By Joe Snyder
Gardena High’s boys’ basketball team began the CIF-Los Angeles City Section Division IV playoffs by jumping off to a big lead before hanging on to top University of Southern California MAE Charter High 65-60 last Friday at Gardena.
The Panthers appeared to be headed to a runaway win leading by as many as 17 points (32-15) midway in the second quarter, but the Trojans made a game out of it getting as close as one point before key baskets, especially by center-forward Joshua Edema, put the game away.
“We had a couple good defensive stops,” Gardena assistant coach Gitano Ponds said.
“We got better at the end,” Edema said. “We need to play smarter and together.”
After the big lead, Gardena began to make a rash of turnovers that got USC MAE, which used effective trap and 2-2-1 sagging zone defenses, back in the game. Behind Adrian Gilbert, who led all scorers with 26 points, and Andrew Johnson (16 points), the Trojans cut the Panthers’ lead to one point early in the fourth period.
That’s when some key baskets by Edema and Kaylos McClain was able give Gardena its ninth overall win against 16 losses. The Panthers tied for fifth place with Wilmington Banning in the Marine League, each at 1-7.
Gardena had three players score in double figures led by Edema with 18 points, McClain added 13 points, followed by Tristan Wilbon with 12, including going 6-for-6 from the free throw line in the second half.
Gilbert, ranked one of the top free throw shooters in the L.A. City Section where he entered the game making 94 percent of his shots from the charity line, made 14 of those shots from there.
The Panthers played at home against San Fernando in the quarterfinals on Wednesday. Gardena is seeded fourth in the playoffs. If Gardena wins, it will play in the semifinals at a site to be determined on Friday at 7 p.m.
Serra High’s boys’ basketball team advanced to the CIF-Southern Section Division V quarterfinals with a 55-47 win over host Northwood Friday in Irvine.
C.J. Anyikwa led the Cavaliers with 18 points. Drew Carter chipped in 16 points, and Darryl Wasson contributed 13 points and 10 rebounds.
In the first round on Feb. 11 at Serra, the Cavaliers defeated Pomona Diamond Ranch 82-75.
Anyikwa led Serra with 26 points and Carter had 18.
The Cavaliers, who are the top seed in the division, hosted Rancho Mirage from Palm Springs in the quarterfinals last Tuesday. Serra will play in the semifinals Friday at 7 p.m. if it wins.
North Torrance, which won its fourth consecutive Pioneer League crown with an unbeaten 8-0 record, lost to Oxnard 45-43 in the first round of the CIF-Southern Section Division II playoffs on Feb. 11 at North.
The Saxons ended their season at 22-7.
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GHS girls’ soccer begins playoffs
Gardena High’s girls’ soccer team began the CIF-Los Angeles City Section Division II playoffs with a 4-2 home win over East Valley Charter High from North Hollywood last Friday.
The Panthers raced off to a 3-0 lead early in the second half and cruised to their ninth win against six losses and one tie. Gardena finished third, behind L.A. City Open Division teams Wilmington Banning and San Pedro, in the Marine League.
Junior forward-middle back Yasmin Del Gado and sophomore forward Emila Savilla each had one goal and one assist. Senior Corona Ellyn and sophomore Samantha Balerios each scored once. Yuri Smith-Zavalla had one assist.
“It was a good tough game,” Gardena head coach Jared Lehenbaur. “I’m proud of our girls. East Valley gave us a tough game.”
The Panthers will host Garfield from East L.A. in the quarterfinals today at 3 p.m. Gardena is seeded second, behind South Gate South East, in the playoffs.
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Lady Panthers off to winning start in playoffs
Gardena High’s girls’ basketball team advanced to the CIF-Los Angeles City Section Division III playoffs after downing Crenshaw 40-24 in the quarterfinals last Saturday at Gardena.
The Lady Panthers had a commanding lead throughout most of the game and coasted to the win.
Saniya Keyes sparked Gardena with 14 points, six rebounds and four blocks. Isabella Sanchez added 10 points and seven steals. Natalie Torres Rivas contributed 10 points and five steals. Dyamend Wady hauled down eight rebounds.
Last Thursday at Gardena, the Panthers rolled over Mendez High 51-21.
Keyes led Gardena with 24 points and 12 rebounds. Sanchez chipped in 12 points and Torres-Rivas had nine points.
The Panthers’ next game is on Saturday at home against San Fernando in the semifinals beginning at 7 p.m. Gardena is second seed in Division III.
North Torrance and Serra were both eliminated in the first round of the Southern Section playoffs.
The Saxons hosted a familiar opponent in Mar Vista Windward but lost a 56-50 overtime contest last Thursday. Back on March 4, 2025, North lost in the Southern California Regional Division I first-round playoffs to the host Wildcats 62-49. The Lady Saxons came off a runner-up finish to Oak Park in the CIF-Southern Section Division IIAA playoffs last season. This year, North finished second place, behind Redondo, in the Bay League but was moved up to Division I, while the Sea Hawks moved to the Open Division as the 12th and last seed. Redondo lost their road games to Sage Hill Prep 74-47 Thursday in Newport Beach and Mater Dei 52-45 Saturday in Santa Ana.
Serra fell short to host Chino Hills 42-37 in the first round last Thursday.
The Lady Cavaliers trailed by as many as 17 points as they attempted a rally, but the hole was too big to dig from.
Serra, which won the Camino Real League with an unbeaten 10-0 record, ended its season at 23-5.
Last season, the Cavaliers were runner-up to Rancho Santa Margarita Tesoro in the CIF-Southern Section Division IVAA playoffs and lost in the first round of the Southern California Regional Division IV playoffs to host Santa Ynez.
