L.A. Baptist Toes Line to Beat Alemany

After struggling from the line in the first half, L.A. Baptist High made six consecutive free throws in the final 1:26 to hold off Alemany, 58-55, Friday night and reach the championship game at the L.A. Baptist boys’ basketball tournament.

The Knights will face Brentwood in the championship game tonight at 7:30.

Center Evan Regenstreif hit two free throws and guard Andrew Bloomfield made four free throws for L.A. Baptist’s final six points.

The Knights made just two of 10 free throws in the first half, but converted eight of 10 in the fourth quarter.

“We were focused at the end,” Bloomfield said.

Alemany (6-5) missed all six of its free throws in the fourth quarter.

Alejandro Velasquez scored 22 points for the Indians.

Guard Frank Vasquez scored 16 points for L.A. Baptist (5-5).

The Knights led, 32-31, at halftime, shooting a blistering 63% from the field, but cooled off considerably in the second half, making seven of 26 field-goal attempts.

Alemany converted 14 of 26 field goals for 53% in the first half, and but shot just 43% for the game.

Brentwood 62, Fillmore 59--Forward Maro Galvez made four three-point baskets in the second half, but missed two in the final seconds and the Flashes lost in the semifinals.

Galvez finished with 25 points and Jesus Jasso added 20.

Fillmore (10-4) made 52% of its shots in the first half, but made only 39% after halftime.

Center Sidney Miller had 19 points and 10 rebounds, all in the second half, for Brentwood (9-2).

Paraclete 55, St. Bonaventure 49--Michael Emard scored 11 points and Patrick Devericks added 10 points but the Seraphs did not score in the final three minutes and lost a consolation game.

St. Bonaventure held a 49-44 lead before Paraclete scored the last 11 points.

David Chaparro had seven points, eight steals and six assists for the Seraphs.

Carpinteria 74, St. Genevieve 47--The Valiants trailed by 17 points at halftime and it only got worse in a consolation game.

Mark Padiillo scored 13 points for St. Genevieve (3-6).

GIRLS

Highland 69, L.A. Baptist 35--The Bulldogs took control of the semifinal game from the outset and outscored the Knights, 39-8, in the first half.

Kameelah Purdom scored 17 points for Highland (8-3) and Lamara Burleson added 13.

Kelly Feirfeil scored 13 points for L.A. Baptist (2-6).

Highland meets Paraclete in the championship game tonight at 6 in a rematch of a tournament final won by the Spirits earlier this season.

Paraclete 34, Brentwood 32--The Spirits (8-1) used a 10-0 run late in the fourth quarter to take control of a semifinal game.

Guard Jackie Kolsar scored nine of her 14 points in the second half for Paraclete.

Ann Hankawa of Brentwood (8-4) made a three-point basket with five seconds left but Paraclete ran out the clock.

Notre Dame 54, Fillmore 31--Michelle Barraza had seven of her 15 points in the Knights’ 22-point first quarter of a consolation game.

Barraza had her other eight points in the third quarter.

K.K. Barwick added 10 points and five rebounds for the Knights (9-3).

St. Genevieve 32, Carpinteria 31--Rosy Iaccino hit a six-foot jump shot with five seconds left to put the Valiants (3-5) in the consolation final.

St. Genevieve outscored Carpinteria (5-6), 16-6, in the fourth quarter.

Tritia Gesturo scored nine points for the Valiants.