Boys Basketball: February 2012 Archives

DIV. III-AA

No. 1 Calabasas vs. No. 4 South Torrance, 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Anaheim Arena

DIV. II-AA

No. 7 Royal vs. Inglewood, 9:30 a.m. Saturday at Anaheim Arena

DIV. III-A

No. 1 Alemany vs. No. 3 Oak Park, 11:15 a.m. Saturday at Anaheim Arena

DIV. VI

No. 1 Renaissance Academy vs. No. 3 California Lutheran, 9:30 a.m. Saturday at Mater Dei

DIV. V-A

No. 1 Providence vs. No. 3 Holy Martyrs, 11:30 a.m. Saturday at Mater Dei

Northeastern Univ. has offered Alemany point guard Max Guercy a scholarship.

Guercy now has offers from Hartford, Hawaii and Northeastern

What a basketball turnaround for Royal High. Four years ago, the Highlanders went 3-23, but this season Royal (23-6) is among the few area teams still alive heading into a Div. II-AA semifinal at 7 p.m. today against visiting Sunny Hills (25-6) - the furthest the Highlanders have ever advanced in the Simi Valley school's 44-year history.

"We're in unchartered waters for Royal basketball right now," 10th-year coach Craig Griffin said. "We play hard and we compete on a daily basis, and that's what I like about this team. It's been an exciting run."

Max McCoy, J.R. Powell, Scott Woods and Nick Creber are among the key players.

"We've got four guys all scoring in double digits, and that's good balance," Griffin said.

Royal has won eight in a row and 13 of the past 14.

Crescenta Valley (26-4) plays tonight at top-seeded Mission Viejo (26-3) in a Div. I-A semifinal, and the host Diablos are a familiar playoff opponent for Crescenta Valley coach Shawn Zargarian.

"In 1995, we had gotten to the final the year before, and then my senior year we lost to Mission Viejo in the second round," Zargarian said.

That was Zargarian's last high school game. The coach and his players get a chance to make amends tonight.

"They're the No. 1 seed, but we're excited to play them," Zargarian said. "We've been playing really well, and we have confidence.

Crescenta Valley's Christian Misi, the returning Pacific League Player of the Year, is averaging 16 points and 11 rebounds, and Cole Currie is averaging 16 points and five assists. The Falcons have won 20 games or more three years in a row.

It's been an emotional year for Calabasas (26-3), as the Coyotes have dedicated the season to fallen assistant coach Joe Frazier, still in a coma following an August motorcycle crash.

With the Div. III-A championship against South Torrance (19-11) set for 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Anaheim Arena, Calabasas held a prayer service Sunday in Frazier's honor.

"I told Joe's mother at the service that when Joe comes out of a coma, we're going to have a big, beautiful championship ring waiting for him," Calabasas forward Josh Cohan said. "Nobody has forgotten."

Top-seeded Calabasas has won 11 in a row, as the Coyotes are hoping to win a basketball championship for the first time in school history.

"We started with one goal in mind - every day, every practice, every second," guard Spencer Levy said. "We've put in the time, we've sacrificed, and we have the opportunity to seize the moment and capture a memory. We're absolutely hyped."

Added coach Jon Palarz: "We're thrilled to be playing for the championship. We're trying to take care of the wear and tear everyone faces at this time of the year. South Torrance has won some big games. They beat Harvard-Westlake and No. 2 seed La Canada."

Renaissance Academy (23-6) has won four playoff games by an average of more than 53 points heading into the Div. VI champion against California Lutheran (20-3) at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at Mater Dei High.

After coming up empty in three previous section championships, Renaissance Academy is taking nothing for granted.

"The kids are very excited to be in the final but realize that there is still a championship game that we need to be focused on," Renaissance Academy coach Sid Cooke said.

As soon as the City Section playoff pairings were drawn, defending champion Taft was on one side and Westchester on the other, so most observers assumed an inevitable rematch of last year's final.

Taft (28-3) has taken care of business but faces Dorsey, not Westchester, in the championship at 8 p.m. Saturday at Cal State Dominguez Hills.

"We were expecting Westchester but Dorsey got the upset, and we're not going to take them lightly," Taft guard Kris Yanku said. "Our team is playing well, the best we've been playing all year. ... We're ready for another title."

Added forward Brandon Perry: "The team is looking good. We are playing well as one unit. We're looking forward to playing for a championship. We know what we need to do to get it done."

London Perrantes, a guard from Crespi, has been offered by Arizona State -- not bad considering he is only a junior.

"I am blessed to receive the offer," Perrantes said.

DIV. III-AA BOYS

No. 1 Calabasas vs. No. 4 South Torrance, 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Anaheim Arena

DIV. III-A BOYS

No. 1 Alemany vs. No. 3 Oak Park, TBD Friday or Saturday at Anaheim Arena

DIV. V-A BOYS

No. 1 Providence vs. No. 3 Holy Martyrs, 11:30 a.m. Saturday at Mater Dei

DIV. VI BOYS

No. 1 Renaissance Academy vs. No. 3 California Lutheran, 9:30 a.m. Saturday at Mater Dei

DIV. III-AA GIRLS

No. 2 Alemany vs. No. 4 Laguna Hills, 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at Anaheim Arena

DIV. III-A GIRLS

No. 1 Oak Park vs. No. 3 Bishop Amat, 4:45 p.m. Wednesday at Anaheim Arena

DIV. IV-A GIRLS

No. 1 Campbell Hall vs. No. 3 Brentwood, 3 p.m. Wednesday at Anaheim Arena

There will be four championship division games Tuesday in the Southern California Showdown tournament. All 8 teams went 2-0 on Friday and Saturday.

Newbury Park at Alemany
Chaminade at Valencia
Loyola at West Ranch
El Camino Real at Harvard-Westlake

All games 3 p.m. Tuesday

DIV. I FINAL

No. 1 Taft vs. No. 7 Dorsey, 8 p.m. Saturday at Cal State Dominguez Hills

DIV. II FINAL

No. 1 El Camino Real vs. No. 2 Garfield, 8 p.m. Friday at Roybal Learning Center

DIV. III FINAL

No. 1 Grant vs. No. 2 Bell, 3 p.m. Saturday at Cal State Dominguez Hills

SMALL SCHOOL FINAL

No. 2 View Park Prep vs. No. 8 Animo South L.A., 11 a.m. Saturday at Cal State Dominguez Hills

The Westchester boys' basketball team had a 17-point lead in the first quarter against Dorsey and was well on it's way to an easy victory at Cal St. Dominguez Hills Saturday in a City Section Div. I semifinal.

Then, Dorsey came alive.

The Dons came all the way back and used a 14-0 run in the fourth quarter to go onto a surprising 62-59 victory.

Dorsey led 62-53 at one point, for a crazy 26-point turnaround after trailing 20-3 in the first quarter.

Taft will play Dorsey next Saturday at 8 p.m. at Cal St. Dominguez in the Div. I championship game.

"These are kids, they lose focus," Taft coach Jason Hart said. "I am surprised, but Westchester didn't have a go-to-guy to get a bucket."

A huge victory for Dorsey, who lost guards Andre Edwards and Brandon Baker to Crenshaw when school started in September.

The Dons also had Alemany guard Marqueze Coleman for his freshman and sophomore years.

It just goes to prove players can transfer out and teams can still win with hard work, discipline and determination.

"It will be a tough game next week," Hart said. "Inner-city kids never quit. That's the first thing they teach you when you are little. That is where I am from. I know first-hand."

Taft 64
Crenshaw 63

Crenshaw 7 14 20 22=63
Taft 23 13 16 13=64

Crenshaw-Andre Edwards 17, Birdel Hodge 14, Winn 9, Baker 8, Garrett 7, Davis 5, Young 3.

Taft-Anthony January 25 and 12 rebounds, Kris Yanku 14, Steven Jones 14, Perry 6, Henderson 3, Gentle 2.

T: 28-3, C: 25-5

Halftime at Cal St. Dominguez Hills

Taft 36
Crenshaw 21

Anthony January has 13 points
Steven Jones has 11 points, including three 3-pointers
Kris Yanku has eight points.

January is wowing the crowd with his jumping ability.

Two dunks and two more monster near misses.

The Oak Park boys' basketball team pulled off what nobody thought was possible Friday in a Div. 3A semifinal against St. John Bosco.

The Eagles (24-7), who beat Oaks Christian twice during Tri-Valley League play, traveled to Bellflower and beat the Braves on their home floor.

Ron Lee scored 27 points and had six assists to lead Oak Park.

Oak Park trailed most of the first half before going on a little run to cut the deficit to 31-28 at halftime.

The Eagles took the lead in the third quarter and led most of the second half.

Jackson Hall made a 3-pointer at the start of the fourth quarter and Oak Park found itself leading by nine points.

The Braves, led by brothers Isaac and Daniel Hamilton, finally started to show some life.

St. John Bosco climbed to within 67-66 with about 30 seconds remaining.

Lee was fouled and missed both free throws, opening the door.

However, Isaac Hamilton pulled up for a 3-pointer from the top of the key with four seconds remaining and missed.

The ball bounced to Hall, who was quickly fouled.

Hall missed two free throws giving the Braves another chance.

St. John Bosco rebounded the second miss with 3.3 seconds remaining but Oak Park literally sent a triple-team at the ball handler as time expired.

Unbelievable win for Oak Park. Great job by coach Aaron Shaw this year.

Southern Section boys' basketball championship games will be played next week.

Locations and times are not set in stone, yet.

Matchups for Divs. III-VI are set.

Div. III-AAA
Pasadena vs. Arroyo Grande

Div. III-AA
Calabasas vs. South Torrance

Div. III-A
Alemany vs. Oak Park (played each other once this season)

Div. IV-AA
Serra vs. La Verne Lutheran

Div. IV-A
Pacific Hills vs. Cantwell Sacred-Heart

Div. V-AA
St. Bernard vs. Ribet Academy

Div. V-A
Providence vs. Holy Martyrs (Both Liberty League teams)

Div. VI
Renaissance Academy or L.A. Adventist vs. California Lutheran

The top two seeds in City Section Div. II boys' and girls' basketball all advanced to the championship games Friday at Roybal Learning Center.

In the girls' final, top-seeded Palisades -- the defending Div. II champion -- will take on No. 2 Monroe, last year's Div. III champion, at 6 p.m.

In the boys' final, top-seeded El Camino Real is seeking its first title when it faces No. 2 Garfield at 8 p.m.

Calabasas 67
Torrance 46

Jeremy Lieberman scored 14 points with six assists and no turnovers to lead Calabasas in a Div. III-AA semifinal.

Josh Cohan scored 12 points, Spencer Levy scored 10 points and Holden Israel had nine points and nine rebounds for Calabasas.

The Coyotes (27-3) led 57-32 at the end of the third quarter.

Crespi suffered very much the same way Oaks Christian lost against La Verne Lutheran Tuesday in a heart-breaking 51-49 setback at the University of La Verne.

The Celts (23-7) trailed 24-17 at halftime and were down 35-23 entering the fourth quarter, before staging a huge rally in the final minute.

Crespi was down by nine points with 1:10 remaining, but somehow managed to get within two points and had the ball with 13.8 seconds remaining.

Outstanding junior guard London Perrantes drove for the tying score off a high pick-and-roll and saw Michael Milligan, Jr. open in the paint.

