Pierce Thompson Delivers Key Baskets To Send Harvard-westlake Into Regional Final

Down by 16 points successful nan first quarter, down by six points successful nan 4th quarter, Harvard-Westlake is simply a precocious schoolhouse hoops squad that thrives connected adversity.

Answering nan telephone was inferior defender Pierce Thompson, who made consecutive threes pinch conscionable complete 5 minutes near to necktie nan score. Then came 2 clutch free throws each by Joe Sterling pinch 28.9 seconds near and Cole Holden pinch 10.8 left, helping Harvard-Westlake to conclusion Santa Maria St. Joseph 56-52 successful nan Southern California Open Division location semifinals connected Saturday nighttime successful Studio City.

Harvard-Westake (27-6) advances to play top-seeded Sierra Canyon (28-1) for a 3rd clip connected Tuesday nighttime astatine Sierra Canyon pinch a travel to nan authorities title crippled successful Sacramento connected nan line. Sierra Canyon defeated Santa Margarita 72-60 down 23 points and 10 rebounds from Brandon McCoy.

Thompson’s involution successful nan 4th fourth was precisely what nan Wolverines needed. St. Joseph (31-3) was taking advantage of turnovers and fouls to unfastened a 48-42 lead until Thompson changed nan momentum and nan game.

Pierce Thompson (left) gets congratulations from Miles Dodson aft Harvard-Westlake 56-52 triumph complete St. Joseph.

(Craig Weston)

“I consciousness erstwhile I spot 1 spell in, nan adjacent is besides going in,” Thompson said. “I consciousness this twelvemonth I had to measurement retired of my comfortableness area and person assurance to measurement up and make shots.”

Thompson vanished pinch 15 points. Sterling had 18 points.

Early on, nan Wolverines trailed 19-3 arsenic brothers Malcom and Julius Price of St. Joseph made unfastened shots. Malcolm vanished pinch 20 points and Julius 12.

Then Harvard-Westlake sewage backmost into nan crippled pinch a 10-0 surge astatine nan extremity of nan first 4th and led astatine halftime 31-27. Two of St. Joseph’s large men fouled retired successful nan 4th quarter.

St. Joseph went acold shooting successful nan last 3 minutes of nan 4th quarter, and Harvard-Westlake sewage to celebrate.

Remember nan Wolverines started nan Southern Section Open Division playoffs past period arsenic an afterthought aft losing 3 of nan past 4 regular-season games. Then came regrouping and caller opportunities.

“We’re taking it personally,” Thompson said of group dismissing nan Wolverines. “We’re grinding each day.”

St. John Bosco 75, Mater Dei 71: The Braves pulled retired nan Division 1 semifinal successful overtime down Christian Collins, who scored 32 points. The Braves will big Damien, which defeated Crean Lutheran 49-44. Elijah Smith scored 18 points for nan Spartans. St. John Bosco coach Matt Dunn won a authorities title coaching astatine Damien.

Palisades 81, Torrey Pines 67: The City Section Open Division champion Dolphins precocious to nan Division II location last against Bakersfield Christian. EJ Popoola had 25 points and 7 rebounds while relative OJ scored 21 points.

Birmingham 82, Poway 69: The astonishing Patriots person made nan Division III location last arsenic Tekeio Phillips vanished pinch 30 points and X’zavion McKay 23 points.

Sylmar 102, Canyon Country Canyon 94: During nan season, coach Bort Escoto changed his team’s offense, switching to run-and-gun style put successful by Paul Westhead years agone astatine Loyola Marymount and now nan Spartans are successful nan Division V location final. Rob Winn scored 34 points, Aiden Garcia 27 and Andrew Galvez 17.