Jordan turnaround leads to title game

Jordan boys basketball coach Chris Francis remembers the frustration after his first season when the Panthers lost their last nine games to finish with a 10-18 record.

In Year 2, those feelings are not only long gone but now Francis has Jordan in the CIF Southern Section Division 4A championship game.

Jordan senior shooting guard Dennis Redmond Jr. scored 17 of his gamehigh 24 points in the second half Friday to lead the second-seeded Panthers to an 84-64 semifinal win over Pacifica Christian of Santa Monica at St. Bernard High School.

Redmond had 10 of his points in the pivotal third quarter, holding off a Seawolves team that cut an 11-point halftime deficit down to six on four occasions in the frame.

Jordan (20-12) will face Sage Hill (15-11) in the Division 4A championship game Saturday.

“It's a testament to the community, it's a testament to these kids believing in my coaching staff,” Francis said. “It's pretty special.”

— Tracy McDannald

ST. BONAVENTURE 70, WILSON 53 ❯❯ Wilson met its match when it fell to visiting St. Bonaventure in the

CIF-SS Division 4AA semifinals.

Senior guard Sean Oliver led the team with 25 points and senior forward Keon Young contributed 17 points and eight rebounds in the losing effort, which dropped Wilson's overall record to 21-11.

Dylan Benner and Jeremy Goodcase led St. Bonaventure in scoring, each with 16 points.

The Bruins still have the CIF State tournament remaining.

— Anthony Ciardelli

LYNWOOD 93, WHITNEY 46 ❯❯ Lynwood used a total team effort on both ends of the floor to dominate Whitney in the CIF-SS Division 5AA semifinals.

The Knights (22-10) were clearly the more aggressive and seasoned team and showed it from the opening minutes of the game, and they never let up. Their full-court press led to 17 steals as a team.

They were led by their show-stopping freshman point guard Jason Crowe Jr. He came close to a triple-double with 22 points, nine assists and seven steals while adding three rebounds and two blocks.

Lynwood, the No. 1 seed, will face No. 3 seed Bosco Tech in the Division 5AA final on Friday or Saturday at a site to be determined.

— Chris Camello