Perrantes passed the ball to Milligan, Jr. just as a double-team reached Perrantes.

Milligan, Jr. missed a shot from about eight feet away with a defender in his face.

Oaks Christian was tied at halftime at 23-23 with La Verne Lutheran.

The Lions trailed by nine points late in the fourth quarter, only staying in the game thanks to baskets from Chass Bryan and four 3-pointers from Michael Roletti.

Oaks Christian found itself only down 50-48, when the Lions (22-6) stole the ball from Eric Cooper, Jr. in the final 10 seconds, but Bryan just missed a what would have been a game-winning 3-pointer from the top of the key.

Back to Crespi.

The Celts had life when 6-foot-10 McDonald's All-American Grant Jerrett missed two free throws, setting the stage for the final sequence.

Crespi has now lost in the semifinals three of the last four years.

Crespi advanced to the DIV. IV-AA championship game in 2010, beating Alemany.

Each semfinal loss has been painful.

In 2009, Crespi lost to Price at home in overtime.

Last year, Crespi lost to Inglewood on a layup at the buzzer at Morningside High.

Alemany 78
Santa Margarita 67

Marqueze Coleman scored 28 points and had 12 rebounds to lead the Warriors (27-4).

Alemany is in a championship game for the second time in the past three years.

Alemany lost to Crespi in the Div. IV-AA final in 2010.

Max Guercy, who has recently picked up scholarship offers from Hartford and Hawaii, scored 18 points and grabbed five rebounds.

Jerico "Cookie Monster" Richardson had eight points and five steals, hence the nickname.

Razhaun "Bear" Henderson, a sophomore who has already been offered by Colorado, chipped in with eight points, eight rebounds and five assists.

The Warriors will play Oak Park, which upset St. John Bosco.

Alemany has already defeated the Eagles, but that was way back in the middle of December.

Oak Park is clearly a different team, led by sensational junior guard Ron Lee.

Oak Park beat Oaks Christian twice during Tri-Valley League play and is getting top production from Jackson Hall, Brandon Hill and J.D. Slajchert.

Royal 54
Tesoro 49

J.R. Powell scored 18 points to lead four players in double figures to lead Royal.

Scott Woods, Nick Creber and Max McCoy each scored 10 points for the Highlanders (23-6).

Woods had seven blocks.

Royal will host Sunny Hills at 7 p.m. Tuesday

Pacific Hills 76
Campbell Hall 69

Cole Huff scored 33 points, grabbed 12 rebounds and had six blocks, bu tit wasn't enough in a Div. IV-A semifinal against the top seed.

Oak Park 67
St. John Bosco 66

Details have not come in yet, but this is a big upset.

Ron Lee and the Eagles go into Bellflower and knock off No. 2 seed St. John Bosco from the Trinity League.

Stay tuned....

Providence 74
Kilpatrick 61

Freshman sensation Marcus LoVett, Jr. scored 46 points to lead the Pioneers in a Div. V-A semifinal.

LoVett, Jr. now holds the school record for points scored in a single season.

LoVett, Jr. has 956 points.

Teammate Patrick Gonzalez held the previous record with 929 points set last year.

Gonzalez poured in 24 points in the dominating two-man show.

Providence is in its first championship game in school history next week.

The Pioneers will play Liberty League rival Holy Martyrs, a team they have beat twice this season.

LA VERNE - Crespi High's bid to qualify for a Southern Section Div. IV-AA final is over after a 51-49 loss at top-seeded La Verne Lutheran on Friday in a semifinal at University of La Verne.

But the visiting Celts have nothing to be ashamed of after clawing back from a 15-point deficit late in the third quarter, outscoring the two-time state champion Trojans 10-3 over the final 90 seconds.

In defeating a San Fernando Valley-area opponent for the 11th time in a row since 2006, La Verne Lutheran (24-6) could not breathe easy until Crespi's Michael Milligan's last-second 10-footer in traffic bounced off the rim.

"I'm very proud of my team," Crespi junior Tyler Foreman said. "We did a good job. I just wish we played with the same intensity in the first half as we did in the second half."

DIV IV-AA
La Verne Luth 51, Crespi 49
CR 8-9-6-26-49
LAL 9-15-11-16-51
C - Ephriam 2, Avery 9, Johnson 3, Foreman 1, Carter Gallo 10, Perrantes 8, Michael Milligan 16.
LVL - Beard 7, Osorno 7, Anderson 4, Cooper 9, Miller 7, Grant Jerrett 17.
RECORDS: C 23-7; LVL 24-6.

Crespi is missing a lot of shot, and the Celts trail La Verne Lutheran 35-23 after three quarters.

Enduring a four-minute scoreless streak, Crespi trails La Verne Lutheran 24-17.

Crespi's Michael Milligan has 10 points, but the rest of the Celts are not shooting well, thought they're playing good defense. La Verne Lutheran All-American Grant Jerrett has five points.

The Celts are playing good defense, as LVL's Grant Jerrett has just two points.

After losing five of six games in a frustrating late-season stretch to go from first place to third in the Mission League, Crespi High is catching on in the Southern Section boys' basketball playoffs.

With no frontcourt starter taller than 6 feet 3, the Celts (23-6) have advanced to the Div. IV-AA semifinals at 7 p.m. today at second-seeded La Verne Lutheran (23-6).

La Verne Lutheran, the defending state champion, is led by McDonalds All-American Grant Jerrett, a 6-9 center who figures to be a head taller than everyone around him. The showdown is a tough one for the underdog Celts, who want to extend their Cinderella season past midnight.

"La Verne Lutheran is a quality opponent. Grant Jerrett is an All-American, but they have other pieces, too," Crespi coach Russell White said. "We expect to compete, and we're definitely excited and ready for the challenge."

Crespi, a scrappy team known for its defense and hustle, probably needs to hit a lot of 3-pointers, and that means the Celts could look to London Perrantes, Michael Avery and Justin Rubia, the team's top outside shooters.

Overall, 14 area Southern Section teams are alive, including top seeds Calabasas in Div. III-AA, Alemany in Div. III-A, Providence in Div. V-A and Renaissance Academy in Div. VI.
Calabasas (25-3) has won 10 in a row heading into a semifinal tonight at Torrance (16-13), as the visiting Coyotes are hoping to win a section championship for the first time in the school's 37-year history. In 2004, Calabasas lost in the Div. III-A championship to Santa Margarita.

"We're one game away from a championship, and this is what we've all been working for since we were little kids," Calabasas guard Spencer Levy said. "We've worked too hard and too long for this opportunity, and no one is going to stand in our way."

Alemany (26-4), having outscored three playoff opponents by an average margin of 34 points, plays host to Santa Margarita (17-13) tonight.

"We're excited, and we're ready to perform our best," Alemany guard Max Guercy said. "We have a five-game goal to the CIF championship, and we're on step four."'

Providence, founded in 1955, is hoping to qualify for the championship game for the first time, as the Pioneers (25-4), led by high-scoring Marcus LoVett, play host to Kilpatrick (13-11) tonight in a Div. V-A semifinal.

"We're looking forward to the game. This is the time when teams need to buckle down," Providence coach Ernest Baskerville said.

Renaissance Academy (22-6), having advanced to a section final three times without winning a championship, plays at L.A. Adventist (16-8) at 7 p.m. Saturday in the Div. VI semifinals, as the visiting Wildcats look to hand L.A. Adventist its first home loss of the season.

"They have size and some good athletes, and they have a lot of fans, so we expect a tough game," Renaissance Academy coach Sid Cooke said.

Enjoying its best postseason performance since the Jrue Holiday era, Campbell Hall has surprised after entering the playoffs with a total of nine wins, including three consecutive losses to finish the regular season. The Vikings (12-17) have made it to the Div. IV-A semifinals Friday at top-seeded Pacific Hills (26-4).

"We're looking forward to playing the No. 1 seed in the division," Campbell Hall coach Steve Wachs said. "We must limit our turnovers in order to give ourselves a chance."

Another school making basketball history is Village Christian, established in 1949. Village Christian has qualified for the Div. V-AA semifinals tonight against visiting Ribet Academy - the furthest the Crusaders have ever gone in the playoffs.

"We're just going to come out and play the hardest we've ever played," Village Christian forward Marquis Salmon said. "We're ready to go, and the whole school is behind us, so we're going to make them proud."

The Taft boys' basketball team is two wins away from another City Div. I championship.

The Toreadors have taken care of West Adams Prep, 80-20, and took down Birmingham, 78-56, to advance to Saturday's semifinals against Crenshaw.

Tipoff is at 6 p.m. at Cal State Dominguez Hills, followed by Westchester vs. Dorsey at 8 p.m.

Anthony January has scored 21 points in each of the first two games.

January had 13 rebounds against Birmingham.

Brandon Perry scored 21 points and Kris Yanku added 17 points.

Taft will face guards Brandon Baker and Andre Edwards, but should have a big advantage in the paint with January and Perry.

Jason Hart could win a City title in his first season, and what is also expected to be his last season coaching the Toreadors.

The Kennedy boys' basketball team was hoping for a City Section Div. II semifinal showdown with El Camino Real, but it won't come to fruition after the Golden Cougars were defeted, 58-47, by Narbonne in the quarterfinals.

"Narbonne is a very good team and we hung with them for three and a half quarters," associate head coach Dick Dornan said.

Kennedy had a breakthrough season with a share of the Valley Mission League championship earned in the final regular season game against Panorama.

The Golden Cougars will welcome back top guard Dom Vargas next year

Things are going great for the El Camino Real boys' basketball team.

The top-seeded Conquistadores advanced to Friday's semifinals against Narbonne with an easy 72-39 victory Wednesday against No. 8 San Pedro.

ECR crushed Van Nuys, 62-21, in the first round.

Michael Thomas, a junior transfer from Taft, scored 19 points Wednesday.

Cris Francis added 14 points.

The good thing for ECR is it's getting solid production from players other than sophomore standouts Julian Richardson and Maleke Haynes.

ECR plays Narbonne Friday at 8 p.m. at Venice High. The winner advances to the championship game.

ECR could face West Valley League rival Granada Hills, a team it beat 64-39 to end the regular season, which takes on Garfield at 6 p.m.

Richardson scored 17 points in that game and Haynes had 10 assists.

With the victory against San Pedro, in which the Conquistadores earned their 20th win of the season (first time since 1989), ECR held the Pirates to only 12 points in the first half.

"The defense was suffocating," assistant athletic director Vinnie Orlando said.

DIV. II SEMIFINALS, Friday at Venice
No. 3 Granada Hills vs. No. 2 Garfield, 6 p.m.
No. 1 El Camino Real vs. No. 5 Narbonne, 8 p.m.

SMALL SCHOOL SEMIFINALS, Saturday at Robert F. Kennedy
No. 3 Northridge Academy vs. No. 2 View Park Prep, 4 p.m.
No. 4 SOCES vs. No. 8 Animo South L.A., 6 p.m.

DIV. I SEMIFINALS, Saturday at Cal State Dominguez Hills
No. 5 Crenshaw vs. No. 1 Taft, 6 p.m.
No. 7 Dorsey vs. No. 3 Westchester, 8 p.m.

DIV. III SEMIFINALS, Saturday at Venice
No. 6 Hamilton vs. No. 2 Bell, 4 p.m.
No. 1 Grant vs. No. 4 Banning, 6 p.m.

