The SoCal regional semifinals featured two thrilling matchups for teams in the Santa Clarita Valley with a trip to the regional championship on the line.
But in the end, the Saugus Centurions’ girls team was the lone team to advance, with a win over Birmingham, as the Canyon Cowboys’ boys squad fell to Sylmar in overtime.
Here’s what happened in Saturday’s state playoff games:
In the girls’ basketball Division 2 California Interscholastic Federation state playoffs, the Saugus Centurions advanced to the SoCal regional finals with a 64-43 road win over the Birmingham Patriots of Lake Balboa.
The Centurions were led by senior guard Samantha Cortez, who finished the day with 18 points on 7-for-18 shooting.
EvaMarie Rios was second on the team in scoring as she finished with an all-around performance of 14 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and four steals.
With the win, the Centurions advance to the SoCal regional finals and will travel to Santa Maria for a matchup against the St. Joseph Knights on Tuesday.
The Knights, who defeated Rosary Academy, 68-63, will host the finals matchup as they were seeded higher than Saugus in the state brackets.
The Knights are ranked as the second seed and the Centurions were fourth.
Earlier in the season, the Centurions hold the edge over the Knights as Saugus defeated St. Joseph, 68-64, in a non-league contest.
In the boys’ basketball state playoffs, the Cowboys’ playoff run came to an end at Sylmar High School as the Spartans defeated the Cowboys, 102-94, in the Division 5 SoCal regional semifinals.
Adam Graham led the Cowboys in scoring with 27 points and finished the day with a double-double as he tallied 14 rebounds.
Senior guard Issac Yuhico was second on the team in scoring with 25 points and ended the day with nine rebounds.
The Cowboys fell in overtime to the Spartans with the teams tied at 89 apiece at the end of regulation.
But in overtime, the Spartans outscored the Cowboys, 13-5, and ended Canyon’s season.
The Cowboys finished the year as CIF semifinalist in the Division 7 championship and regional semifinalist in the Division 5 bracket.