LA VERNE >> The top-seeded Damien boys basketball team will continue its season, but only after receiving a serious challenge from an undermanned JSerra squad.

After trailing at the half and leading by only one point early in the fourth quarter, Damien pulled away late for a 66-56 victory Thursday in the second round of the CIF State Division I regional at Damien High School.

Damien (29-4) will host No. 4-seeded St. Bernard in the regional semifinals Saturday. Ninth-seeded JSerra (20-11), the runner-up in CIF-SS Division 1, sees its season end despite a valiant effort.

“Think we did a good job rebounding, especially defensively, and that’s going to keep you in the game,” Damien coach Mike LeDuc said. “And we shot well, 23 of 25 from the line.”

R.J. Smith scored 17 of his team-high 24 points in the second half to lead Damien, making all 11 of his free throws in the process.

The Spartans won despite enduring an outstanding offensive performance from JSerra senior guard Robert Diaz. He scored 26 of his game-high 34 points in the second half, made 12 of 19 field goals, and all five of his free throws.

But no one outside of Diaz made a field goal in the second half for JSerra, which managed only five points on free throws from the rest of the team.

“He’s a special player, I hope some college notices him,” JSerra coach Keith Wilkinson said of Diaz.

“We tried to mix it up against him, keep fresh guys on him,” LeDuc said of Damien’s defense on Diaz. “Any win in the second round of state is a good win.”

JSerra was already without two starters, Everett Bryson (injury), and 6-toot-9 Sebastian Rancik (illness) then had to play most of the second half without a third starter, 6-6 senior Dane Persek, who hurt his knee.

“It was really hard, with two starters out, then a third,” Wilkinson said. “We had a tough time rebounding against those guys.”

Damien’s front line of 6-8 Jimmy Oladokun and 6-8 Kaleb Smith combined for 21 points and 16 rebounds. JSerra also had difficulty slowing down Damien’s speedy guard Spivey Word, who was second on Damien with 13 points.

The first half had only seven fouls combined between the two teams, and the Lions ended the half on a 9-2 run to take a 25-24 halftime lead, their last lead of the game.

After Diaz made a layup with 5:30 to play to cut Damien’s lead to 47-46, the Spartans took control, going on a 10-2 run in the next 3:05 to take control.

Related Articles

LeDuc said he doesn’t know a lot about St. Bernard, yet.

“We don’t look ahead,” he said. “I just know they’ve got three good guards. They’ll be tough.”