The final score Wednesday made it look like Taft High's 78-56 win over visiting Birmingham was an easy one in a City Section Div. I quarterfinal.

But top-seeded Taft (26-3) having twice defeated Birmingham in the regular season during West Valley League competition, had to work a lot harder than expected.

For nearly the entire evening, Taft tried to put the pesky Patriots away, but every time the host Toreadors would jump to a 10- or 12-point lead, Birmingham (13-14) would make another little comeback to keep it interesting.

The lead was seven with five minutes remaining before Taft finally pulled away, as the Toreadors advanced to play either Crenshaw or Palisades at 8 p.m. Saturday in the City semifinals at Cal State Dominguez Hills.

"I respect Birmingham 100 percent. They played a great game and shot the ball well," Taft forward Anthony January said. "We kind of got off to a slow start.

Taft had all the style points, including six dunks - five by January including two way-above-the-rim alley oops - but Birmingham earned the hustle points in a moral victory, and the Patriots have the floor burns to prove it.

January scored 23 points, Brandon Perry added 21 and Kris Yanku chipped in 17.

DIV. I-A QUARTERFINALS
No. 1 Mission Viejo at No. 9 West Ranch
No. 5 El Toro at No. 4 Crescenta Valley

DIV. II-AA QUARTERFINALS
No. 8 Riverside Poly at No. 15 Thousand Oaks
No. 16 Tesoro at No. 7 Royal

DIV. III-AA SEMIFINALS
No. 1 Calabasas at No. 5 Torrance

DIV. III-A SEMIFINALS
No. 4 Santa Margarita at No. 1 Alemany
No. 3 Oak Park at No. 2 St. John Bosco

DIV. IV-AA SEMIFINALS
No. 6 Crespi vs. No. 2 La Verne Lutheran at University of La Verne

DIV. IV-A SEMIFINALS
No. 5 Campbell Hall at No. 1 Pacific Hills

DIV. V-AA SEMIFINALS
No. 3 Ribet Academy at No. 2 Village Christian

DIV. V-A SEMIFINALS
No. 4 Kilpatrick at No. 1 Providence
No. 3 Holy Martyrs at No. 2 Rolling Hills Prep

DIV. VI SEMIFINALS
No. 1 Renaissance Academy at No. 4 L.A. Adventist

Campbell Hall 73
St. Joseph 62

Freshman Aaron Holiday scored 28 points to lead the Vikings, who are having a great playoff run after finishing the regular season with a record well below .500.

Cole Huff scored 15 points and grabbed 18 rebounds for Campbell Hall.

Calabasas 70
Lakeside 56

Holden Israel scored 27 points with 10 rebounds, Jeremy Lieberman scored 17 points, Spencer Levy scored 14 points and Josh Cohan grabbed 12 rebounds to lead the streaking Coyotes.

Calabasas plays Friday against Torrance, a 50-45 winner over West Valley.

Alemany used a 27-7 run in the seocnd quarter to blow the game open.

Marqueze Coleman led the attack with 17 points and seven rebounds.

Jerico Richardson had 15 points, six steals and five assists.

Max Guercy had 14 points and six rebounds.

Alemany is 26-5.

The Warriors host Santa Margarita in Friday's semifinals at 7 p.m.

La Verne Lutheran 50
Oaks Christian 48

Grant Jerrett, a 6-foot-10 McDonald's All-American scored 21 points to lead the Trojans (22-6).

Jerrett was 11 of 13 from the free throw line.

Lutheran shot 32 free throws. Oaks Christian attemopted six free throws.

Chass Bryan scored 18 points and Michael Roletti scored 18 points to lead the Lions (22-6).

Bryan missed a straight ahead 3-pointer from the top of the key with two seconds on the clock.

"I thought it was a good look," coach Andre Chevalier said.

La Verne Lutheran will host Crespi, a 73-67 winner against Bishop Montgomery, on Friday at 7 p.m. at the University of LaVerne

Royal 59
Villa Park 47

Max McCoy scored 22 points with six steals and four assists to lead Royal, which is in the quarterfinals for the second straight year.

J.R. Powell scored 21 points.

Royal will host Tesoro, a 62-56 winner against Canyon (Canyon Country).

Friday, 7 p.m.

Tesoro 62
Canyon 56

Coley Apsay scored 22 points to lead Canyon

Alek Golden scored 18 points, including six 3-pointers.

"It was a fun run but Tesoro's two 6-foot-8 beats were too much to handle," coach Chad Phillips said.

Providence 59
Shalhevet 54

Freshman Marcus LoVett, Jr. scored 22 points.

LoVett, Jr. now has 910 points this season.

Shalhevet, which played Monday night in Lancaster was only down 56-54 when Jojo Fallas missed a layup that would have tied the game.

Cantwell Sacred-Heart 70
Viewpoint 65

Div. 4A quarterfinal

Sophomore Tim Howell scored 22 points and had six assists.

Jonny Paul scored 13 points and had six rebounds.

The Patriots were up by one points with 40 seconds to go.

"We just didn't finish," Viewpoint coach J.J. Prince said via text.

Prince has done a great job in his third season coaching at Viewpoint.

In 2010, Viewpoint won four games.

In 2011, Viewpoint won 12 games and lost in the first round of the playoffs.

This year Prince guided the Patriots to 18 wins and the first ever quarterfinal appearance in school history.

Viewpoint, along with Providence have given the Liberty League a huge push it desperately needed.

Eight time league champion Buckley rarely had much competition.

That has changed.

For a high school basketball program like Harvard-Westlake, a school that has won nine league titles, eight section championships and two state tites over the past 17 years, a loss in the Southern Section Div. IV-AA quarterfinals seems too soon.

When spectators walk into the school gymnasium that's covered from wall to wall with championship banners, there's a natural expectation for the mighty Wolverines to win.

That's what made a 62-50 loss Tuesday to visiting Serra so hard to take. Even though the visiting Cavaliers were the top-seed against a rebuilding Harvard-Westlake team that is the defending Div. III-A champion but finished third in the Mission League.

Whenever the Wolverines (20-10) are at home - or even on the road - it feels like they should be the favorite, and sure enough Harvard-Westlake jumped to a 10-point lead midway through the second quarter to the delight of a near-capacity crowd that proved increasingly loud and enthusiastic every time the home team did something good.

Yet Serra's suffocating full-court pressure eventually began to wear on Harvard-Westlake. The advantage slipped away, as Serra (27-2) went on a 25-6 run to lead by as much as 13 before making seven free throws down the stretch to stave off a comeback.

The gymnasium here at Harvard-Westlake is filled with championship banners -- eight section titles, two state titles and a bunch of league titles -- but there is always room for one more, right?

The Wolverines can take a big step tonight with a win over top-seeded Serra in a Southern Section Div. IV-AA quarterfinal set to tip off in just a few minutes.

Stay tuned.

Providence freshman guard Marcus LoVett, Jr. moved into 8th place on the schools all-time scoring list with 32 points in a 47-33 Div. 5A first round victory against New Roads.

LoVett, Jr. is now only 41 points away from breaking Patrick Gonzalez's single-season record of 929 set last year.

LoVett. Jr. has 888 points this season and is on pace to shatter the career record for most points scored.

LoVett, Jr. will get a chance to surpass Gonzalez Tuesday in a quarterfinal game against Shalhevet.

Shalhevet 64
Lancaster Baptist 40

Jojo Fallas led four Shalhevet players in double figures with 15 points in the Div. 5A second round victory.

Shalhevet plays at top-seeded Providence at 7 p.m. Tuesday in a quarterfinal game.

Matt McDaniel scored 20 points, including 13 in the fourth quarter to lead the Eagles (14-5).

Shalhevet used a 26-2 run in the second quarter to take control.

The Firehawks (12-5) made nine 3-pointers.

Shalhevet lost in the Div. 6AA quarterfinals against Bishop Diego in overtime a year ago.

The Firehawks will have their hands full with freshman sensation Marcus LoVett, Jr.

After winning 25 games or more in each of the past three seasons, including a Southern Section Div. III-A championship last year, Harvard-Westlake High finds itself in the unfamiliar role of underdog.

The Wolverines (20-9) finished third in the Mission League, and overall they've lost four times at home - unheard of for the program that has won eight section titles and two state championships since 1995 - but Harvard-Westlake can take a huge step in the Div. IV quarterfinals at 7 p.m. Tuesday against top-seeded Serra (26-2) of Gardena.

Serra has won 11 in a row, including victories of such top programs Bishop Montgomery, Fairfax and Santa Monica, all of which are still alive in the playoffs.

"We're playing against a very talented and good Serra team. It's important we play smart and to not turn the ball over," Harvard-Westlake center Zena Edosomwan said. "We really have to focus and play our hearts out in order to win."

Edosomwan, a 6-foot-8, 240-pounder with 42 scholarship offers including UCLA and USC, goes against Serra's Emmanual Ndumanya, a 6-10, 240-pounder who is among California's top juniors.

With a lineup featuring 6-7 Marquis Salmon, 6-7 Marsalis Johnson, 6-6 Andrew English and 6-5 point guard Bryan Alberts, Village Christian, the No. 2 seed in Div. V-AA, is taller than most opponents.

But on Tuesday, Village Christian is forced to contend with Brethren Christian's 7-5 Mamadou Ndiaye, perhaps the nation's biggest player. Ndiaye has skills, too, averaging 23.3 points, 13.9 rebounds and 5.0 blocks.

The teams played on Dec. 6, as Ndiaye scored 27 points but Village Christian won 77-60.

Village Christian has won eight in a row, the past seven by 10 points or more. The Crusaders have never advanced past the quarterfinals, but they've got big plans.
"We're all focused strictly on winning CIF," Salmon said. "That's the main goal, so we're just going to take it one game at a time."

Naturally, Village Christian coach Jon Shaw's primary concern is containing Ndiaye.

"We have to do a great job limiting his touches. He really impacts the game," Shaw said. "We did a great job last time, but Brethren Christian is better now than they were on Dec. 6."

Viewpoint has reached a section quarterfinal for the first time in school history, as the Patriots (18-8), coming off a second-round win over rival Milken, play Tuesday against visiting Cantwell-Sacred Heart (24-5) in a Div. IV-A matchup.

"We're looking very good. Our big guys are playing well, and that's what we need," forward Jack Borenstein said. "The Milken win was big for us because it gave us a lot of confidence for our next game. When we all contribute, our team looks really good.

"If we continue playing the way we've been playing, I think we have a pretty good chance to keep winning."

In the City Section, El Camino Real (19-7) is on the brink of winning 20 games for first time in coach Dave Rebibo's five-year career, as the Conquistadores play host to San Pedro at 7 p.m. Wednesday in a Div. II quarterfinal.

El Camino Real has won six in a row while holding opponents to 54 points or fewer during the streak.

"The team is working really hard and continuing to grow," Rebibo said. "We're excited about the opportunity to compete, and we know that nobody is going to lay down or hand anything over. We need to be good, and we need to bring our best effort every night."

Four leagues with several local teams have been thriving in the playoffs.

Let's start with the Mission League. We all knew this was a strong league.

Loyola, Alemany, Crespi and Harvard-Westlake are still alive.

Chaminade, Notre Dame and St. Francis all won one playoff game before losing Friday.

The whole league made the playoffs. Pretty good in my book.

