Los Angeles Loyola

In a first-round Division I Southern California Regional playoff opener, Los Angeles Loyola and Crenshaw looked as if they were playing park league basketball, and the fans who packed Loyola's gym Wednesday night were entertained from start to finish. Brandon Baker of Crenshaw torched the Cubs for 45 points, including 19 in the fourth quarter. "I was feeling it," Baker said. Teammate Andre Edwards scored 29 points, including 20 in the third quarter. But Loyola's balance proved too much, and the Cubs (25-5)

Los Angeles Loyola hasn't had a close basketball game in weeks, so the Southern Section Division 1A champion Cubs found themselves in a rare pressure-filled situation Tuesday night in a first-round game of the Southern California Division I regionals against Torrey Pines. With the game tied, Jacob Hazzard launched a three-point shot that missed, but Justin Childress was able to tip the ball in at the buzzer to give Loyola a 55-53 victory at Loyola. "It was an absolute battle," Coach Jamal Adams said.

GAME OF THE DAY Sherman Oaks Notre Dame 5, Los Angeles Loyola 1 Top contributors: Sophomore pitcher Matt Lathuras of Notre Dame threw a complete game, giving up four hits while striking out six and walking one. Kelly Dugan of Notre Dame hit his eighth home run. Pedro Aldape of Notre Dame went four for four. AJ LaBruna of Loyola had two hits. The scoop: Lathuras improved to 4-0 and showed he has become a dependable No. 2 pitcher behind ace Josh Goossen Brown.

Sherman Oaks Notre Dame (21-5, 9-2) at Los Angeles Loyola (16-12-1, 6-5) Today at 3:45 p.m. Why it matters: Notre Dame has a one-game lead over Encino Crespi (16-10, 8-3) going into the final Mission League game of the season. There's a good chance the Knights will be in for another nerve-racking finish -- they have played eight one-run games this season, winning five. Sophomore pitcher Matt Lathuras (3-0) is developing into a quality No. 2 starter.

Nothing was going to stop Mater Dei kicker Bryan New with the game on the line this time. Not the Los Angeles Loyola fans' chants of "De La Salle! De La Salle!" Not the Cubs' three interminable timeouts, called in an attempt to rattle the kicker who had already missed one fourth-quarter field goal. And especially not the 31-yard attempt he faced with five seconds left.

Color Division I football red and white--again. Mater Dei claimed its second Southern Section title in three years and capped off an unbeaten season with a hard-fought 17-10 victory over Los Angeles Loyola in front of 11,842 Saturday at the Coliseum. The Monarchs (14-0), top ranked in Orange County and ranked second in the last USA Today national poll, had just a bit more offensive talent than the Cubs (12-2), who were making their second consecutive appearance in the finals.

Friday's top games Bellflower St. John Bosco (3-0) vs. Los Angeles Loyola (3-0) at L.A. Valley College, 7 p.m. — Two years ago, St. John Bosco and Loyola replaced their head coaches with Jason Negro and Mike Christensen, respectively, and now both square off hoping to convince the alumni that their programs are headed in the right direction. And they are. St. John Bosco is loaded with outstanding skill-position players, led by receivers Bryce Treggs and Dalis Bruce. Loyola has found a new running back in junior Wyatt Bradford, along with a stingy defense led by cornerbacks Chaz Anderson and Cameron Walker that has given up only 21 points in three games.

There has been so much talk about the supposed demise of City Section basketball this season that some people actually believed it. What happened Saturday at the Nike Extravaganza at Santa Ana Mater Dei will put an end to such nonsense. Woodland Hills Taft, emerging as the City Section Division I title favorite, routed Southern Section power Los Angeles Loyola, 73-57. Fairfax defeated Rialto Eisenhower, 73-67. And Westchester defeated Mission Viejo Capistrano Valley, 45-42. "I think it means the City is still strong and can still compete with the big dogs," Taft guard Steven Jones said.

BOYS Los Angeles Loyola (26-3) at Woodland Hills Taft (24-5), Tuesday, 7 p.m. — Loyola hasn't played since losing to Lawndale Leuzinger on Feb. 26. While the Cubs try to shake off their rust in this Division I game, they'll have another obstacle to deal with: Taft guard Jordan Gathers, who was a starter for Loyola last season. "He'll probably know our play calls, so we'll have to execute," Loyola Coach Jamal Adams said. The winner is expected to take on Leuzinger in a quarterfinal game on Thursday.

One of the best sports rivalries in Southern California high school sports is set to unfold on Friday night, with Los Angeles Loyola taking on Manhattan Beach Mira Costa in a nonleague volleyball match at 7 p.m. at Loyola Marymount. The two schools have combined to win 17 Southern Section volleyball championships. Many of the players and ex-players grew up as neighbors in the South Bay. For the first time, Loyola Coach Michael Boehle will have two sons playing for him, senior Parker and sophomore Hayden.