Narbonne, Westchester Stating Their Cases

City Section schools remain alive and well in the state Division I basketball playoffs with the top-seeded Narbonne girls and the top-seeded Westchester boys preparing for tonight’s Southern California regional semifinals.

Narbonne (26-4), which won its first City Section 4-A championship last week against Palisades, defeated Long Beach Wilson, 61-47, in a first-round game Tuesday night at Narbonne.

The Lady Gauchos play host to Huntington Beach Marina tonight. The winner advances to the regional championship game against San Clemente or Peninsula Saturday at 6 p.m. at Pauley Pavilion.

Narbonne, ranked second in the state behind Brea Olinda, was led by junior guard Jessica Cheeks, who had 20 points and helped key a fourth-quarter push that propelled Narbonne to the victory.

Junior forward Amber White had 14 points and sophomore Ebony Hoffman had 10 rebounds and six blocks.

Narbonne is seeking its first state title.

Westchester (27-3), which defeated Manual Arts for the 4-A championship last Friday, advanced to a semifinals with a 67-51 victory over Long Beach Poly Tuesday night at Los Angeles Southwest College.

The top-seeded Comets are the home team tonight against Clovis West (31-2) at Loyola Marymount. The winner advances to the championship game against Lakewood Artesia or Glendora on Saturday night at 8 at Pauley Pavilion.

Westchester, ranked second in the state behind Compton Dominguez, defeated Long Beach Poly behind the play of senior forward David Bluthenthal, who scored 20 points. Albert Miller added 11 points, Tony Bland 10.

The Comets are facing a Clovis West team that defeated Manual Arts, 82-68.

The Palisades girls, the other City Section entry in the state tournament, lost to Southern Section I-AA champion Palos Verdes Peninsula, 46-37.