Highland uses strong defense to win in playoffs

The Highland boys basketball team used a strong defense to defeat Canyon Springs 50-30 in the first round of the CIF-Southern Section Division 4AA playoffs on Wednesday at Canyon Springs.

The Bulldogs took a 14-9 lead after the first quarter and never looked back. They held the Cougars scoreless for the first 4 minutes and 36 seconds of the second quarter.

Khaliq Johnson and Tykeam McQueen hit back to back 3-pointers and Highland entered halftime up 30-15.

The Bulldogs led 45-28 entering the fourth quarter. Highland coach Chris Cole’s message to the team before the fourth quarter was to keep getting defensive stops.

The Bulldogs listened and allowed just two points to the Cougars.

Highland’s Ernest Tescum earned a double-double with 16 points and 13 rebounds, while Jalen Gordon and Khaliq Johnson each added 11 points. Johnson also recorded four blocks.

As a team, the Bulldogs had 13 steals on the night.

Highland moves on to the second round where they will host Sierra Vista at 7 p.m. tonight.

Girls Basketball Godinez 56, Knight 49

The Knight girls basketball team’s season came to an end on Thursday with a 56-49 loss to Godinez in the first round of the CIF-Southern Section Division 3A playoffs.

“The same mistakes that have plagued us all year were very apparent today,” Knight coach Ryan Tarnoff said. “(Godinez plays) very, very hard for their coach. They believe in that guy 100 percent.”

The Hawks trailed 25-22 at halftime, but led 40-33 after three quarters. Godinez, however, outscored Knight 23-9 in the fourth quarter.

Amia Tate led the Hawks with 25 points, while Asha Fudge scored 16, including 10 in the third quarter, Faye Iraheta added five points and Kayla Roman put in three points.

“Super proud of the team for what they have accomplished this year,” Tarnoff said. “They did not have a full deck of cards.”

Tarnoff was named the new head coach for the team just eight days before the start of the season and implemented a new system.

“It was a tall task, a lot of kids would have folded and our kids pushed through,” Tarnoff said.

Women’s College Tennis Santa Monica 8, AVC 1

SANTA MONICA — The Antelope Valley College women’s tennis team lost its Western State Conference opener to Santa Monica, 8-1, on Thursday at Santa Monica.

Kaelin Vasquez posted the lone win at No. 4 singles for the Marauders. It was her first singles win.

“Singles is new to Kaelin, she played doubles in all of high school,” AVC coach Justin Webb said. “She’s really spent a lot of time improving her singles play.”

Sydney Bush and Nicole Padilla lost their doubles match 8-2, while Jocelyn Ortega and Vasquez fell 8-1 and Ari Avina and Emily Lopez also lost 8-1.

Bush lost her singles match 6-1, 6-0, while Padilla lost 6-2, 6-2, Ortega fell 6-0, 6-0, Avina dropped her match 6-1, 6-2 and Lopez lost 6-4, 6-1.

The Marauders play a non-conference match at Mt. San Jacinto on Saturday.

Girls Soccer Scores

CIF-Southern Section Division 5 First Round San Marino 3, Highland 0 Estancia 3, Knight 0

CIF-Southern Section Division 6 First Round Palmdale Aerospace Academy 3, West Valley 1 Palmdale 3, AGBU/CP 0

CIF-Southern Section Division 7 First Round Ganesha 3, Vasquez 2

Girls Basketball Scores

CIF-Southern Section Division 2A First Round South Torrance 45, Highland 40

CIF-Southern Section Division 4AA First Round Marshall 58, Lancaster 32

CIF-Southern Section Division 5A First Round Vasquez 46, Glendale Advent 9 Antelope Valley 65, Le Lycee 30 Desert Christian 49, International School of LA 20