SOUTHERN SECTION BOYS’ BASKETBALL ROUNDUP : Whittier Christian’s Comeback Falls Short Against Verbum Dei

Los Angeles Verbum Dei’s Andre Larry made two free throws with two seconds left to close a 62-58 victory over Whittier Christian in the Division IV-A semifinals Friday night at Compton College.

The Heralds (17-11) had rallied from a 15-point, third-quarter deficit to pull within two points on a Jim Walsh three-pointer with 13 seconds left. But the Eagles were able to keep the ball away from Whittier Christian until Larry was fouled.

“I’m proud of our guys,” Heralds Coach Bob Brown said. “We played mentally tough and were able to make it back into the game.”

Whittier Christian played close through the first quarter, but the Eagles (21-5), the defending Southern Section champions, went on a 17-4 run led by Andre Smith, who had eight second-quarter points.

The Heralds made only eight of 27 shots in the first half, but Ed Zieman’s three-pointer at the buzzer reduced Verbum Dei’s lead to 39-28 at halftime.

“Our team plays on emotion,” Eagles Coach Mike Kearney said. “We played stupidly at the end of the quarter and when we didn’t come out strong after halftime, they gained the momentum.”

The Heralds, despite being down 45-30 with six minutes left in the third quarter, closed the gap to 55-50 with 2:37 left.

Verbum Dei will play Gardena Serra in the finals.

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In the Division V-AA quarterfinals:

St. Margaret’s 78, Ontario Christian 61--Damian Raibon and Bobby Baker each scored 25 points as the fourth-seeded Tartans (22-4) cruised into the semifinals to face top-seeded Pasadena Poly.

Ontario Christian drew to within five points midway through the third quarter, but St. Margaret’s stopped the run and led by 13 to start the fourth quarter.