L-R: Pasadena High School’s Darius Mason, Darius Brown, Bryce Hamilton By Brian Reed-Baiotto, Sports Editor It’s been a special year for Pasadena-area basketball. There are three boys and three girls programs within one win of reaching what all high school basketball players dream of, a spot in the CIF-Southern Section’s championship games next weekend. We’ll […]
L-R: Pasadena High School’s Darius Mason, Darius Brown, Bryce Hamilton
By Brian Reed-Baiotto, Sports Editor
It’s been a special year for Pasadena-area basketball.
There are three boys and three girls programs within one win of reaching what all high school basketball players dream of, a spot in the CIF-Southern Section’s championship games next weekend.
We’ll go through the three Friday night games.
CIF-SS Division 1-A quarterfinal: Peninsula (20-9) at Pasadena (23-5) at 7:
The Pacific League champs grinded out a 3-point victory on Tuesday night at Corona del Mar, despite a cold-shooting night in their quarterfinal match up.
PHS passed the gut check, and got to show off their rarely-mentioned defensive prowess.
It is unlikely the cold streak will carry over Friday night when they get back into the friendly confines of the Pasadena High gym, where the Bulldogs went undefeated.
As always Bryce Hamilton and Darius Brown II will need to carry their share of the load.
Hamilton almost never scores less than 20 points per game, and averages 11 rebounds .
Brown II scores just under 20 points per game, at least 5 rebounds and 8 assists. He is one of the area’s most complete players.
Darius Mason, Jesse Watkins, Laz Morris and the entire Bulldogs’ roster all play key roles in Pasadena’s success.
Peninsula has won 7 of their last 9 games, including Tuesday’s 71-60 victory over Mayfair.
Quotable:
Pasadena coach Tony Brooks: “(Friday’s) game sets up a great opportunity for our kids to realize their season’s goal. They have worked so hard to get to this point, and they are anxious to compete. Peninsula is a very good team, and are well-coached. Pasadena will continue to focus on the things that have sustained us all year, our togetherness and defense.”
Pasadena guard/forward Bryce Hamilton: “I know Peninsula is a good team, and that they are a team full of seniors, so they are going to play hard and physical against us and gives us a good game. Most key thing for us is to play ‘King D’ and execution on the offensive side.”
Pasadena point guard Darius Brown II: “My role is to make sure my team is ready to play a playoff game and get a win. And do as I’m told. Peninsula loves to push the ball and drive to the basket hard, so, like the other games, it’s all defense and especially transition defense.”
Peninsula and Pasadena playoff scores:
First round: Bye for Pasadena
First round: Peninsula 76, Thousand Oaks 36
Second round: Pasadena 69, Beaumont 47
Second round: Peninsula 89, Los Altos 81 (overtime)
Quarterfinals Pasadena 47, Corona del Mar 44
Quarterfinals: Peninsula 71, Mayfair 60
Terrence Lang (l) and Sean Espinosa (r)
CIF-SS Division 1-A quarterfinal: Cantwell-Sacred Heart (15-14) at Maranatha (17-9)
Maranatha has been nothing short of clutch in the Division 1-A playoffs.
After a comfortable first-round victory, the Minutemen knocked off Trinity League power, St. John Bosco.
Four nights later, Maranatha went out to Hemet and held off Tahquitz, 56-55, to earn a semifinal berth.
Terrance Lang has come up especially big in the last two weeks in points and rebounds, but also when he scored those points and grabbed those boards.
Chris Austin, Sean Espinosa, Jesse Elrod and the entire Minutemen roster have played significant roles in this deep playoff run.
On the season, Austin leads the way offensively with 18 points and 6 rebounds per game.
Espinosa, the Maranatha point guard scores 13 points and dishes out 5 assists, and Lang has averaged 8 points and 5 rebounds.
But in the past two games, Lang has had 38 points and 23 rebounds combined.
Elrod has been consistent all season, and averages 7 points and 6 rebounds per night.
Cantwell-Sacred Heart may be just 15-14 on the season, but coaches have said they are very good and play in a very difficult league, and as Elrod put it, “hey, when you’re hot, you’re hot. They are clicking at the right time.”
Dawit Wilson (12 points per game), Andre Fields (12) and Avery Martinez (13) all average double figures in scoring.
Fields leads the Cardinals with 9 rebounds per game.
CSH defeated Santa Monica, 62-57, in Tuesday’s quarterfinal.
Quotable:
Senior point guard Sean Espinosa: I know Cantwell is an aggressive team that won’t back down and will keep fighting, so we have to be prepared to keep going back once we start to get momentum and never let up. My role is to lead this team, run the offense and knock down shots when I have to knock down shots. Winning these close games just shows that our team can stay calm and poised under pressure and that’s a good thing, especially as we go deeper in the playoffs. What’s going through my head (as a senior) right now is that I’m just thinking about doing whatever it takes to get the win on Friday night, and making sure it’s not my last game.”
Cantwell-Sacred Heart and Maranatha playoff scores:
First round: Maranatha 70, Viewpoint 43
First round: Cantwell-Sacred Heart 64, La Mirada 56
Second round: Cantwell-Sacred Heart 85, Temecula Valley 66
Second round: Maranatha 66, St. John Bosco 63 (overtime)
Quarterfinals: Maranatha 56, Tahquitz 55
Quarterfinals: Cantwell-Sacred Heart 62, Santa Monica 57
L-R: Dez Washington, Gabe Snow, Jack Dakan
CIF-SS Division 4-AA: Blair (23-6) at Woodcrest Christian (23-6) at 7
Blair (23-6) played one of its best or more complete games of the year on Tuesday night’s blowout of visiting Jurupa Valley.
The Vikings had four players in double figures, another with 9 points and they got contributions on both ends of the floor from everyone.
They will have to get a road win Friday night in Riverside at Woodcrest Christian to earn their first spot in the CIF-SS championship since Ronald Reagan’s first year as President in 1981.
Dez Washington has been leading the charge offensively, and is averaging nearly 20 points per game in the playoffs, but Gabe Snow, Caleb Smith, Jack Dakan and Dallas Murray have all been solid, and in double figures throughout most of the season.
Woodcrest Christian is coming off a 45-44 overtime victory over Hillcrest on Tuesday.
Quotable:
Blair coach Alon Margalit: “Woodcrest Christian is a disciplined, well-coached team that can shoot the ball. Alex Wright can really go and beat you multiple ways.They matched our record of 23-6, and their resume is strong. We are very comfortable on the road. We are 5-2 on the road this year. We understand we have to generate our own energy in hostile environments.
In terms of game plan, we have to execute what we are trying to do against this team and lead with our defense and let that fuel us and turn into offense. We are playing well right now, but I want to see 4 quarters of lock down defense instead of 2 or 3. As we advance deeper and the competition gets harder, we need to be consistent throughout the game on that end.”
Blair senior guard Jack Dakan: “The key for us (leaving) Riverside with a win is to be all locked in and determined to get a win. Meaning we’ve got to play Blair basketball and focus on our defense. Defense and intensity is what will get us a (win) tomorrow night. This being my last year makes me and my other senior teammates want to win even more. We’ve worked hard all summer and season to get where we are today, and want to make history at Blair, putting up a CIF banner.”
Blair and Woodcrest playoff scores:
First Round: Blair 81, Ontario 55
First Round: Woodcrest Christian 69, Moreno Valley 56
Second Round: Blair 62, Flintridge Prep 53
Second Round: Woodcrest Christian 74, Santiago 59
Quarterfinals: Blair 78, Jurupa Valley 61
Quarterfinals: Woodcrest Christian 45, Hillcrest 44 (overtime)
