SoCalHoops High School News

CIF Southern Section Playoffs: Division V-AA
Semifinal Results--(March 3, 1999)

Division V-AA Upper Bracket Semifinal

Pasadena Poly 55, Desert 42

We couldn't get a very in-depth report in any of the local papers on this game, but the LA Times did have the following: Koko Archibong scored 16 points and had 17 rebounds for Pasadena Poly, which improved to 27-0 with the semifinal victory at La Canada.  Ryan Haden scored 10 points and Marshall Duncan added nine for Poly, which extended a 24-16 halftime lead to as many as 15 points in the third quarter.    If anyone has any further or other details, then send them in.

Division V-AA Lower Bracket Semifinal

Santa Clara 82, Pacific Hills 76

This one was written about pretty extensively in the Ventura County Star and in the Valley Edition of the LA Times.  Here's what we know: 

For two schools with a rich playoff history - Pacific Hills was making its seventh straight appearances in the Final Four - it's odd that the two teams have squared off only once before in the playoffs - an 82-76 overtime win by Pacific Hills in last year's final.  Pacific Hills, blessed in last year's playoffs with a string of overtime wins, was fortunate to reach this point. Down by one point with 15 seconds to go, Pacific Hills received second wind when Jonathan Wade stole a pass with 15 seconds left. After a timeout, Harvey hit a shot with 2.8 seconds left to give Pacific Hills a 56-55 win over St. Anthony's in the quarterfinals. 

But that wasn't going to be the finish this time. Nick Jones had 34 points and B.J. Ward added 20 as Santa Clara (25-3) beat Pacific Hills 77-56 Tuesday night in a CIF-Southern Section Division V-AA semifinal at Oxnard College. The victory avenged an 82-76 overtime loss to Pacific Hills (23-7) in last year's V-AA final.   Santa Clara advances to the Division V-AA championship game for the third straight year and 11th time in the past 20 seasons.  Santa Clara under Cvijanovich,  who improved his won-loss record to 824-261 has one of the most impressive records in CIF-SS boys' basketball championship history, winning 14 of its 17 appearances in the final.   Last night, both teams struggled offensively for the first six minutes of the game, jockeying to take control.  With a slim 12-9 lead, Cvijanovich signaled for an unusual offensive ploy.  He moved guards Ward and Jones inside and his other three starters to the outside.   When Mel Angell drove the lane for a short jumper to give Santa Clara breathing room with a 14-9 lead, the Saints began to click.  Thus began a 15-0 run for Santa Clara, which swarmed Pacific Hills on both ends of the court.   With less than three minutes gone into the second quarter, Santa Clara had a commanding 27-9 margin. Jones and Ward had 11 of Santa Clara's points during this run.   Pacific Hills' best play of the first half was to turn a missed Santa Clara free throw into fast-break baskets - something it did three times.  As if Pacific Hills' 40-17 halftime deficit wasn't bad enough, it had two starters with three fouls each. Give partial credit to Dotsy, who stuffed Pacific Hills' hero of its one-point quarterfinal win over St. Anthony's - center Rodney Harvey. Harvey had three quick fouls in the first half, sat out much of the third quarter, and finished with just seven points - five in the last quarter before fouling out.  Santa Clara was so dominant on the boards that Pacific Hills didn't get its first offensive rebound until late in the first half.  But Ryan Abrahams refused to let Pacific Hills die early.   He initiated a full-court pressure defense in the third quarter for an 11-2 run to close the margin to 46-32 with 2:06 left. Abrahams finished with 24 points. Dotsy stopped the run and momentum with an offensive putback. Ward closed out the quarter with a spectacular steal and fullcourt sprint in the last three seconds for a 52-34 Santa Clara lead.  With two Santa Clara starters on the bench for the last four minutes, Pacific Hills never could make much of a dent in Santa Clara's run to the championship game. 

And of course, Anne Ibarra of Pacific Hills, wrote the following brief report on our Message Forum about the game last night: "Santa Clara defeated Pacific Hills (77-56) at Oxnard College. Santa Clara had a great first half hitting 70% from the field. Pacific Hills seemed to get back into their game in the third period as they made a strong but Nick Jones and B.J.Ward had great games.  Pacific Hills was led by Ryan Abrahams (24 points) Pacific Hills, who has reached the final 4 the past 8 seasons (with 5 championships) finished the season at 23-7. Was it a good game? I've seen Pac Hills play much better but Santa Clara seems to be the front runner in the state. Santa Clara will face Pasadena Poly in the finals. "

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