Loyola and Alemany are expected to win Tuesday, while Crespi and Harvard-Westlake will have more of a challenge trying to beat Serra and Bishop Montgomery, respectively.

Like the Mission League, every team from the Alpha League made the playoffs, and all won at least one playoff game.

Pacific Hills, Windward, Campbell Hall and Brentwood are still alive.

Sierra Canyon beat Malibu, before losing Friday to Crespi.

Top-seeded Pacific Hills is expected to make the Div. IV-A championship game, Windward has a tough road at Price, Campbell Hall could beat St. Joseph/Santa Maria and Brentwood could beat No. 2 Ontario Christian.

Oaks Christian, Oak Park, St. Bonaventure and Santa Clara are alive from the Tri-Valley League.

Nordhoff, an at-large entry, lost to Milken Community, in the first round. Fillmore was the only team not to qualify.

Oaks Christian won a thriller at Chaminade Friday. The Lions used runs of 16-0 in the second quarter and 11-0 in the third quarter to turn back the Eagles in their own gym.

Oak Park is expected to advance to the Div. III-A semifinals where it will encounter St. John Bosco and former Taft coach Derrick Taylor.

The big surprise has been St. Bonaventure.

New coach Nate Nylander, a former Oaks Christian assistant has been doing an unbelievable job with the Seraphs.

Nylander guided St. Bonaventure to an upset of Oak Park in Tri-Valley League play, and the Seraphs have knocked off Lancaster Desert Christian and Fairmont Prep in the first two rounds of Div. IV-A competition.

A big test lies ahead Tuesday against top-seeded Pacific Hills.

Santa Clara has also been a huge surprise.

The Saints, who were routed 74-18 by Oaks Christian have regrouped for victories against Flintridge Prep and Bloomington Christian.

Santa Clara plays at Mission Prep in what will be a much more stiff contest Tuesday.

The Liberty League also has several teams still alive.

Providence, Viewpoint, Holy Martyrs and Yeshiva. Yeshiva played late Saturday night against Downey Calvary Chapel, winning 78-47.

Buckley made the Div. IV-A bracket, but suffered a 62-59 overtime loss against San Marino.

Glendale Adventist was the only school not to qualify.

Providence is expected to win the Div. V-A championship, Viewpoint has rolled to two victories and Holy Martyrs squares off Tuesday against Rio Hondo Prep.

Yeshiva will face No. 3 Ribet Academy in the quarterfinals.

Former Sierra Canyon coach Colin Jamerson is now coaching at Shalhevet, and he has the Firehawks in the second round of the Div. V-A playoffs.

Shalhevet plays at Lancaster Baptist at 7 p.m. Monday.

The game was scheduled for Friday, but Shalhevet is an orthodox Jewish school and can't play after sundown Friday until sunset Saturday night.

Driving from Los Angeles to Lancaster would have been too much of a hassle Saturday.

The winner gets No. 1 Providence on Tuesday.

Shalhevet is 11-5 and owns an impressive victory against large-school Buena.

Lancaster Baptist is 14-4.

DIV. I QUARTERFINALS
No. 8 Birmingham at No. 1 Taft
No. 5 Crenshaw at No. 4 Palisades
No. 6 Washington Prep at No. 3 Westchester
No. 7 Dorsey at No. 2 Fairfax

DIV. II QUARTERFINALS
No. 8 San Pedro at No. 1 El Camino Real
No. 5 Narbonne at No. 4 Kennedy
No. 11 Reseda at No. 3 Granada Hills
No. 7 Carson at No. 2 Garfield

DIV. III QUARTERFINALS
No. 9 Chatsworth at No. 1 Grant
No. 5 Roosevelt at No. 4 Banning
No. 6 Hamilton at No. No. 3 Locke
No. 10 Los Angeles at No. 2 Bell

SMALL SCHOOL QUARTERFINALS
No. 8 Animo South L.A. at No. 1 LACES
No. 5 Douglass at No. 4 SOCES
No. 22 Harbor Teacher Prep at No. 3 Northridge Academy
No. 7 Huntington Park College Ready at No. 2 View Park Prep

Coach Nick Hauselman has Birmingham in the City Section Div. I quarterfinals Wednesday at West Valley League rival and top-seeded Taft.

The Patriots narrowly edged University, 57-56 on Friday, while Taft crushed West Adams Prep, 80-20.

"It was a crazy game," Hauselman said.

About Taft, Hauselman had this to say by text.

"It is hard to beat a team three times in a row. We were only down eight points with four minutes to go at Taft last time."

Birmingham has been making a living winning close games this year.

The Patriots edged Ribet Academy, 67-65, Dec. 3 at the Pasadena tournament.

Birmingham beat Chatsworth on halfcourt 3-pointer at the buzzer, escaped against Cleveland, 70-67, in the last regular season game and pulled off the one-point victory Friday against University.

Andrew Estes scored 21 points and had six rebounds, four blocks and four steals in the Cleveland win.

Marcus Harris scored 19 points with seven rebounds, three blocks and two steals.

Abrionn Webster scored 13 points and grabbed seven rebounds.

Taft should have no problems as long as it isn't a one possession game late in the fourth quarter.

What a wonderful job J.J. Prince is doing at Viewpoint.

The 30-year-old Montclair Prep alum has the Patriots rolling.

Viewpoint has advanced to Tuesdays Div. IV-A quarterfinals after a 77-58 victory against Milken Community.

Sophomore Tim Howell scored 31 points and had eight assists to lead the Patriots.

Jack Borenstein scored 19 points and had eight assists.

Michael Dix had eight points, 12 rebounds and six blocks.

Viewpoint will get tested against third-seeded Cantwell Sacred-Heart.

Jose Estrada poured in 49 points in a victory against St. Anthony Friday.

But, let's get back to Viewpoint.

Prince guided the Patriots to a second place finish in the Liberty League and won both games against eight-time league champion Buckley.

Howell is only a tenth grader, Stone Spellman is a rising freshman and Prince has the youth and enthusiasm to build a contender.

On Tuesday, Viewpoint won it's first playoff game in six years with a 56-47 victory against L.A. Baptist.

Kennedy 65
South Gate 35

Danny Jiron scored 16 points and grabbed eight rebounds to lead Kennedy (20-8).

The Golden Cougars are on a collision course to meet El Camino Real in the Div. II semfinals Friday at 8 p.m. at Venice High.

Div. IAA
Palmdale at Mater Dei
Long Beach Poly at Knight

Div. 1A
Glendale at Mission Viejo
Edison (Huntington Beach) at West Ranch
Crescenta Valley at Warren

Div. 2AA
Ocean View at Thousand Oaks
Royal at Villa Park
Canyon at Tesoro

Div. 3AA
Lakeside at Calabasas
La Canada at South Torrance

Div. 3A
Alemany at Bishop Amat
Oak Park at Northview or Atascadero at Oak Park

Div. 4AA
Serra at Harvard-Westlake
Bishop Montgomery at Crespi
La Verne Lutheran at Oaks Christian

Div. 4A
St. Joseph (Santa Maria) at Campbell Hall
Cantwell Sacred-Heart at Viewpoint or Milken Community

Div. 5AA
Village Christian at Brethren Christian

Div. 5A
Providence vs. Shalhevet or at Lancaster Baptist
Kilpatrick vs. Newbury Park Adventist or Pacifica Christian
Holy Martyrs vs. Valley Torah or Rio Hondo Prep

Div. 6
Renaissance Academy at Dickranian

Providence 57
New Roads 43

Freshman Marcus LoVett, Jr. scored 31 points and sophomore Christian Ware-Berry scored 21 points to lead Providence.

LoVett, Jr. now has 887 total points this season.

Calabasas 53
Palos Verdes 38

Josh Cohan scored 14 points, Holden Israel scored 13 points and Jeremy Lieberman scored 11 points for the top-seeded Coyotes.

Matt Costa scored 11 points for Palos Verdes.

Royal 65
A.B. Miller 38

Scott Woods scored 19 points and 14 rebounds and four blocks.

Max McCoy scored all 13 of his points in the second half. McCoy had five assists.

J.R. Powell scored 12 points.

Royal will play at Villa Park at 7 p.m. Tuesday

Chatsworth went 9-22 this year and finished last in the West Valley League.

The Chancellors played a tough schedule and were limited because their gym was undergoing renovations through November and December.

Chatsworth could be the surprise team in the City Section after a 73-68 victory against Panorama.

Chatsworth won the championship last year and has top players Terrell Funches and Montel Shirley playing well at the right time.

Alemany 90
Azusa 45

Marqueze Coleman scored 17 points, Max Guercy and K.J. Moffett each had 12 points, and Razhaun Henderson chipped in six points and 18 rebounds.

Guercy had six assists.

Alemany had a 29-8 run in the first quarter.

Alemany had a 30-9 run in the third quarter.

Jordan Blackburn had 14 points to lead Azusa.

Alemany plays at Bishop Amat Tuesday.

Amat beat Wilson of Hacienda Heights, 66-61 in overtime

Birmingham 57
University 56

Birmingham led by nine points at halftime but had to hold off a rally.

Birmingham at Taft on Wednesday

Taft easily beat West Adams Prep, 80-20

El Camino Real 62
Van Nuys 21

The Conquistadores advance easily in the City Section Div. II bracket.

Maleke Haynes scored 16 points and had eight assists to lead ECR.

Michael Thomas scored 14 points with eight rebounds.

ECR played without Julian Richardson, Chris Francis and Mason Pollock.

All were dinged up with injuries but should be ready to go Tuesday against San Pedro.

Campbell Hall 82
St. Genevieve 63

Cole Huff had 33 points and 27 rebounds in an easy Div. IV-A victory.

Freshman Aaron Holiday scored 25 points.

Kyle Vane had 19 points and 13 rebounds.

With the score tied, the pressure on and the crowd going crazy Friday with two less than two minutes remaining, Jason Ghilarducci found himself with the basketball.

The Oaks Christian forward was a bit farther away than he would have liked, but sometimes you have to just have faith.

Ghilarducci took aim and fired a 3-pointer that swished through the net, giving the visiting Lions the lead for good in a 63-57 victory at Chaminade before a near-capacity crowd in the second round of the Southern Section Div. IV-AA boys' basketball playoffs.

"These are the kind of moments you live for," Ghilarducci said. "To come in a beat a team on their home court, especially in front of a crowd like this, this is what it's all about it. We won a (Div. IV-A) championship last year, and this is my senior season, and I want another ring."

It's packed here at Chaminade, and it's a good game, too, as the host Eagles trail visiting Oaks Christian 27-25 at halftime.

Chaminade jumped to a 10-point lead but went nearly seven minutes without scoring, as Oaks Christian went on a 16-0 spree.

Chaminade is playing a box-and-one defense on Oaks Christian's Chass Bryan, who has scored six points. Meanwhile, the Eagles are having difficulty dealing with Oaks Christian's swarming defense, as Chaminade has committed a series of costly turnovers.

Expect a barnburner when Chaminade plays host to Oaks Christian at 7 p.m. Friday in an intriguing Southern Section Div. IV-AA boys' basketball showdown between two programs that take their sports seriously and have lots of supportive fans.

Three years ago, Chaminade eliminated Oaks Christian in the Div. IV-A semifinals, and the teams meet again for the first time.

"We're excited, and I think our team can rise to the occasion," Oaks Christian coach Andre Chevalier said.

