Pasadena Rolls into Second Round

By Corey Kwok

(Pasadena) – Pasadena’s defense proved to be too much for Magnolia throughout, as the host and second seeded Bulldogs (21-6) outscored the Sentinels 24-2 in the third quarter en route to a 64-26 rout to start the CIFSS Division 3-AAA playoffs.

Perris Hicks sat out a huge portion of the first half because of foul trouble before returning to add a bucket, 4 rebounds, 4 (of 5) assists, 3 steals, and 1 block all in the third quarter. John John Haywood (12 points) stole the rock twice in that frame and scored 7 there along with Jeffery McClendon.

J-Mac hit a buzzer-beater at the end of the third (assist by Avo Yetenekyan) to increase the Bulldogs’ lead to 40, resulting in a running clock for the fourth quarter. Isaiah Johnson knocked down a trey off De Angelo Stowers’ assist to start the fourth before Joey Toyama dialed up Yetenekyan in the post for an easy roller and the last PHS basket of the game.

Ajon Efferson led Pasadena with 17 points over 5 free-throws and 5 for 7 field goals including 2 boards, 3 dishes, and 2 cookies. Blake Hamilton set the tone early with two thunderous dunks in the first and ended the night totaling 7 rebounds, 5 steals, 2 assists, and 6 points. Brandon Jolley (3 assists, 2 blocks) presented matchup mayhem in the paint and tossed in 10.

Magnolia had one standout player in Carlos Sanchez who scored all his team’s first quarter points and finished with 18 of the Sentinels’ 26.

Pasadena outrebounded (32-16) and outshot (24-50 to 7-25) the Sentinels, who were well unraveled early with 9 turnovers and a 20-8 deficit to PHS after one. The Bulldogs advanced to the second round this Friday, 7:00 pm, at Beaumont High School. Beaumont is 21-2 and coming off a thrilling 50-46 win over Indio, a team that had upset the division’s fourth ranked Palm Desert 60-59 in round II of Desert Valley league play.

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