By Tim Peterson
(South El Monte) – South El Monte built a 19 point lead in the third quarter but then had to hang on in the fourth to hold off South Pasadena 70-66 Friday night in the CIF Division 4AA Boys Basketball Second Round playoffs.
Josue Ramirez had a game high 29 points for the Eagles but left the game in the third quarter with an apparent neck injury with the Eagles up big. He returned in the fourth but the Tigers cut a once 19 point lead down to three in the fourth quarter before South El Monte survived.
Jason Salcido was fouled with 16 seconds left in the fourth quarter and the Eagles up 67-64. Salcido had missed a pair of free throws earlier in the quarter but calmly sank both to bump the lead back to five. After South Pasadena scored Ramirez hit the second after missing the first to give the Eagles a four point lead with seven tics left to ice it. Ramirez hit six of eight free throws in the final frame.
South El Monte led 56-43 after three but was outscored 23-14 in the fourth to make it interesting. For the Tigers Sage Wayans was huge scoring eight points in the fourth quarter and 27 overall. Dillon Akers had nine in the fourth and finished with 18 for the game.
Ramirez hit a three and scored seven points in the first quarter as the Eagles got off to a 21-13 lead after one. Ramirez had nine more in the second and Joshua Medina chipped in five to help South El Monte to a 37-25 halftime lead.
The Eagles went on a 12-5 run to open the third quarter to go up 49-30. Ramirez then took a hard fall and had to leave the game. South Pas cut it to 13 by the end of the quarter and eventually three in the last minute but the Eagles held on. Ramirez returned to begin the fourth and was key down the stretch.
For the Tigers Wayans and Akers combined for 45 of the 66. Tyler Johnson added 15.
Salcido joined Ramirez in double figures for South El Monte with 16 and Medina added 13. Mario Lucero had five including a big three in the third quarter.
South Pasadena finished the season 15-8 overall while South El Monte (12-2) advances to the third round.
SP 13 12 18 23 66
SE 21 16 19 14 70
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