The Santa Clara High boys’ basketball team...

The Santa Clara High boys’ basketball team fell short in its attempt to win the school’s third state title Tuesday when it lost, 53-48, to Santa Fe Christian in the first round of the Southern California Regional.

But the Saints did win their 14th Southern Section Division title under legendary Coach Lou Cvijanovich last Friday, defeating Pasadena Poly, 51-48.

In 39 years at the Oxnard school, Cvijanovich has led the Saints to 17 section title games and three state championship games.

Here is a look at Santa Clara’s performance in championship games:

Southern Section title games:

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Season Div. Place Score Opponent 1956-57 Lower 2nd 65-61 Santa Maria 1958-59 1-A 1st 44-27 Trona 1959-60 1-A 1st 63-46 Placentia Valencia 1960-61 1-A 1st 39-25 Brea Olina 1961-62 1-A 2nd 58-54 Laguna Beach 1962-63 1-A 1st 70-60 Chadwick 1963-64 1-A 1st 71-58 Alta Loma 1979-80 1-A 1st 69-65 Riverside Notre Dame 1980-81 1-A 1st 59-39 Whittier Christian 1982-83 1-A 1st 52-49 Blair 1984-85 2-A 1st 57-36 El Monte 1988-89 2-A 1st 78-54 Orange Lutheran 1989-90 2-AA 1st 76-48 Verbum Dei 1990-91 IV-AA 1st 56-52 Verbum Dei 1991-92 IV-AA 1st 55-50 Pius X 1993-94 IV-A 2nd 71-65 Verbum Dei 1996-97 V-AA 1st 51-48 Pasadena Poly

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State title games:

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Season Div. Place Score Opponent 1988-89 IV 1st 62-48 Cardinal Newman 1989-90 IV 1st 56-38 Vanden 1990-91 IV 2nd 62-45 Hayward

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