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The host school’s squad became the last of the 11 teams from last December’s Classic at Damien field to earn a spot in Saturday’s State Regional boys’ basketball semifinals.

And none of the first 10 had to go nearly as hard in their quarterfinals to earn a spot into Saturday’s play as did the Damien Spartans.

Coach Mike LeDuc’s team, the No. 15 seed in the Southern Division I bracket, trailed by 20 points late in the second quarter to Riverside Poly at Rancho Verde High in Moreno Valley before pulling it out, 128-123, in six four-minute overtime periods Thursday night.

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RANCHO CUCAMONGA – The host Etiwanda High Eagles, down by six points late in the third quarter, used an 17-0 run – from late in the third quarter until midway in the final quarter – to seize control of things before knocking off Evan Mobley-led Rancho Christian, 67-61, Wednesday night in a State Southern Open Regional quarterfinal.

The victory sends the Eagles (29-3) into a Saturday night (7) semifinal against host Mater Dei at 6 o’clock.

The hosts scored the first eight points but were down, 45-39, with about a minute to go in the third quarter before starting that 17-0 run that was culminated with an 11-point edge with about four minutes to go in the fourth quarter.

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LONG BEACH – It was an upsetting night – to say the least – in Tuesday’s night opening of the California Southern Regional boys’ basketball action.

Thirteen double-digit seeds went on the road and picked up wins that propelled them into Thursday night’s quarterfinals.

Three No. 15s knocked off No. 2 seeds, including in the Division I.

That’s where the Damien High Spartans, who lost to Riverside Poly (63-61) in a Feb. 21 Southern Section Division 1 semifinals – went into Long Beach and knocked off host St.

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AZUSA – Last was the best – or, at least, the most exciting – Saturday night in CIF Southern Section basketball playoff action at Azusa Pacific University.

In the finale of the six-game schedule, top-seed Windward held off No. 2 Riverside Poly, 54-49, for the boys’ Division I championship.

The Wildcats (27-7), in just their fourth season under Coach Colin Pfaff, took the lead the lead for good (47-46) on sophomore guard Dylan Andrews’ 8-footer with 1:13 remaining.

A 3-pointer from the left corner by junior Jaren Harris, set up by a pass from sophomore center Kijani Wright, pushed the advantage to four points but San Diego State-bound guard Lamont Butler nailed a 3 from the corner and Bears called timeout with 24 tics to go.

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AZUSA – Just 21 days after playing his first game for the program, Tre White grabbed a defensive rebound and hit a couple of championship-securing free throws with a second to play for Ribet Academy’s boys’ basketball team’s 52-49 victory over Hesperia early Saturday evening at Azusa Pacific University.

These 2A title victory gave the Fighting Rabbits a second consecutive CIF Southern crown after bagging the 4A title a year ago before winning the State D IV title in Sacramento.

Trailing by nine points going into the fourth quarter, Hesperia (24-7), capitalizing on some turnovers and ill-advised shots by Ribet, and cashing in offensively by way of RaShaw Burrell (a game-high 26 points, 12 in the fourth quarter) and Antonio Singleton (five of his 12 points in the final eight minutes) turned a 180 on the momentum.

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