Santa Margarita and St. John Bosco Move On to Trinity League Final in Prep Basketball Roundup

St. John Bosco and Santa Margarita Set for Trinity League Championship Rematch

In a thrilling showdown, St. John Bosco edged out Santa Margarita with a narrow 74-73 victory in a double overtime classic last month. The two teams are now gearing up for a rematch on Wednesday night at Hope International, where they will compete for the inaugural Trinity League tournament championship and finalize their playoff seedings for the Southern Section Open Division.

Both teams advanced to the finals after winning their respective semifinal games on Tuesday night. Santa Margarita, boasting a record of 25-3, showcased their scoring depth in a decisive victory over JSerra. The Eagles found success from beyond the arc, with four of their five starters hitting at least one three-pointer by the end of the first quarter. In total, Santa Margarita sank 14 three-pointers during the game, led by Drew Anderson’s 21 points, Kaiden Bailey’s 20 points, Rodney Westmoreland’s 15 points, and Brayden Kyman’s 14 points.

JSerra, with a record of 18-12, will face Mater Dei at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday in the third-place game. Jaden Bailes led JSerra with 21 points.

In another semifinal, St. John Bosco defeated Mater Dei 72-66. After establishing an 18-point lead in the first half, the Braves managed to fend off a late comeback by the Monarchs. Christian Collins led St. John Bosco with 26 points and 10 rebounds, while Max Ellis contributed 21 points. Mater Dei’s chances were hindered by the absence of Luke Barnett due to illness.

In other notable tournament results, Etiwanda clinched the Baseline League tournament championship with a 50-43 win over Damien, avenging one of their two previous losses this season. Milken secured the Liberty League title with a 67-64 victory against Oakwood, as Dinn Duvdevani scored 22 points. Heritage Christian triumphed over Bakersfield 65-62, led by Houston Rolle’s 20 points and eight rebounds. Additionally, Redondo Union wrapped up the Bay League championship with a commanding 90-63 victory over Mira Costa, fueled by SJ Madison’s 30-point performance.

Girls Basketball Highlights

In girls basketball, Lynwood made headlines by winning its 30th consecutive league championship, defeating Downey 66-43 and setting a state record. Esperanza also celebrated a championship, narrowly defeating Villa Park 37-36 to take the Crestview League title. Sierra Canyon dominated Harvard-Westlake with a 67-27 win, thanks to Jerzy Robinson’s impressive 36-point outing.

Boys Soccer Result

In boys soccer, Oak Park secured the Coastal Canyon League title with a 1-0 victory over Camarillo, with Cole Mitchell netting the decisive goal.