Chaminade coach Todd Wolfson is glad the game is at home, where the Eagles have won 10 of 11 this season.

"We feel if we can get anyone in our own gym, we stand a pretty good chance," Wolfson said.

Two of the San Fernando Valley's top junior guards, Sierra Canyon's Jahmel Taylor and Crespi's London Perrantes, go head to head Friday in a Div. IV-AA playoff game at Shepherd of the Hills church in Chatsworth.

"It should be fun. They're two completely different players, but they're both very special," Sierra Canyon coach Ryan Silver said.

Sierra Canyon, rebuilding following the transfers of standout sophomores Marsalis Johnson and Bryan Alberts to Village Christian, has moved up after winning the Div. V-A championship last year.

"I believe our team is refreshed and ready," Taylor said. "I believe we can make a huge run if we play as a unit and play good defense."

Crespi (21-6) is 3-5 over the past eight games, but the Celts come from a much tougher league - the Mission League compared to the Alpha League -- and should be a strong favorite.

"We look like our old team from the beginning of the season," Perrantes said. "We have a long road ahead of us, and we're ready."

Calabasas (23-3), afforded a bye as top seed in Div. III-AA, has won eight in a row but has been idle for eight days heading into Friday's matchup against visiting Palos Verdes.

"We had a crazy second half of the Marmonte League, winning a bunch of games in the final seconds and in overtime, so we have great confidence going into the playoffs,"forward Josh Cohan said. "Nothing would top this dream season more than a CIF championship ring."

Calabasas coach Jon Palarz said the team is "rested and refocused."

"We see the favorable seeding, but we know that just means everyone else is shooting for us," Palarz said.

After being eliminated in the second round last year by eventual state champion La Verne Lutheran, Moorpark has a tough draw Friday in a Div. II-A opener at top-seeded Mayfair.

"We're looking forward to playing the No. 1 seed. We're improving, and we've had a good week of practice so far," Moorpark coach Eddie Guttierez said.

Added forward Jake Myers: "Our team is determined to make a run in the playoffs."

Camarillo (16-10) has won four in a row heading into Div. II-A opener Friday against visiting Mira Costa.

"The team looks great," Camarillo forward Jake Maulhardt said. "We have a winning streak going, and we're hoping to make a deep run."

Birmingham (12-13) has just one winning season over the past six years, and coach Nick Hauselman is hoping the Patriots are poised for a turnaround Friday in a City Section Div. I opener against visiting University of Los Angeles.

"Having played one of the toughest schedules of any City team, we're primed to make some noise," Hauselman said. "If we get hot, we can beat anybody - and I do mean anybody."

In a City Div. II opener Friday, Granada Hills faces visiting Gardena, and though the host Highlanders are just 10-16, they've faced a challenging schedule, and more importantly, perhaps they're streaky enough to succeed in the postseason.

"We have survived and competed despite major scoring struggles," Granada Hills coach Dan Loperina said. "If the law of averages holds true, we will be on fire throughout the playoffs and win it all."

City Section Small-Schools boys' basketball playoff games

Second round, Friday, 7 p.m. scheduled start times. Check with host school to verify

No. 17 New Designs at No. 1 LACES

No. 9 Community Harvest at No. 8 Animo South Los Angeles

No. 12 New Millennium at No. 5 Douglass

No. 20 Sun Valley at No. 4 SOCES

No. 14 Mendez at No. 3 Northridge Academy

No. 22 Harbor Teacher Prep at No. 6 Vaughn

No. 10 Port of Los Angeles vs. No. 7 Huntington Park College Ready at South Region No. 2

No. 15 Lou Dantzler Charter at No. 2 View Park Prep

Div. I-AA
Alhambra at No. 16 Palmdale
Quartz Hill at No. 5 Oxnard
Highland at No. 11 Silverado
Knight at No. 15 Los Alamitos
Div. I-A
Diamond Bar at No. 16 Glendale
Paramount at No. 9 West Ranch
Colton at No. 4 Crescenta Valley
Burbank at No. 7 Chino Hills
Div. II-AA
No. 15 Thousand Oaks at Mark Keppel
No. 13 Saugus at Inglewood
Simi Valley at No. 3 J.W. North
A.B. Miller at No. 7 Royal
Godinez at No. 2 Canyon/Canyon Country
Div. II-A
Moorpark at No. 1 Mayfair
No. 12 Westlake at Dominguez
No. 15 Mira Costa at Camarillo

Div. III-AA
No. 16 Palos Verdes at No. 1 Calabasas
No. 13 Agoura at No. 5 Torrance
No. 14 Pacifica/GG at No. 3 La Canada
Div. III-A
Azusa at No. 1 Alemany
No. 14 Estancia at No. 3 Oak Park
No. 8 Covina at No. 10 St. Francis
Div. IV-AA
No. 8 Harvard-Westlake at No. 10 JSerra
No. 4 Price at No. 13 Notre Dame OR Paraclete at No. 4 Price
No. 6 Crespi at No. 12 Sierra Canyon
No. 7 Oaks Christian at No. 9 Chaminade
Div. IV-A
No. 12 St. Genevieve at No. 5 Campbell Hall
No. 11 Milken Community at No. 6 Viewpoint, SATURDAY
Div. V-AA
No. 15 Mojave at No. 2 Village Christian
Div. V-A
No. 16 New Roads at No. 1 Providence
No. 8 Shalhevet at No. 9 Lancaster Baptist
Newbury Park Adventist at No. 5 Pacifica Christian
No. 13 La Sierra Academy at No. 4 Kilpatrick
No. 14 Desert Christian Academy at No. 3 Holy Martyrs
No. 6 Rio Hondo Prep at No. 11 Valley Torah
Div. VI
Bethel Christian at No. 1 Renaissance Academy
No. 9 Arshag Dickranian at No. 8 Trinity Classical Academy

San Marino 62
Buckley 59 (overtime)

After advancing to the Div. IV-A championship game a year ago, Buckley will not be making another championship run in 2012.

The Griiffins were eliminated from the playoffs in a 62-59 overtime setback against San Marino Wednesday.

Jasper Hwang scored 19 points, including a basket as the regulation buzzer was sounding to send the game to a four-minute extra period.

Jordan Dang scored 16 points for the Titans, who improved to 15-11.

Buckley was playing with strong emotions after classmate Steven Yampolsky passed away Tuesday night after a long battle with cancer.

Tyler Coppin-Carter scored 20 points and freshman Austin Butler scored 17 points to lead Buckley.

Oak Park 63
Littlerock 24 (Div. III-A)

Ron Lee scored 21 points and Jackson Hall had 14 points to lead Oak Park (21-7).

Lee added eight assists and seven rebounds.

Chaminade 71
Morro Bay 52 (Div. IV-AA)

Jack Williams had 19 points and 11 rebounds. Jaron Martin had 25 points and five steals.

Justin Eisen scored 13 points for Chaminade.

Sierra Canyon 64
Malibu 53 (Div. IV-AA)

Jahmel Taylor scored 23 points and had seven assists to lead the Trailblazers.

Brandon White added 18 points and 10 rebounds.

Crespi 84
Rosamond 45 (Div. IV-AA)

Michael Milligan, Jr. scored 15 points to lead the Celts (21-6). Rosamond dropped to 15-8.

Campbell Hall 64
Kern Valley 48 (Div IV-A)

Cole Huff scored 22 points and had 13 rebounds to lead Campbell Hall.

Freshman Aaron Holiday scored 16 points for Campbell Hall.

Huff was called for two fouls in the first six minutes and Holiday had two fouls in the first half.

Alemany 87
Artesia 61

13 different players scored to lead the Warriors.

Marqueze Coleman and K.J. Moffett each scored 14 points.

Razhaun Henderson scored 12 points, Jerico Richardson scored 11 points and Max Guercy scored 10 points.

In the newly created Southern Section Div. III-AAA division, Hart is the area's only program in the tournament. The Indians open tonight at 7 at Lawndale.

"We look pretty good.We're taking every game seriously because we're on borrowed time," forward David Koppenhaver said.

The playoff game tonight between Notre Dame and host Paraclete in Lancaster has been postponed because of snow. Tip off is now scheduled for Thursday at 7 p.m.

After a nine-day break since scoring an upset win at Harvard-Westlake in the Mission finale, Crespi opens Div. IV-AA playoffs at 7 tonight at Rosamond.

After winning 18 of its first 19, Crespi (20-6) is 2-5 over the past seven games, so no one knows quite what to expect.

"We look like our old team from the beginning of the season," guard London Perrantes said. "Harvard-Westlake was a big win to get back on track."

Added guard Michael Avery: "We've been working hard to make sure we're ready. I like our chances to accomplish anything if we are ready."

After winning the Southern Section Div. V-A championship last year, Sierra Canyon has been moved up to Div. IV-AA, one of the section's toughest divisions.

The Trailblazers (13-14), forced to regroup after top sophomores Marsalis Johnson and Bryan Alberts transferred to Village Christian, have lost five games in a row heading into a first-round matchup at Malibu -- the alma mater of Sierra Canyon coach Ryan Silver.

"We're excited to compete in one of the toughest divisions in the state," Silver said. "We are a very young team that is excited to be where we're at."

Campbell Hall is already on the road, driving north through the rain for a three-hour trip to Kern Valley for a playoff opener tonight at 7, and coach Steve Wachs is scratching his head, wondering why he and the Vikings were not granted a more favorable draw.

"It's a tough trip for the No. 5 seed to make," Wachs said.

Patrick Gonzalez, a high-scoring guard for Providence, is questionable for the first round of the playoffs Friday because of a bruised foot.

"If we can afford to keep him out, we will," coach Ernest Baskerville said. "But it's his senior year, and I want him to enjoy the playoffs, too."

Congratulations are in order for the L.A. Baptist boys' basketball team and first-year coach Renard Beavers.

The Knights were selected as an at-large team in the Div. IV-A playoffs.

Not bad for a program that was winless a year ago, 2-15 in 2010 and 4-22 in 2009.

L.A. Baptist opens with a road game at much improved Viewpoint from the Liberty League.

The Knights are 8-15 and may have not won an Onlympic League game, but made strides under Beavers and top players Mike Otazu and Andrew Davis.

L.A. Baptist played a great game against Maranatha two weeks ago, losing narrowly in overtime.

Village Christian is celebrating today the grand opening and dedication of the Chris Dyck Memorial Weight Training Facility in honor of Dyck, a member of the Class of 1989, who lost his life in a tragic accident his senior year.

Now that Taft has been afforded the No. 1 in the City Section basketball playoffs beginning Friday against visiting West Adams, the Toreadors (24-3) Taft (23-3) look to repeat as City champions.

Taft finsiehd the regular season with 14 wins in a row, 11 by 10 points or more.

Taft has won three City titles since 2004, and the Toreadors, led by forwards Anthony January and Brandon Perry and guard Kris Yanku, have made a smooth transition under new coach Jason Hart, who replaced longtime coach Derek Taylor (now at St. John Bosco).

"We're really playing well right now. I think we're starting to come together as a team," Perry said. "Coming into the playoffs, we're excited about making a run for the City title again - and the state playoffs."

Hart, a former NBA player with City Section roots after graduating from Westchester High, has stressed defense and fundamentals.

"The playoffs are going to be exciting," Hart said. "We have to play our best every night. We'll be ready for the challenge."

