LJCD COMES UP JUST SHORT

Needing one final run, La Jolla Country Day got it.

But it was still not good enough.

Two free throws by Chatsworth Sierra Canyon’s Mckenly Randolph with eight seconds left blunted the final rally for a 63-62 victory Saturday night in the State Open Division regional semifinals.

Randolph’s heroics sent No. 3-seeded Sierra Canyon (28-2) into the regional finals Tuesday against winner of the No. 1 Etiwanda-no. 4 Corona Centennial at 6 p.m. at the highest seed.

But it was almost La Jolla Country Day (25-3) heading to that game.

La Jolla Country Day edged Sierra Canyon 73-71 back on Jan. 8 in a game like this one.

With Sierra Canyon holding a 55-44 lead with 6:30 to play, the Torreys went on an 18-6 run to take the lead on junior Sumayah Sugapong’s 3-pointer with 18 seconds to play.

Her bank shot gave the Torreys a 62-61 lead.

Randolph’s free throws meant La Jolla Country Day had one final chance, but the shot fell off the rim.

“We believed in each other,” La Jolla Country Day coach Terri Bamford said. “We play the toughest schedule in the state, so we’re used to being in games like this. Against good teams, it is all about runs. The team that makes them, wins games like this.”

La Jolla Country Day still trailed 59-52 with 2:40 to play when junior center Breya Cunningham, who scored 23 points and grabbed 13 rebounds, picked up her fifth foul.

Jada Williams’ basket got the Torreys close as 59-56, but Sierra Canyon got a pair of free throws from Randolph.

Sugapong’s 3-pointer with 29 seconds left cut the deficit to 61-59.

After the Trailblazers missed two free throws, Sugapong’s tough shot in front of the Torreys’ bench put them in front for the first time since it was 10-8 in the opening quarter.

La Jolla Country Day outscored Serra Canyon 20-11 in the final quarter to nearly pull off the win.

Randolph punched the Blazers ticket to the next round.

It also snapped La Jolla Country Day’s 17-game winning streak as well.

Besides Cunningham on offense, the Torreys also got 16 points from Sugapong and 11 points from Williams.

Sierra Canyon, which defeated Cathedral Catholic 9450 on Tuesday to advance to the regional semifinals, was led by Juju Watkins, who tossed in 23 points and grabbed 11 rebounds despite missing most of the second quarter with a leg injury.

Izela Arenas added 11 points and Randolph finished with nine points and eight rebounds, but her final two points ended La Jolla Country Day’s season.

Elsewhere

In Div. V, No. 2 seed Victory Christian routed No. 3 Rancho Buena Vista 63-51 to advance to Tuesday’s regional final. The Lady Knights will play the winner of Saturday’s late game between No. 1 Verdugo Hills or No. 4 Shalhevet.

No. 5 Scripps Ranch fell to top-seeded Pasadena La Salle 52-36 in Div. III and Bishop’s lost to top-seeded Corona Santiago 63-50 in Div. II.