division 3A semis game details

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SoCalHoops HS Playoff News

CIF-SS III-A Semis: Apaches & Knights
Will Meet Again--(Feb. 23, 2002)

The Division III-A finals will feature two teams who are familiar faces when it comes to seeing each other in the playoffs. Different players this year, but the Apaches are hoping to end a two year streak during which they've been knocked out of either the CIF-SS playoffs or the State Southern Regionals by the Bishop Montgomery Knigts. Last night Centennial beat Muir and Bishop Montgomery walloped the Burros of Ridgecrest Burroughs:

No. 1 Compton Centennial 50, No. 4 Muir 43
No. 2 Bishop Montgomery 79, Ridgecrest Burroughs 34

The finals will be played Saturday, March 3, 2002. According to the CIF-SS website, the finals will be at Redondo Union HS, but that's got to be a misprint, since the finals is supposed to be at the Pond. We'll try to find out what the real story is after the weekend, when the CIF-SS office reopens on Monday.

We'll post the bracket up separately as well as a preview of the finals. Here are the details from last night's games:

DIVISION III-A
Semifinals

No. 1 Compton Centennial 50, No. 4 Muir 43 --Remaining undefeated this season, No. 1 seed Compton Centennial (28-0) came back from a five point deficit behind sophomore point guard Gabriel Pruitt's 20 points to secure the win over No. 4 seed Muir (23-6) in a semifinal game played last night at La Canada HS. Muir was led by Jamaal Hall with 10 points. With Centennial trailing by three, Muir's Ryan Hollins (6'-11" Sr. F), who signed with Saint Louis University earlier this year, fouled out with 6 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. He drew the fifth foul when Darius Sanders went up for a basket, which he made, and then was assessed a technical on his way to the bench as he kicked the ball. The two foul calls gave Sanders the bucket, the and-one free throw, two technical free throws, his team kept possession of the ball, and they managed to take the 36-35 after all was said and done. Muir managed to come back and tied the game at 38-38, but the momentum had shifted by then, and Centennial scored three consecutive three pointers from Jonathan Smith and Sterling Byrd to take the lead for good. Byrd finished with 15 points. Muir Senior Seth Davis had just four points but three huge blocks in the fourth quarter. Owen Duckworth led Muir with 12 points.

No. 2 Bishop Montgomery 79, Ridgecrest Burroughs 34 --No. 2 seed Bishop Montgomery, the two-time defending State and CIF-SS champions are finding themselves back on familiar ground, which most said they had no chance of seeing given the graduation last year of the top foursome of seniors who led the Knights last year, Errick and Derrick Craven, Devaughn Peace and Kenny D'Oyen. But last night, Peace's younger brother Brandon led the scoring with 25 points and six assists, and teammate junior Fred Washington finished with 19 points and 13 rebounds, and seven steals, as Bishop Montgomery (23-6) will return to the Pond again where they will once again meet a familiar opponent, Compton Centennial. Many will recall that for the past two seasons, Bishop Montgomery also played the Apaches and sent them packing each time, so the rematch will be one of the best this year. Last night, Ridgecrest Burroughs (15-10) only scored 11 points in the first half, and the Knights controlled from start to finish. Carl Williams and Gavin MacGregor each had eight points for Burroughs. Bishop Montgomery held the Burros scores for more than 10 minutes with their smothering full-court pressure. Washington led a 20-0 first half run with 10 points, and the Knights led 34-11 at the half. Bishop Montgomery began the third quarter with a 9-2 run, and led at one point 43-13. Gavin Lee finished with 15 points and 7 rebounds.