By Joe Snyder
North Torrance High’s boys’ basketball team came off its third consecutive Pioneer League championship with a 9-1 record and began the CIF-Southern Section Division IIA playoffs with a 47-46 nail biting win on Feb. 12 at Yeshiva in West Los Angeles.
On Valentine’s Day, the Saxons came home but saw Los Altos High from Hacienda Heights showing no love to them in an 83-51 rout.
The Conquerors, who are seeded fourth in the division, came in with hot hands by pouring in 15 three-point baskets and a constant pressure defense to blow out North.
Los Altos jumped out to a 26-13 first quarter lead but the Saxons began to see life in the second period playing even with the Conquerors at 16-16 but still trailed by 13 points at 42-29 at halftime. Los Altos’ lead grew to 16 points (62-46) after three quarters, but wore down the Saxons, outscoring them 21-5 in the final period to complete the rout.
Geovani Gilpen led the Saxons, who ended their season at 18-9, with 12 points, all in the first half. Kole Tanaka added 10 points.
The Conquerors had four players score in double figures, led by Kyle Kinoy with a game-high 23 points, including six three-pointers. Kareem Mendez chipped in 15 points, followed by Isaiah Meza with 12 and Ken Keshishyan with 10.
Los Altos went on to visit Oak Park, a 66-54 winner over Yucaipa, in the quarterfinals on Tuesday.
At Yeshiva, the Saxons were led by Gilpen with 16 points and Izayah Douglas with 10.
Gardena High’s boys’ basketball team finished the Marine League with a 49-46 victory at Carson to take second, behind champion San Pedro at 7-3. The Pirates won the league at 9-1 with their only loss at 51-50 to the Panthers on Feb. 5 at Gardena.
Guard Willie Denham led the Panthers with 19 points against Carson.
For the second straight season, Gardena is in the CIF-Los Angeles City Section Division I playoffs where it opens at King-Drew Medical Magnet in southeast L.A. today at 4 p.m. The Panthers are seeded ninth in the playoffs, while the Golden Eagles are eighth. If Gardena wins, it could visit top seed Granada Hills Charter in the quarterfinals next Tuesday at 7 p.m. The Highlanders open at home against No. 16 Arleta today at 4 p.m.
The Colts, who placed last in league after winning the CIF-L.A. City Section Division III crown last season, are seeded 11th in Division II and open at No. 6 Garfield in East L.A. Fourteenth seed Narbonne visits Taft in Woodland Hills at the same time in Division I. San Pedro is fourth seed in Division I as it begins at home against LACES (Los Angeles Center of Enriched Studies).
In the Southern Section Division IIIA, Torrance advanced to the quarterfinals with a 48-45 home win over Littlerock last Friday.
The Tartars (20-8) visited Aquinas in San Bernardino last Tuesday.
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Serra, North girls advance to Southern Section quarterfinals
North Torrance High’s girls’ basketball team advanced to the CIF-Southern Section Division IIAA quarterfinals with home wins over Paramount and Goleta Dos Pueblos last week.
In the first round last Thursday, the Lady Saxons topped the Pirates 74-66. Last Saturday in the second round, North downed Dos Pueblos of the Santa Barbara area 83-65.
North stayed home to take on an always very good Lynwood team in the quarterfinals on Wednesday. The Saxons tied for the Bay League title with Manhattan Beach Mira Costa, which lost in the first round of the Southern Section Division I playoffs to host Rancho Christian last Thursday in Temecula. Third place Redondo fell to host Santa Margarita in the first round of the Southern Section Division I playoffs 56-47 last Thursday.
Serra, which finished third in the Santa Fe League, won its first two games of the CIF-Southern Section Division IVAA playoffs, won its opener against host Northview 55-29 last Thursday in Covina and at home against Anaheim 42-39 in overtime Saturday.
Against Anaheim, the Lady Cavaliers were involved in a mostly see-saw game. They took a 16-15 lead at halftime before seeing Anaheim outscore Serra 11-7 in the third quarter for a three-point lead (26-23), The Cavaliers outscored Anaheim 13-10 in the fourth period to tie the game at 36 sending it into overtime. Serra finished off Anaheim with a 6-3 overtime period.
Kacia Snelson led the Cavaliers with 15 points and five steals. Mariyah Lewis added nine points and six rebounds.
Serra dominated Northview leading 40-15 at halftime and coasted to an easy first round win.
Snelson led the Cavaliers (16-12) with 22 points and five steals. Jadah Foster chipped in 13 points. Feja Williams contributed seven points and five rebounds, and Saniaiya Johnson hauled down seven rebounds.
Serra stayed home to face No. 3 seed La Quinta from Garden Grove in the quarterfinals on Wednesday.
Gardena placed third in the Marine League at 6-4 after ending the Marine League with a 44-33 home loss to Carson on Feb. 12.
The Lady Panthers failed to get a player to score in double figures as they were led by Lynigad Watson with nine points. Sanahya Hubbard finished with eight points, and Saniya Keyes had five points and seven rebounds.
Gardena, which finished Marine action at 6-4 and is 11-15 overall, is seeded fifth in the CIF-Los Angeles City Section Division II where it opened at home against GALA (Girls Academy of Los Angeles) on Wednesday.
Top seed is Marine League foe Wilmington Banning which began at home against Lincoln High from East L.A. on Wednesday. The Lady Pilots won the CIF-L.A. City Section Division III title last season.
The Colts are in Division I where they are 14th seed and visited No. 3 Washington Wednesday.
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Bishop Amat shuts Saxons out of soccer playoffs
North Torrance High’s boys’ soccer team saw its 2024-25 season come to an end with a 3-0 loss to Bishop Amat in the second round of the CIF-Southern Section Division I playoffs last Saturday at North.
The Saxons, who won the Pioneer League title at 9-1, managed just three shots on goal against the Lancers, who totaled 20 for the game.
Jesse Hernandez, Nash Guillen, and Michael Luna each scored one goal for Bishop Amat, the Del Rey League champion.
Last Thursday, host North won the first round over San Gorgonio 3-2.
Gardena High’s boys’ soccer team finished just fifth in the Marine League and ended league with four consecutive losses including the last one at home to Carson, which won the league, 3-1 last Thursday.
On Feb. 7 in Wilmington, the Panthers fell to host Banning 3-1. Two days earlier at Gardena, the Panthers lost to San Pedro 5-2.
Gardena’s only league victories were against last place Rancho Dominguez Prep, both at 2-0 at Gardena on Jan. 24 and in Long Beach on Jan. 27.
Despite the 2-6-1 league record and 3-11-3 overall mark, the Panthers could still make the CIF-Los Angeles City Section playoffs, which was expected to be decided last Tuesday at the office in Granada Hills.
Gardena’s girls’ soccer team finished third in Marine play at 6-4 despite losing its final league games to host San Pedro 9-0 on Feb. 5 and at home to Banning 6-4 last Thursday. The Pirates finished Marine unbeaten at 10-0 and are expected to be one of the top seeds in the CIF-L.A. City Section Open Division once it is announced. The Pilots placed second at 8-2.
The Panthers’ last win was on Jan. 31 over Harbor City Narbonne 5-3 at Gardena.
The pairings were expected to be decided last Tuesday.
Serra High’s boys’ soccer team placed last in the Camino Real League at 0-10.
