19 points and 10 assists in Tuesday’s victory.

Corcoran, the Central Section runner-up, advanced with a 60-55 victory at Corona del Mar, the Southern Section Division IV-AA champion.

The St. Bernard-Santa Ynez girls’ game will be a rematch of the Southern Section Division IV-AA final won by St. Bernard, 75-50, on Saturday at El Segundo High. Santa Ynez had beaten the Vikings early in the season.

Tuesday, center Olympia Scott scored 19 points and guard Joi Turner added 13 to lead St. Bernard to a 90-46 rout over visiting Lincoln Prep of San Diego. The Vikings outscored Lincoln Prep, 30-6, in the second quarter to break open a close game and take a 53-25 lead.

Santa Ynez advanced with a 71-40 victory over Coronado.