DIVISION V-AA BOYS : Pasadena Poly Concludes St. Margaret’s Season

Despite a late run by senior guard Damian Raibon, St. Margaret’s could not overcome a 13-point, second-half deficit in a 60-51 loss to top-seeded Pasadena Poly in the Southern Section Division V-AA boys’ basketball semifinals Tuesday at Dana Hills High.

Raibon, who averages 22.5 points, pulled the fourth-seeded Tartans (22-5) to within two points with 2 minutes 15 seconds remaining.

But after Raibon missed the front end of a one-and-one free-throw situation, Poly’s Tenere Williams made a layup and drew a blocking foul on senior Bobby Masters. The Tartans’ Danny Gomes was called for a technical foul after the play and Williams made two more free throws put the game out of reach.

“(Gomes) threw the ball down on the floor and I guess it bounced up pretty high and caught the referee’s attention,” St. Margaret’s Coach Garrett Ohara said.

The Panthers (26-2) hit three more free throws in the remaining 45 seconds to seal the victory. Poly made 18 of 23 free throws in the game.

“We knew it was going to be tough coming back,” Ohara said. “We just dug too deep of a hole and couldn’t get out.”

The Tartans trailed, 34-25, at halftime and Poly scored the first four points of the third quarter for a 13-point lead. Raibon and Masters scored 11 of the Tartans’ 14 third-quarter points to pull St. Margaret’s to within 47-39.

Raibon sparked the fourth-quarter comeback, scoring eight of his 23 points and the Tartans pulled to within 51-49 on a baseline layup by Masters with 3:13 left.

Raibon answered a basket by Poly’s Robert Reeder with two free throws and had a chance to knot the score before missing the free throw.

“We both came out cold, but they worked through it faster than we did,” Ohara said. “Poly’s been here before. I’m proud that we fought back.”

Reeder hit 11 of 12 free throws to finish with 23 points and David Newhall added 15 for the Panthers. Masters finished with 10 points and 10 rebounds.