Southern Section Basketball Playoffs

In the 3-A division, Neil Weingarten scored 9 of his 15 points in the fourth quarter, allowing Hacienda Heights Wilson to hold off Anaheim Katella, 52-50, in a semifinal game at Cypress College. Scott Williams added 16 points and 14 rebounds for Wilson, which will play the winner of tonight’s game between Brea-Olinda and Pomona Ganesha in the 3-A final on Saturday.

Covina Charter Oak advanced easily to the 2-A final with a 71-51 win over Edgewood. Charter Oak’s opponent in the final will be Murphy, which upset San Bernardino, 53-51.

Santa Monica Crossroads will have a chance to redeem its 1-A final loss of a year ago, as the Roadrunners advanced to the final game with 45-42 win over Los Angeles Baptist at Santa Monica College. Crossroads will play undefeated Whittier Christian (25-0) in the 1-A final, as Whittier Christian routed Pasadena Marshall Fundamental, 77-51.

In the Small Schools Division, Whitney’s Chris Barnes rebounded a miss and put it in the basket with one second remaining in the game to give the Cerritos school a 55-54 upset win over defending champion Ventura Temple Christian. Matt Bowley led Whitney with 21 points and 18 rebounds.

Whitney’s opponent in the Small Schools final will be Bel-Air Prep, which won a 63-60 double overtime decision over Hesperia Christian. Franco Frisan’s tied the game at the end of regulation with a 15-foot jumper at the buzzer, and Shaun Lewis made three key throws in the second overtime.