Above: Nogales coach Ricky Roper all smiles after Nogales’ 50-47 win over Palm Springs.
Tuesday’s Quarterfinal Results
Division II-AA
Glendora 68, West Ranch 51
Thousand Oaks 62, Edison 45
Marina 71, Huntington Beach 70
Leuzinger 88, Valencia 66
Division II-A
Damien 66, Mayfair 64
Eisenhower 77, Loara 69
Loyola 88, Simi Valley 74
La Mirada 68, Ayala 48
Division III-AA
Nogales 50, Palm Springs 47
Anaheim Canyon 70, Hart 47
Santa Margarita 64, North Torrance 63
Arroyo Grande 49, St. John Bosco 44
Division III-A
Gahr 63, Diamond Ranch 62
Harvard-Westlake 63, Bonita 49
Golden Valley 75, Foothill 72
Sonora 49, Apple Valley 47
Division IV-AA
Inglewood 77, Northview 47
Bishop Montgomery 58, Atascadero 53
Ocean View 70, San Luis Obispo 56
Gardena Serra 60, Compton Centennial 50
Division V-A
La Verne Lutheran 75, Faith Baptist 41
Glendora’s Calvin Smith scored 19 points in the Tartans’ victory
I was covering Glendora, here are the highlights
Glendora High School boys basketball coach Mike LeDuc finally broke a smile, looking almost like a proud father explaining how the Tartans went all the way to Valencia West Ranch, and did it again. Junior guard Calvin Smith was the big difference, breaking past the Wildcats’ constant pressure on his way to 19 points and five rebounds. Senior Kos Russell also scored 19, and Brad Gatlin had one of his finest games of the season, chipping in with 18 points as the Tartans outlasted the Wildcats 68-51 in Tuesday’s CIF-Southern Section Division II-AA quarterfinals.
“We knew we were facing a great defensive team,” Smith said. “They put a lot of pressure, but our guys kept moving and made it easier for me to find them.
“And when I had an opening I was able to knock down a few shots. But again, it was another total team effort.”
The third-seed Tartans (24-7) advanced to the semifinals for the second consecutive season, where they will face third-seed Leuzinger, an 88-66 winner over Valencia, on Friday at Damien High School. LeDuc tried explaining how the magic continued.
“Our team has a high level of competitive spirit,” LeDuc said. “I know a lot of teams do also, but they seem to rise up to the occasion and take a lot of pride in the tradition we have. When they get an opportunity, they look forward to it, they don’t back away from it. I think that’s the difference.”