El Camino Real outlasts Garfield for first title

Woodland Hills El Camino Real returned to the gym where, two years earlier, the Conquistadores had suffered a fourth-quarter collapse of unreal proportions, blowing a 17-point lead and giving up the final 19 points in losing the City Section Division III final to Verdugo Hills.

This time, in the Division II championship game at Los Angeles Roybal High on Friday night, the top-seeded Conquistadores fought back a determined effort by Garfield and came away with a 6253 victory, earning the first basketball title in school history.

Sophomore Julian Richardson scored 25 points. Sophomore Maleke Haynes made the key shot, an off-balance three-pointer with 1 minute 39 seconds left that gave El Camino Real a 55-49 lead.

Araucous crowd that produced deafening noise watched Garfield (27-7) rally from a 13-point secondquarter deficit to take a 47-46 lead with 4:23 left.

Francisco Aguilar and Joe Joaquin scored 15 points apiece for the Bulldogs, who made only 15 of 30 free throws. Michael Thomas had 13 points and 12 rebounds for El Camino Real. Palisades holds on

After scoring the game’s first 14 points and opening an 18-3 lead after one quarter, top-seeded Palisades held on for a 53-49 victory over North Hills Monroe in the City Division II girls’ title game.

Ashlie Bruner made two free throws with 18 seconds left to clinch the victory, giving the Dolphins (23-5) back-to-back Division II titles. Donae Moguel had 17 points and 10 rebounds. Asia Smith had 16 rebounds.

Ayisat Afolabi led Monroe (2210) with 18 points.

eric.sondheimer@latimes.com