The few, the proud….
Five teams from the San Diego Section still are around as the Southern California regional playoffs reach the semifinals round tomorrow.
—Foothills Christian (25-4) will try to stop the No. 1 team in the country when it challenges Chino Hills (31-0) at Colony High in Ontario, a “neutral” site 11 miles and 20 minutes from the Huskies’ campus.
Chino Hills defeated the Knights, 106-86, in December and 85-83 in January on other neutral layouts.
The Huskies ran the Knights off the floor in the first game, taking a 22-5 lead in the first three minutes and roaring to a 40-13, first-quarter advantage.
That Foothills outscored its opponent, 73-66, over the last three quarters was virtually unnoticed because the Knights never got closer than 18 points, at 87-69, early in the fourth quarter.
THIRD TIME CHARM?
Foothills has a shot, if only because of the ancient shibboleth that declares it is very difficult for one team to beat another three times in a row in the same season.
Knights coach Brad Leaf adjusted after the first game and the Knights actually led late in the game. Can Leaf, his superstar, 6-foot, 10-inch son, T.J., and the El Cajon team pull off the upset?
Guess: Chino Hills 88, Foothills Christian 78.
—Seven seed Cathedral’s 83-80, Open Division, overtime victory at No. 2 Chatsworth Sierra Canyon was the stunner of the regional tournament and elevated the Dons (21-6) into another tough road battle against No. 3 Torrance Bishop Montgomery (27-2) at nearby El Camino College.
The Knights 72-58, overtime conqueror of Los Angeles Westchester, in the quarterfinals, lost to Chino Hills, 71-67, on Jan. 30, and to Sierra Canyon, 78-69, in the Southern Section playoffs.
Inspired Cathedral must keep 6-11 Brandon McCoy out of foul trouble. He sat for 12 minutes in the first half at Sierra Canyon but still finished with 23 points.
Guess: Bishop Montgomery 64, Cathedral 61.
—No. 12 St. Augustine (24-7) is the lowest surviving seed in Division I and visits No. 1 Encino Crespi Carmelite (30-4).
The teams have played against one common opponent.
Crespi beat Bellflower St. John Bosco, 59-25, on Dec. 21, and St. Augustine topped ‘Bosco, 62-52, on Jan. 5.
St. Augustine last gained the regional finals in 2013 when Trey Kell, Brynton Lamar and company came from 11 points behind in the fourth quarter to top West Hills Chaminade, 61-57.
MONROE DOCTRINE
An important contributor to the Saints’ victory in that game at Colony High was freshman Eric Monroe, inserted into the lineup by coach Mike Haupt in the fourth quarter.
Monroe’s ball-handling coolness under pressure was significant and has been a benchmark of his play for four years. Monroe is the Saints’ handyman, the one to whom they turn to get the ball up court and position the offense.
The 6-foot, 3-inch senior was particularly effective last week when Eastvale Roosevelt took a 22-13 lead and had the Saints on their heels before St. Augustine rallied to a 54-52 victory before an overflow crowd at Daugherty Gymnasium.
Monroe and his senior counterpart, Martin Tombe, who hit a pair of three-point shots in the fourth quarter, again will carry the Saints’ hopes against the favored San Fernando Valley squad.
Guess: Crespi 66, St. Augustine 60.
—El Camino is thriving in D-IV, having routed Rancho Mirage, 90-66, and upsetting No. 1 seed Pomona Diamond Ranch, 63-58, after surviving a 30-point fourth quarter by the host Panthers.
The eight-seed Wildcats (29-6) now travel to Calabasas to take on the five-seed, 28-6 Viewpoint Panthers, who have victories over Kern County Taft Union, 77-37, and 76-69 over Sherman Oaks Notre Dame.
El Camino, coached by former Army-Navy boss Tom Tarantino, has rallied after losing to Kearny, 66-43, in the San Diego Section D-I finals.
The Wildcats have their best chance of getting past the semifinals since the Millenium-era teams coached by Ray Johnson annually were the San Diego Section’s best.
Guess: El Camino 59, Viewpoint 55.
—The four-seed Mission Hills (29-3) girls draw the No. 1 seed and host West Hills Chaminade (28-4).
The Grizzlies advanced with a 49-45 victory over Los Angeles Windward. Chaminade defeated Los Angeles Palisades, 79-67.
Guess: Chaminade 62, Mission Hills 50.
MORE QUARTERFINALS RESULTS
BOYS
D-IV
11 Grossmont 50, @3 Gardena Serra 65.
D-V
9 Bonita Vista 56, @1 Santa Maria St. Joseph 97.
