Bishop Montgomery keeps on rolling
Knights defeat Rancho Christian to reach Division I regional semifinals
TORRANCE >> The championship quest for the Bishop Montgomery boys basketball team will continue for another round.
The second-seeded Knights got 22 points from senior Will Smith on his 18th birthday, and some timely baskets and defensive stops to hold off No. 7 seed Rancho Christian 68-60 Thursday in the second round of the CIF SoCal Regional Division I playoffs.
“I thought we defended pretty good when when we had them in half court. When they got in transition, that's where they hurt us,” Bishop Montgomery coach Doug Mitchell said.
The Knights will host third-seeded Sierra Canyon in the regional semifinals Saturday. The teams met in the pool play portion of the CIF Southern Section Open Division playoffs with the Knights winning 51-49. Sierra Canyon defeated Etiwanda 61-55 on Thursday.
“I still think we can play better,” Mitchell said. “At this point, you just want to win and advance.”
The Knights led 42-37 entering the fourth quarter and stretched it to 48-37 on a three-point play by Xavier Edmonds and a 3-pointer from LaQwon Cole.
From there, the Eagles tried to make a late push, but the Knights were able to keep them at bay.
“Will (Smith) had a huge night,” Mitchell said. “He made some huge plays for us. I ride him hard, but he came through in the clutch tonight.”
The Eagles got within 52-45 with 2:56 left in the game. But the Knights pushed their lead to 62-50 on a Christian Jones dunk and two free throws by Kelcy Phipps.
Rancho Christian tried to make a late rally, but Bishop Montgomery put the game away at the freethrow line.
Kevin Patton Jr. led Rancho Christian with 27 points. Rodney Brown Jr. was held scoreless.
“Coming in, we knew we couldn't let No. 5 (Brown) go off,” Smith said. “No. 0 (Patton) went off a little bit, but we were able to contain him, and even when X (Xavier Edmonds) went out of the game, we were able keep playing our game and not let anything stop us.”
Edmonds added 13 points for the Knights and Jones had 10.
The seventh-seeded Eagles began the regional playoffs with an 89-72 win over Carlsbad. The Eagles won the CIF-SS Division 2A championship, defeating La Mirada 63-55.
Bishop Montgomery opened the regional playoffs Tuesday with an 81-53 win over Carlsbad.
After the three games in the CIF-SS Open Division pool play, the Knights were able to reset and focus for the sprint that is the regional playoffs.
“After the loss (to end pool play),we had a good week of practice,” Smith said. “Great week and we just came out with the mindset that we're going to win this game, no matter what it takes.”
Also in the Division I regional playoffs Thursday, Notre Dame defeated Mira Costa 58-39 and Mater Dei defeated St. Bernard 68-66. Division IV
SAN PEDRO 93, BLAIR 71 >>
Anthony Hrboka scored 26 points while Zach Saavedra (14), Achilleas Papadopoulous (13) and Noah Simpson (12) each also scored in double figures for the Pirates (20-11). Girls basketball Division V
SAN PEDRO 62, LAGUNA BEACH 43 >> Noelani Raigans scored 23 points and Maia Wooldridge had 18 and Shalia Coleman added 11 to lead the Pirates.