Crespi Up Early, Gets Late Entry to Playoffs

Approximately 12 hours after a 40-point loss to top-ranked Harvard-Westlake, the Crespi High boys’ basketball team took the court again Saturday for one last chance to qualify for the Southern Section playoffs.

By noon, the Celts were celebrating a 55-46 victory over rival Notre Dame that gave the Mission League’s fourth and final playoff spot to Crespi.

The teams finished the regular season tied for fourth with 5-7 records, forcing the special 9:30 a.m. game at Crespi.

Kevin McDonough helped Crespi build an 11-point lead by scoring seven of his 10 points in the third quarter. The outburst included a four-point play--a three-point basket and a free throw--that came when Crespi led by only two.

Rob Turner had 18 points and 16 rebounds for the Celts (10-15), who had 40 rebounds and only nine turnovers.

“We were ready to go,” Crespi Coach Pat Yerina said. “The kids looked like they got to bed as early as possible. They stepped up and played a good defensive game.”

Crespi lost to Harvard-Westlake, 80-40, Friday night. Notre Dame (15-13) beat Loyola, 67-46.

In another boys’ basketball game:

Providence 71, Avalon 55--Kevin Flynn scored seven of his 14 points in the third quarter, when the Pioneers (13-9, 6-6) turned a four-point halftime deficit into a six-point lead in a Liberty League game at Providence.

Dickran Tashdjian had 18 points and Xavier Quimbo added 15 for Providence.

GIRLS’ SOCCER

Flintridge Sacred Heart 2, Notre Dame 1--Fran McCoppin converted a penalty kick for the winning goal with 10 minutes to play.

The victory left the Tologs (12-7, 5-5 in Mission League play) and the Knights (11-10, 5-5) tied for third place, necessitating a postgame shootout to decide the circuit’s final automatic qualifier for the Southern Section playoffs.

Notre Dame goalkeeper Sarah Johnson denied Carla Suarez, the Tologs’ eighth shooter, earning Notre Dame a Division III postseason berth.

Flintridge Sacred Heart could receive an at-large berth in Division IV.

GIRLS’ BASKETBALL

Ventura 65, Bakersfield North 59--Alex Gientke had 14 points and nine rebounds, and Kristine Gleisberg had 10 points for the Cougars (18-6) at Ventura.

Hart 40, Village Christian 29--Amanda Hoaglund had 10 points and nine rebounds for the Indians (21-5).

Providence 54, Avalon 38--Claudia Cotota had 19 points and 11 rebounds for the Pioneers (11-10, 6-6) in a Liberty League game at Providence.

Cornerstone Christian 65, Villanova Prep 25--Julia Tamai had 27 points, 12 rebounds and nine steals and the Eagles (19-2, 10-0) won their 29th consecutive Condor League game.

SWIMMING

Jennifer Parmenter of Granada Hills, who attends L.A. Baptist High, finished second in the women’s 400-meter freestyle event of the National Swimming Championships on Saturday night in Buffalo, N.Y.

Parmenter’s time was 4:14.67, behind only Brook Bennett of Plant City, Fla., who won the event in 4:12.14.

Carly Geehr of La Canada finished seventh in the 100 breaststroke.

WRESTLING

Highland 34, Bishop Amat 29--David Heermance’s 13-6 defeat of Raul Esquival in the 215-pound division clinched the Southern Section Division IV title for the Bulldogs (35-4).