Div. I

West Adams Prep at Taft
Sylmar at Crenshaw
Cleveland at Dorsey
Poly at Westchester

Div. II

Van Nuys at El Camino Real
Gardena at Granada Hills
South Gate at Kennedy
Reseda at Venice
Verdugo Hills at Carson

Div. III

Bravo at Grant
Chatsworth at Panorama

There was a clean sweep for City Section boys' basketball teams from the region when playoff pairings were released Saturday at Roybal High in Los Angeles.

Taft, El Camino Real and Grant were awarded the top-seed in Div. I, Div. II and Div. III, respectively.

And, all are favored to win City championships.

The playoffs begin Friday ans continue with quarterfinal games Feb. 22.

"I think the San Fernando Valley is really starting to get some resepct," ECR coach David Rebibo said. "It is more spread out now. There really aren't just a few good teams anymore. There are good players everywhere. I would love the opportunity to play in Div. I."

Taft will have the toughest road because of the depth of its division.

Fairfax, Westchester and Palisades took the No. 2, No. 3 and No. 4 spots. Undefeated Coliseum League champion Crenshaw was seeded No. 5 and Marine League champion Washington, which owns an impressive victory against Crespi took No. 6

The Toreadors open Friday with No. 16 West Adams Prep and could face West Valley League rival No. 8 Birmingham, which really helped itself with a 70-67 victory Friday against Cleveland to claim third place in League.

Birmingham hosts No. 9 University in the first round Friday.

No. 10 Cleveland opens at No. 7 Dorsey. The Cavaliers hosted the Dons in last years first round and won a thriller after erasing a 19-point lead.

If Cleveland can pull off the upset things won't get easier with a potential quarterfinal matchup against Fairfax.

"I am going back to my home," Cleveland coach Damon Charlot said. "That's where i came from."

No. 14 Poly opens at No. 3 Westchester. The Parrots are not expected to shock the world.

ECR will host outmanned No. 16 Van Nuys in the first round.

An interesting game could happen in the semifinals when ECR could host No. 4 Kennedy in a matchup of two up-and-coming programs in the area.

The Conquistadores feature sophomores Julian Richardson, Maleke Haynes and Evan Wardlow.

Kennedy clinched a share of the Valley Mission League championship Friday and features juniors Dom Vargas, Jordan Taylor and Danny Jiron.

Granada Hills was seeded No. 3 and could face No. 2 Garfield in the semifinals before a possible all-valley championship game with ECR or Kennedy.

Grant easily took the top spot in Div. III, and should hardly be challenged.

The Lancers finished 23-5 and 12-0 in East Valley League play.

Grant features 6-foot7 forward Gor Palvchyan, Tullio Parry and Gurgen Harutyunyan.

Grant hosts No. 16 Bravo Medical Magnet in the first round.

The Lancers will play the winner of No. 9 Chatsworth at No. 8 Panorama in the quarterfinals.

Chatsworth finished the regular season 9-22 but could surprise because they have played a tough schedule.

1. Grant
2. Bell
3. Locke
4. Banning
5. Franklin
6. Hamilton
7. Huntington Park
8. Panorama
9. Chatsworth
10. Los Angeles
11. Marshall
12. Roosevelt
13. Jefferson
14. Wilson
15. Lincoln
16. Bravo

Fri. Feb. 17

No. 16 Bravo at No. 1 Grant
No. 9 Chatsworth at No. 8 Panorama
No. 12 Roosevelt at No. 5 Franklin
No. 13 Jefferson at No. 4 Banning

No. 14 Wilson at No. 3 Locke
No. 11 Marshall at No. 6 Hamilton
No. 10 Los Angeles at No. 7 Huntington Park
No. 15 Lincoln at No. 2 Bell

City Div. 2 playoff seedings

1. El Camino Real
2. Garfield
3. Granada Hills
4. Kennedy
5. Narbonne
6. Venice
7. Carson
8. San Pedro
9. L.A. Jordan
10. Verdugo Hills
11. Reseda
12. Torres
13. South Gate
14. Gardena
15. Belmont
16. Van Nuys

Fri. Feb. 17

No. 16 Van Nuys at No. 1 El Camino Real
No. 9 L.A. Jordan at No. 8 San Pedro
No. 12 Torres at No. 5 Narbonne
No. 13 South Gate at No. 4 Kennedy

No. 14 Gardena at No. 3 Granada Hills
No. 11 Reseda at No. 6 Venice
No. 10 Verdugo Hills at No. 7 Carson
No. 15 Belmont at No. 2 Garfield

1. Taft
2. Fairfax
3. Westchester
4. Palisades
5. Crenshaw
6. Washington
7. Dorsey
8. Birmingham
9. University
10. Cleveland
11. Fremont
12. Sylmar
13. Manual Arts
14. Poly
15. Roybal
16. West Adams

There it is.

Friday Feb. 17

No. 16 West Adams Prep at No. 1Taft
No. 9 University at No. 8Birmingham
No. 12 Sylmar at No. 5 Crenshaw
No. 13 Manual Arts at No. 4 Palisades

No. 14 Poly at No. 3 Westchester
No. 11 Fremont at No. 6 Washington
No. 10 Cleveland at No. 7 Dorsey
No. 15 Roybal at No. 2 Fairfax

NEWHALL - Putting the finishing touch on a grueling final stretch consisting of four consecutive road victories to close the regular season, Canyon High clinched a share of the Foothill League boys' basketball championship Friday in a 78-69 win at Hart before a loud, near-capacity crowd.

Canyon's Clay Kasdorf scored 34 points and Coley Apsay added 28 points, including five 3-pointers.

Hart closed to within six points in the fourth quarter. But over the final two minutes, Canyon (23-3, 8-2) made the key plays, as Apsay scored on an inside basket and two free throws, and Kasdorf hit a jump shot and two free throws.

"This is the biggest win so far because it locked everything up," Kasdorf said. "We had a lot of momentum, and the team really came through tonight. I've never felt better in my life."

Kasdorf has scored 110 points in the past three games, including a school-record 48 on Feb. 3 at West Ranch. The 6-foot-3 senior went right to work at Hart, scoring 20 points in the first 11 minutes, as it was clear Kasdorf had the green light every time he touched the basketball.

"I do have the green light. It's great to have that kind of freedom," Kasdorf said. "I don't have to refrain from anything. I can just play my game."

Canyon has yet to lose a road game this season, so the Cowboys, expected to be seeded No. 1 in the Southern Section Div. II-AA playoffs beginning next week, could be tough to beat in the postseason.

"This was a tough, gutsy win, to come on this court and win like this, and Clay and Coley are remarkable basketball players," Canyon coach Chad Phillips said. "Don't quote me for the playoffs, but we're good on the road. We haven't lost one, winning the Burbank tournament and the Ventura tournament and all the nonleague road games."

Clay Kasdorf has scored 20 points -- all over the first 11 minutes -- to help Canyon to a 39-20 halftime lead at Hart in a key Foothill League game.

There is a buzz of excitement at Hart, as visiting Canyon and the host Indians face off in a Foothill League finale that could decide the league title.

Canyon is 22-3 and Hart is 17-9, 6-3. If Hart wins and Valencia upsets West Ranch (13-10, 7-2), there could be a three-way tie

Harvard-Westlake 69
Sierra Canyon 58 (7th grade championship game)

Sierra Canyon 78
Campbell Hall 35 (8th grade championship game)

Seventh-grader Cody Riley (6'7) scored 24 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to lead the Sierra Canyon.

Devearl Ramsey scored 16 points and had 12 assists.

Trevor Stanback grabbed 18 rebounds. Stanback is the younger brother of former Fairfax and current UNLV standout Chase Stanback.

Adam Seiko, whose future may lie more in football had a good all-around game

Calabasas 65
Westlake 61 overtime

Sophomore Jeremy Lieberman scored 26 points, and Josh Cohan had 15 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Coyotes 923-3, 13-1).

Calabasas won the league championship.

Grant Lozoya ld Westlake with 24 points, including making a 35-footer at the regulation buzzer to send the game into the extra four minute period.

Royal 78
Agoura 55

J.R. Powell scored 24 points, including seven 3pointers to lead the Highlanders.

Scott Woods scored 15 points and had four blocks.

Nick Creber scored 10 points and grabbed 13 rebounds.

Weston Park chipped in eight rebounds and six assists.

Max McCoy had six assists.

Royal won it's 20th game of the season, a new school record.

Providence completed an undefeated run through the Liberty League after a 67-60 road victory against Buckley Thursday.

Freshman Marcus LoVett, Jr. scored 30 points to lead the Pioneers (23-4, 10-0).

LoVett, Jr. fouled out with 41 seconds remaining, but Justin Sarenas made two key free throws down the stretch and made a layup off of a steal.

LoVett, Jr. raised his season total to 856 points.

He is only 74 points away from breaking the school single season record help by current senior Patrick Gonzalez.

Gonzalez left Thursday's game in the first quarter with a hurt foot.

Viewpoint finished second in league.

Buckley finished third.

Buckley had won the previous eight league championships.

With the Southern Section boys' basketball playoff pairings scheduled to be released Sunday, Alemany High picked a bad time to lose to Harvard Westlake by 19 points Wednesday in the season finale, a defeat that could cost the Warriors (23-4) the No. 1 seed in Div. III-A.

Alemany, which has never won a basketball title, had won nine games in a row including impressive victories over Price, Loyola, Crespi and Harvard-Westlake.

"We're coming off a tough loss, but now we're even more focused on making a CIF run and a state run," Alemany guard Max Guercy said.

On the heels of winning a Mission League title for the first time since 1999, Alemany coach Tray Meeks is hoping the Warriors got the loss out of their system.

"I like our chances this year," Meeks said. "We just need to continue to play hard and to play together."

In the City Section, pairings come out on Saturday, and defending Div. I champion Taft (23-3) is all but assured the No. 1 seed after finishing the regular season with 13 consecutive victories, 10 by 10 points or more.

Taft has won three City titles since 2004, and the Toreadors, led by forwards Anthony January and Brandon Perry and guard Kris Yanku, have made a smooth transition under new coach Jason Hart, who replaced longtime coach Derrick Taylor (now at St. John Bosco).

"We're really playing well right now. I think we're starting to come together as a team," Perry said. "Coming into the playoffs, we're excited about making a run for the City title again -- and the state playoffs."

Hart, a former NBA player with City Section roots after graduating from Westchester High, has stressed defense and fundamentals.

"The playoffs are going to be exciting," Hart said. "We have to play our best every night. We'll be ready for the challenge."

Chaminade is among the area's most improved teams. The Eagles (17-9) have rebounded after finishing last in the Mission League a year ago, and they've won six of their past nine games to all but clinch a spot in the Div. IV-AA playoffs as an at-large entry.

"We're hopefully peaking at the right time, and my team's chemistry is top notch," Chaminade coach Todd Wolfson said. "We think we can hang with anyone in our division."

Chaminade, led by Jaron Martin, Jack Williams and Zach Miller, also has a boisterous fan following, so the Eagles can be especially tough to beat on their own court - an important factor in the playoffs.

"With our student section, no one wants to play us at home," Wolfson said.

Oaks Christian, Sierra Canyon, La Canada, Buckley and Chatsworth all made it to a section final last season, but this season they're struggling to keep pace.

