Damien advances to SoCal quarterfinals: The Damien High School basketball team knew its shot at winning a CIF Southern Section Open Division wasn’t good; not with the juggernauts at the top in Chino Hills, Mater Dei, Sierra Canyon and Bishop Montgomery.
A state title? Well that might be an easier task.
The Spartans were taken out of the Open and put into Division I for the CIF State Southern California Regional portion of the playoffs.They opened the quest for that state title with a 102-70 win over visiting Fresno Central on Wednesday at the Travers-Cronin Athletic Center.
The top-seeded Spartans will play to Fairfax at 6 p.m. Saturday.
CIF-State Southern California Regional Playofffs
Boys Basketball
Wednesday’s First Round
Division I
Damien 102, Central 70
Division II
Pasadena 63, Heritage 57
Bakersfield 66, Maranatha 62
Division IV
Blair 55, Palisades 53
San Bernardino 57, St. Paul 55
Girls Basketball
Wednesday’s First Round
Division III
Mission Oak 48, Glendora 46
Division IV
Scripps Ranch 54, Pasadena 24
Division V
Bakersfield Christian 54, Westridge 45