DIVISION IV BOYS’ BASKETBALL : Whittier Christian Is Knocked Off by Downey Pius X

Downey Pius X finished in a three-way tie for third place in the Del Rey League and won the coin flip, thanks, in part, to the call of Principal Michael Parmer.

The Warriors (12-12) then went out and upended highly regarded Whittier Christian, 68-56, in the opening round of the IV-A playoffs Friday at Los Angeles Chiropractic College.

“He beat me to the coin flip,” Pius X Coach Deon Evans said.

That turned out to be good for Pius X, but bad for Whittier Christian (21-4).

Downey Pius X put on a three-point shooting exhibition, especially in the second half, behind the likes of Allen Fletcher, Marcel Yates and Robert Hargrove.

Fletcher finished with 17 points, Yates had 16 and Hargrove 11.

When the three weren’t hurting Whittier Christian’s defense from the outside, 6-foot-7 Troy Collins did the damage inside and finished with 16 points.

Tyler Ream scored a game-high 23 points for Whittier Christian, including all 12 of the Heralds’ points in the second quarter.

Kwadwo Bochie had 15.