Chaminade leads Catholic schools’ advance to state finals

Five local Catholic boys’ and girls’ high school basketball teams will be represented at the state finals March 28-29 in Sacramento, with Chaminade of West Hills supplying two of the finalists (Division 3 boys, Division 2 girls).

Also emerging victorious from the CIF-Southern Section regional finals — played March 22 at Citizens Bank Business Arena and Colony High School in Ontario — were St. John Bosco of Bellflower (Division 2 boys), Bishop Montgomery of Torrance (Division 4 boys) and Mater Dei of Santa Ana (Open Division boys).

Boys basketball

Open Division: Mater Dei rallied to defeat Westchester 59-54 at (Citizens Bank Business Arena), after outlasting Etiwanda in double overtime, 67-64 in the semifinals. The Monarchs will play Bishop O’Dowd March in the state final (March 29, 8 p.m.). 

Division 2: St. John Bosco took care of Compton 72-55 and earned the right to face Folsom in the state final (March 29, 4 p.m.). The Braves were led by Parade Magazine All-American Daniel Hamilton (22 points, 9 rebounds), Tyler Dorsey (20 points) and Vance Jackson (18 points).

Division 3: Chaminade edged Santa Margarita 53-52 in the regional final, when Michael Oguine capped a 32-point night with a last-second three-point shot at the buzzer. The Eagles will play Sir Francis Drake (March 28, 4 p.m.).

Division 4: Another all-Catholic regional final saw Bishop Montgomery outscore Cantwell-Sacred Heart of Montebello, 66-56, advancing the Knights to the state final against Morneau Catholic (March 29, noon). Stephen Thompson Jr. scored 26 points for the winners, while Joey Covarrubias had 14 points for Cantwell. 

Girls’ basketball

Chaminade rolled over West Torrance in the Division 2 regional final 67-50, paced by Devin Stanback (27 points, nine rebounds), Paige Fecske (16 points, six assists) and Valerie Higgins (15 points, 14 rebounds). The Eagles, who defeated Culver City 76-46 in the semifinals, will meet Archbishop Mitty in the state final (March 29, 2 p.m.).

Three other Catholic schools lost in the respective regional finals. Alemany lost in the Division 1 final to Canyon Springs 66-51, after beating Hanford 62-51 in the semifinals March 18.

In Division 3, Santa Margarita lost to Santa Barbara 58-48, after beating Lakeside 73-58 in the semifinals. And in Division 4, Sierra Canyon outlasted Serra of Gardena 59-52. Serra had beaten J.Serra 55-40 in the semifinals.