Oaks Christian (20-5) lost twice to Oak Park to finish second in the Tri-Valley League, and the Lions figure to have a daunting challenge in the top-heavy Div. IV-AA division featuring Price, La Verne Lutheran, Bishop Montgomery, Crespi, Muir and others.

"We're still a strong team. We have a tough road, but we feel we can go pretty far," Oaks Christian guard Mike Roletti said.

After winning 27 games last season and falling one win shy of a state-championship berth, Sierra Canyon has lost its past four games to fall to 13-13, and there is a chance the Trailblazers might not make the playoffs at all.

"We've lost a lot of tough games this year, a lot of one-possession games," Sierra Canyon coach Ryan Silver said.

La Canada. 30-4 last year, has averaged more than 25 wins over the past seven season, but this year the Spartans, hit hard by graduation, are 14-11 including four losses over the past five games.

"The team is playing great defense, but we're having a hard time scoring points," La Canada coach Tom Hofman said. "The effort is very good, and if we start scoring some points, we could do well in the playoffs."

Buckley has returned most of the key players from last year's 23-6 team, yet the injury-plagued Griffins are in the third place in the Liberty League while losing four league games for the first time since at least 2004.

"We're finally healthy and playing good basketball," Buckley coach Mike Hamilton said. "We have enough veteran leadership to get back to the finals. Eight of our guys went to the CIF finals and the state playoffs last year."

And, finally, what has happened to Chatsworth? Last year, the Chancellors went 26-10 while winning the City Div. III championship and advancing to the second round of the state playoffs. This season, they're 9-21 with six consecutive losses heading into tonight's West Valley finale at Taft.

"Our team isn't playing well, but my focus is to keep our team optimistic," guard Terrell Funches said.

Bill Bedgood, head coach at Notre Dame, has resigned after going 9-18 this past season, 0-12 in the Mission League.

Bedgood coached for seven years.

The wacky Mission League stayed true to form Wednesday.

Two days after losing at home to Crespi, Harvard-Westlake went on the road and beat one of the hottest teams in the state.

Sophomore Derick Newton scored 22 points to lead the Wolverines (17-8, 7-5).

Alemany, Loyola, Harvard-Westlake and Crespi take the four automatic playoff spots.

Chaminade, St. Francis and Notre Dame will have to go the at-large route.

Panorama 61
Sylmar 51

The Pythons are 11-0 in league with only a Friday night road game against Kennedy left on the regular season schedule.

Kennedy 60
Canoga Park 37

Dom Vargas scored 18 points to lead the Golden Cougars (18-8, 10-1).

Taft 63
Birmingham 47

Brandon Perry scored 21 points to lead the probable top-seeded Toreadors for the Div. I playoffs.

Kris Yanku scored 11 points, grabbed 12 rebounds and dished out seven assists.

El Camino Real 68
Chatsworth 43

Sophomore Julian Richardson and Maleke Haynes were the stars for the Conquistadores.

Richardson scored 19 points and Haynes had 12 points and 12 assists.

I head a report Granada Hills upset Cleveland, but it has not been confirmed.

Oak Park won the Tri-Valley League championship Wednesday after a 63-52 victory against Oaks Christian.

Oak Park swept the season series for the first time since 2007.

Ron Lee scored 20 points, Jackson Hall scored 18 points and Jared Kaufman scored 12 to lead the Eagles (20-7, 9-1).

Chass Bryan scored 22 points, including 13 in the fourth quarter to lead Oaks Christian (20-5, 8-2).

Oaks Christian trailed 34-28 late in the third quarter when Hall and Kaufman each made 3-pointers to extend the lead to 12.

In the fourth quarter, unsung hero J.D. Slajchert nailed a 3-pointer with Oak park clinging to a 48-42 lead.

The shot extended the advantage to nine points and Oaks Christian felt the urgency from there on out.

No other player than Bryan scored more than six points for the Lions.

Oak Park looks ahead to the Div. III-A playoffs.

The Eagles have a good chance to advance to the semifinals.

Alemany and St. John Bosco are the favorites.

Time Warner Cable has announced the upcoming broadcasts of local Los Angeles high school basketball games. Covering both girls' and boys' basketball, the special programming will air on a rotating basis through Feb. 12 on SoCal Channel 101.

For girls' basketball, Canyon plays Golden Valley on Channel 101 at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, and then repeating at midnight Friday, at 10 a.m. Saturday and at 9 p.m. Sunday. Randy Rosenbloom will provide the play-by-play and Dave Marcus will provide the commentary.

This week's boys' basketball "Friday Night Game of the Week" will feature a Foothill League showdown with the Canyon and Golden Valley. The game will be aired live on Channel 101 at 7 p.m. Friday and will be rebroadcast on at 10 p.m. Saturday and at 8 a.m. Sunday. Rosenbloom will again provide the play-by-play and Marcus will provide spirited commentary.

Simi Valley at Thousand Oaks

Thursday, 7:30 p.m.

The winner gets the leagues final automatic playoff berth. The loser will have to apply for an at-large bid.

"Simi vs. Thousand Oaks is always a big game because of the history of both programs," Simi Valley coach Chris Printz said. "This one is for a guaranteed playoff spot, so it has a little added excitement. We know now they are playing better than the first time we met them. We are excited for the challenge."

Royal 67
Westlake 60

Scott Woods scored 17 points and had 10 rebounds.

J.R. Powell scored 14 points.

Max McCoy scored 13 points and had six assists.

Nick Creber scored 10 points and had seven rebounds.

Royal will be cheering for Westlake on Thursday.

Westlake hosts Calabasas.

A Westlake victory would mean a co-championship in the Marmonte League.

Coach Ernest Baskerville and freshman Marcus LoVett, Jr. have turned things around at Providence in a short time.

Both have only been associated with the school for a few months and already the boys' basketball team has a league championship.

Providence beat Viewpoint, 69-63, Tuesday.

LoVett, Jr. scored 29 points, including 16 in the fourth quarter.

Viewpoint was leading 61-57 with three minutes remaining.

LoVett, Jr. was held to only 13 points through three quarters, but exploded in the fourth.

He now has 826 points this season.

Providence is 22-4, 9-0

Matt Pournazarian scored 19 points and Tim Howell scored 18 points for Viewpoint, which has secured second place, provided it beats Holy Matyrs Thursday.

Buckley had won the last eight league titles.

The Griffins, who reached the Div. IV-A championship a year ago could finish tied for second if they beat Providence Thursday and Viewpoint loses at Holy Martyrs

It is not out of the question to think Taft, El Camino Real and Grant could all win City championships in boys' basketball.

Taft is expected to receive the No. 1 seed in Div. I Saturday when playoff pairings are announced at about 10:15 a.m. at Roybal Learning Center.

Taft is 22-3, should finish West Valley League play undefeated again and owns important victories against Fairfax and Windward.

El Camino Real is the favorite in Div. II.

Coach David Rebibo has sophomore standouts Maleke Haynes, Julian Richardson, Evan Wardlow and Julien Rochelin.

The Conquistadores (16-7) have only lost to Taft during league play.

Grant is a top contender in Div. III.

The Lancers are 22-5, undefeated in the East Valley League and feature 6-foot-7 forward Gor Plavchyan.

Calabasas 68
Newbury Park 53

Jeremy Lieberman scored 17 points, Holden Israel scored 14 points and Spencer Levy scored 10 points to lead the Coyotes (22-3, 12-1).

it all comes down to one game Wednesday night for the outright Tri-Valley League championship.

Oaks Christian at Oak Park. Tip-off is 7 p.m.

Oak Park upset the Lions 61-60 on Jan. 20.

The Eagles jumped out to a 17-point lead before Oaks Christian battled back to tie the score at 51-51.

Oak Park made a few more plays down the stretch to squeeze out a great road victory.

Oaks Christian will rely on point guard Chass Bryan, and fellow seniors Michael Roletti, Jason Ghilarducci and Scoty Hopkins. Junior Jackson Miller could also play a key role for the Lions.

Oak Park counters with the trio of Ron Lee, Jackson Hall and J.D. Slajchert.

Lee scored 30 points in the first meeting and went to the free throw line 21 times.

Alemany 78
Notre Dame 61

Alemany won the league championship for the first time since 1999.

Max Guercy and Marqueze Coleman each scored 21 points to lead the Warriors (22-3, 10-1).

Guercy had five assists and five steals.

Coleman made five 3-pointers.

Sophomore Razhaun Henderson scored 13 points for Alemany.

Kennedy Edwards scored 28 points to lead Notre Dame.

Notre Dame dropped to 9-16, 0-11.

Despite not having a league victory, the Knights are expected to qualify for the Div. IV-AA playoffs.

Crespi 63
Harvard-Westlake 57

London perrantes scored 22 points, Michael Avery scored 15 points and Michael Milligan, Jr. scored 11 points to lead the Celts (20-6, 7-5) in their final regular season game before the playoffs.

Zena Edosomwan scored 24 points to lead the Wolverines (16-9, 6-5).

Dave Winfield scored 15 points for Harvard-Westlake.

Harvard-Westlake concludes the regular season at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Alemany.

Chaminade 48
St. Francis 39

Zach Miller scored 12 points and sophomore Jack Williams had 10 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Eagles (16-9, 5-6).

Crespi 63, Harvard-Westlake 57

Crespi - London Perrantes 22, Avery 15, 8 rebs, 5 stls, Milligan 11, Rubio 6, Foreman 4, Gallo 3, Davison 2.

HW - Edosomwan 24, 9 rebs, 3 blks, Winfield 15 (7 of 8 FGs), 5 rebs, Derick Newton 11; Sheng 3, Hearlihy 2, Hooks 2.

CR 20-6, 7-5; HW 16-9, 6-5.

For a team that has lost five of its past six games, Crespi looks pretty good. The Celts lead 35-18 at halftime at Harvard-Westlake -- begging the question, when's the last time you've seen the mighty Wolverines down by such a wide margin at intermission?

Harvard-Westlake is much taller, and I think Crespi's lead is going to be hard to protect.

Crespi's London Perrantes has 12 points -- three 3-pointers and a three-point play.

Crespi won 19 of its first 20 games but has lost five of six heading into the Mission League finale at 7:30 tonight at Harvard-Westlake (16-8), which has won five of past six and still has one more game on Wednesday night.

It will be more than a week before the Southern Section playoffs begin, and Crespi (19-6) could use a pick-me-up in the form of a win -- otherwise, it might feel like a long time before the postseason finally rolls around.

Harvard-Westlake is led by Zena Edosomwan and Josh Hearlihy, and Crespi is led by London Perrantes and Michael Milligan, Jr.

Alemany 82
Price 76

Price 14 24 23 15=76
Alemany 15 17 22 26=82

Price-Kahlil Johnson 29, Trey Dickerson 12, Chance Murray 12, Skylar Spencer 10, Martin 6, Green 6

Alemany-Max Guercy 19, Rahzaun Henderson 17, Jerico Richardson 16, Marqueze Coleman 15, Brandon Boyd 15

A: 21-3, P: 18-6

Yes, there was a shot clock.

Viewpoint 41
Holy Martyrs 19

Jonny Paul scored 13 points.

Michael Dix had eight rebounds and eight blocks on senior night.

Viewpoint hosts Providence Tuesday.

Viewpoint needs to win and hope for Providence to lose Thursday for a co-championship in the Liberty League.

