DIVISION II-AA BOYS : Woodbridge Falls Short Against North

Chris Burgess was the player Woodbridge Coach John Halagan wanted to have the ball with time running out.

However, after the sophomore rebounded Todd Semm’s missed shot, he didn’t have time to get off another and the Warriors fell to visiting Riverside J.W. North, 67-65, in a Division II-AA boys’ basketball semifinal Tuesday night at University High.

“We executed the play perfectly,” Halagan said. “We wanted Burgess to get the rebound if we missed.”

But the opportunity to tie the score was lost when the ball bounced away from Burgess, forcing the 6-foot-9 center to grab it low as the final seconds ticked away. The Huskies (23-3) reached the final for the fifth consecutive season. They will play Pasadena Saturday at The Pond of Anaheim.

North threatened to break the game open early, jumping to a 16-9 lead. Woodbridge bounced back with four consecutive three-point baskets, including two by Burgess and one by Eric Ripley at the first-quarter buzzer.

Woodbridge (20-10) held a 26-21 lead before the Huskies scored 12 in a row, but the Warriors rallied and a Burgess basket with 15 seconds left and his blocked shot to end the half put them even at 33-33.

The teams played close in the second half and with 2:29 left, Burgess rebounded a missed free throw and scored to bring Woodbridge within 62-60. A three-point basket by Ricky Jenkins with 1:09 left gave Woodbridge a 63-62 lead.

A basket by North’s Chris Clairborne made it 64-63, then a steal by Ray Anderson and his two free throws upped the lead to 66-63.

With 18 seconds left, a three-point attempt by Woodbridge’s Mickey Brown rattled around the rim and spun out. Burgess got the rebound, was fouled and made two free throws to make it 66-65.

The Warriors intentionally fouled Roger Walker, who made the first of a one-and-one to make it 67-65 with 15.7 seconds left.

Halagan, whose team made 10 three-pointers in the game, attempted instead to tie the score as time ran out and was denied.

Burgess finished with 23 points, 11 rebounds, three steals and two blocked shots.