The two-time defending state champion Trojans (24-6) will play Serra, a 70-63 winner over Price, next Saturday at the Anaheim Arena at a time to be determined.
The win qualifies the Trojans for this year’s Division IV state title chase, which begins in two weeks.
“It’s been like that all season,” Trojans coach Eric Cooper said. “We had a quadruple overtime and two double-overtimes. If that shot had gone in to go into overtime, I wouldn’t have been fazed. That’s the kind of season we’ve had.”
Crespi missed a game-tying shot in the final seconds and La Verne Lutheran survived a scare for the second straight game to win 51-49. The Trojans advance to the CIF-SS Division 4AA title game against top seed Serra at the Anaheim Convention Center next week on a day to be determined. Watch the final seconds and Trojans coach Eric Cooper’s reaction afterward.