Oaks Christian 48
Morningside 43

Morningside 11 8 9 15=43
Oaks Christian 17 11 13 7=48

Morningside-Jonathon Franklin 17, D.J. Harris 10, Hickmon 9, Mitchell 4, Blackmon 3

Oaks Christian-Chass Bryan 15, Roletti 9, Ghilarducci 5, Harris 4, Abrams 3, Flannery 3, Chevalier 2, Moye, 2, Miller 2, Gustavson 2, Owusu 1

OC: 20-4, M: 10-15

The Lions led by 16 points before the Monarchs mounted a late rally.

Morningside scored 11 consecutive points to close within five points, but Chass Bryan made a 15-footer and the Lions escaped.

It wasn't the most beautiful effort from the El Camino Real boys' basketball team, but the Conquistadores did just enough Saturday to outlast Renaissance Academy, 57-54, in a nonleague game at Alemany High.

Maleke Haynes made two free throws with 2.1 seconds remaining and Renaissance Academy's Jessy Cantinol missed a desperation 3-pointer from half-court at the buzzer.

Julian Richardson led ECR (16-7) with 21 points.

Michael Thomas added 13 points for the Conquistadores.

Vince DeGuzman scored 24 points to lead Renaissance Academy (19-5), which is the top-ranked team in Div. VI.

Kevin Dinges made a basket and Cantinol had a 3-point play to cut the deficit to 51-49 with four minutes remaining.

However, Richardson and Julien Rochelin each made baskets to stretch the lead six points.

ECR was not out of the woods.

The Wildcats cut the deficit to one point and had the ball, but Troy Fontanilla had a turnover and Haynes made both free throws in the waning seconds.

"It was a good win for us because of the way we finished and get the job done," ECR coach David Rebibo said. "I would have like us to play better and smarter."

Cantinol scored 15 points for the Wildcats, who have lost three of five games, but are playing top competition.

"I am not overly concerned with the losses," Renaissance Academy coach Sid Cooke said. "We scheduled tough games late in the season for the chance to get better and test ourselves."

El Camino Real 57
Renaissance Academy 54

ECR-16 14 13 14=57
Renaissance Academy 15 7 17 10=54

ECR-Julian Richardson 21, Michael Thomas 13, Haynes 7, Rochelin 5, Conway 9, Francis 2

Renaissance Academy-Vince DeGuzman 24, Jessy Cantinol 15, Kevin Dinges 11, Uneau 2, Troplent 2

ECR: 16-7, RA: 19-5

Sylmar 69
Campbell Hall 66

Sylmar 14 16 19 20=69
Campbell Hall 13 20 11 22=66

Sylmar-Earl Baker 20, David Trujillo 15, Travis Moore 13, Larry Williams 10, Austn 8, Carlos 3

Campbell Hall-Aaron Holiday 34, Cole Huff 24, Simplis 8

S: 14-14, C: 9-16

Alemany Showcase

Saturday Feb. 4

Campbell Hall vs. Sylmar, 2:15 p.m.
El Camino Real vs. Renaissance Academy, 3:45 p.m.
Oaks Christian vs. Morningside, 5:15 p.m.
Alemany vs. Price, 6:45 p.m.
Harvard-Westlake vs. Compton Centennial, 8:15 p.m.

Kennedy 72
Reseda 26

Dom Vargas scored 19 points and had eight rebounds and seven assists to lead the Golden Cougars (17-8, 9-1).

Kennedy has a showdown with undefeated Panorama next week.

A share of the league title will be on the line.

Friday at 7 p.m. at Kennedy

Taft 67
Cleveland 57

Taft 8 23 20 16=67
Cleveland 20 10 9 18=57

Taft-Perry 19, January 17, Jones 11, Yanku 12, Henderson 2, Avila 2, Gentle 4
Cleveland-Dees 16, Moore 11, Johnson 13, Williams 9, Igodan 8

Taft 21-3, 8-0
Cleveland 15-12, 3-5

Taft 51
Cleveland 39 at the end of three quarters

Cleveland was up 14 in the first half before Taft came all the way back and led 31-30 at halftime.

Cleveland led 20-6 at one point.

Brandon Perry was a beast down low.

El Camino Real 61
Birmingham 49

Michael Thomas scored 23 points and Maleke Haynes scored 14 points to lead the City Section Div. II favorite.

Pacific Hills 64
Campbell Hall 50

Cole Huff scored 17 points and freshman Aaron Holiday poured in 16 points for Campbell Hall.

The biggest upset of the night.

Simi Valley 60
Westlake 57

One word. Wow.

Calabasas 48
Thousand Oaks 45

Holden Israel scored 20 points, Jeremy Lieberman scored 10 points and Alex Monsegue grabbed 10 rebounds in the victory.

Calabasas is 21-3, 11-1.

Eric Greene scored 19 points to lead Thousand Oaks.

Royal 48
Newbury Park 39

Max McCoy scored 15 points and dished out five assists in the victory.

Nick Creber scored nine points and grabbed nine rebounds.

Creber also took two charging fouls.

Creber has 37 career charges taken. That is a new all-time career record at Royal.

Royal is 18-6, 10-2

Newbury Park is 5-19, 1-11

Loyola 77
Harvard-Westlake 74

It wasn't as close as the score indicated.

Loyola took control with a 25-7 second quarter.

Sophomore Derick Newton scored 26 points to lead Harvard-Westlake.

Zena Edosomwan scored 24 points and Utah-bound guard Josh Hearlihy scored 16 points.

Harvard-Westlake got little production elsewhere.

Julian Harrell scored 23 points to lead Loyola, including 15 in the first half.

Harrell is going to Penn next year.

Loyola led by 12 at halftime and was ahead by 12 midway through the fourth quarter.

Loyola is 20-3, 8-3

Harvard-Westlake is 15-8, 6-4

Chaminade 66
Crespi 57

Jaron Martin scored 16 points with seven assists.

Zach Miller scored 20 points.

Sophomore Jack Williams scored nine points and grabbed 15 rebounds.

Chaminade is 15-9, 4-6

Crespi is 19-6, 6-5.

Crespi has lost five of six games.

Clearly not the same team that beat Loyola the first week of January.

Things could change in the playoffs. Coach Russell White should have the troops ready.

London Perrantes scored 17 to lead Crespi.

The pressure was on Friday, and Canyon High's Clay Kasdorf delivered one of the greatest performances in Foothill League boys' basketball history.

The 6-foot-3 senior scored 48 points in a 98-90 double-overtime victory before a capacity crowd at West Ranch, keeping alive Canyon's chances of winning the league title outright while turning away an opportunity for the host Wildcats' to win at least a share of the championship for the first time in school history.

In the first overtime, Kasdorf helped Canyon erase a nine-point deficit in the final two minutes, scoring two inside baskets and blocking a potential winning shot with 10 seconds left.

In the second overtime, Kasdorf took matters into his own hands, scoring his team's first 10 points as the visiting Cowboys pulled away, then celebrated in a mob at center court like they had just won Game 7 of the NBA championship.

No one could remember a Foothill League player ever scoring 50 points in a game, and Kasdorf was awfully close - though he had no idea because he was immersed in the heat of competition.

"My thoughts were on winning, and that's all. All I cared about was the final scoreboard," Kasdorf said. "We knew how important this game was, and we knew we needed to come out and do what we did."

The win forced a first-place tie between the two teams with two games remaining, as Canyon improved to 21-3, 6-2, while West Ranch fell to 12-10, 6-2.

This just in: Canyon coach Chad Phillips has announced his pending retirement.

"I've got kids 7, 5, 4 and 2, and they're all boys -- the need me,"
Phillips said.

Valley Torah 52
Shalhevet 51

Nathaniel Liberman scored 23 points and Jake Stibelman scored 11 points to lead the Wolfpack (11-10) at Los Angeles High.

Shalhevet is ranked No. 5 in Div. V-A.

Shalhevet is coached by former Sierra Canyon coach Colin Jamerson.

Jamerson led Sierra Canyon to the Div. V-A championship game in 2010.

Tim Gilmore scored 21 points and Ryan Wright scored 17 points to lead Palmdale to a 52-49 victory against Knight.

Palmdale moved two games in front of Knight and can clinch a share of the league title with a victory Friday.

The Falcons went on an 11-0 run, and held Knight scoreless for more than five minutes in the fourth quarter to get the huge road victory.

Providence 92
Glendale Adventist 33

Freshman Marcus LoVett, Jr. scored 32 points and Patrick Gonzalez scored 29 points in the easy victory.

Providence is 21-4, 8-0

Providence has two big road games next week at Viewpoint and Buckley.

Lovett, Jr. now has 797 points this season.

He is 133 shy of breaking the single season record.

Alemany 78
Crespi 60

Marqueze Coleman scored 27 points and had 10 rebounds to lead the hottest team in the region.

Alemany has won seven in a row and faces Price on Saturday in the Alemany showcase.

Game time is 6:45 p.m.

Harvard-Westlake 48
Chaminade 45

Oaks Christian 74
Santa Clara 18

St. Bonaventure 60
Oak Park 57

A huge loss for Oak Park.

A Feb. 8 game with Oaks Christian will likely decide the outright league champion.

Oak Park coud have finished at worst with a co-championship had it beaten St. Bonaventure.

Oak Park upset Oaks Christian, 61-60 on Jan. 20

Oak Park led St. Bonaventure, 49-48 at the end of the third quarter.

St. Bonaventure took a 56-55 lead with 50 seconds remaining.

St. Bonaventure was leading 57-55 with 22 seconds remaining and 58-57 with 14 seconds remaining.

Patrick Kenney made one of two free throws with 12 seconds remaining for a 59-57 lead.

Ron Lee dribbled the ball off his foot and St. Bonaventure recovered it with four seconds left.

St. Bonaventure made one of two fee throws and Jackson Hall missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer for Oak Park.

Birmingham 64
Chatsworth 61

Andrew Estes made a half-court shot at the buzzer to lead Birmingham.

El Camino real 62
Cleveland 53

Sophomore Julian Richardson scored 25 points to lead second place ECR.

Taft 69
Granada Hills 51

Steven Jones scored 14 points and Anthony January scored 12 points and 11 rebounds for Taft.

There is only two weeks before the playoffs start and Sylmar is still waiting for sophomore transfers Nick Howard (Knight) and Devenir Duruisseau (Palmdale) to be cleared.

Coach Bort Escoto is not happy the City Section has dragged the situation out all season.

Howard and Deruisseau normally would have fallen under the one-time free transfer rule for freshman to sophomore year.

However, a letter was sent to the athletics office citing undue influence and the players have not been granted eligibility at Sylmar.

"We have just received excuses why they can't play," Escoto said. "More paperwork needed, more signatures needed. We proved the allegations of recruting were untrue with club team rosters, no records of permits that the club team practiced at Sylmar. I am upset that proper procedures haven't been followed. An official complaint with proof of any wrongdoing has never been turned in."

Escoto also indicated another school in the Valley Mission League has meddled with the situation.

"I don't appreciate the fact that Kennedy High jumped in something they have nothing to do with. Kennedy turned in film in an attempt to show something that is really not the case."

The film contains footage of a former player, who is a club coach, attending games at the Moorpark tournament in December.

Sylmar also has juniors Cody Rodino and Ashton Anderson from Highland.

The duo has decided to sit out this season.

Rodino and Anderson should be eligible next year.

The Spartans could be one of the top teams in the City for the 2012-2013 season.