Lea Is Regal in King Victory

This time, Marvin Lea refused to allow Riverside King to lose.

The senior guard scored 11 of his 32 points in the fourth quarter to help the Wolves avenge their biggest loss of the season and knock Redondo Union out of the state playoffs with a 66-57 victory in a Southern California Regional Division II boys’ basketball semifinal Saturday night at Redondo.

“I wasn’t going to let my team come this far and lose,” said Lea, who also led King with 11 rebounds, three assists and two steals.

Forward Leon Rosborough scored 18 points, including five three-point baskets, for King (29-4), which will play Santa Ana Mater Dei in the regional final at 4 p.m. Saturday at Long Beach Arena.

The Wolves had lost to Redondo, 71-70, last week in the Southern Section Division II-A final on Wendell White’s last-second three-point basket. But there were no late heroics for the Sea Hawks (24-7) in the rematch.

Keith Ellison led Redondo with 25 points and forward Adam Zahn had 11 points and 14 rebounds. White, in foul trouble, finished with eight points.

Rob Fernas

*

Santa Ana Mater Dei 88, Pasadena 79--The Monarchs went on a 19-2 run during the first five minutes of the second half and won the Division II semifinal at Long Beach State.

Mater Dei (29-4) led by two points after a competitive first half, but Mike Strawberry hit a jumper on the opening possession of the third quarter and Trevante Nelson followed with a three-pointer to put the Monarchs ahead, 41-34.

Six players scored in double figures for Mater Dei, led by Wesley Washington with 19 points and Mike Strawberry with 18 points. Duwan Rice scored 30 points to lead Pasadena (27-6).

Dan Arritt

*

Torrance Bishop Montgomery 62, Palm Desert 45--The host Knights used a 12-2 run late in the third quarter to take a 45-33 lead and turn a tight game into a blowout in a Division III semifinal.

Fred Washington had 23 points and Brandon Peace had 15 to lead Bishop Montgomery (27-6), the defending state champions. The Knights will play Compton Centennial in a regional final at noon Saturday at Long Beach Arena.

Bishop Montgomery, which lead at halftime, 26-24, opened its lead to 57-37 midway through the fourth quarter.

Josh Zazulia had 19 points for Palm Desert (26-6).

Peter Yoon

*

Compton Centennial 53, Fresno Washington Union 49--Senior Sterling Byrd scored a game-high 18 points and had 12 rebounds to lead the Apaches (30-1) to a Division III semifinal victory.

In the game’s last two minutes, Gabriel Pruitt hit a clutch three-pointer, Darius Sanders scored on a tip-in and Arron Afflalo converted four free throws.

Tim Dermody