Bishop Diego overcame foul troubles and held New Community Jewish to just two points in the fourth quarter en route to 54-46 quarterfinal win in the CIF 5AA Division boys basketball playoffs on Tuesday night in West Hills.
Grant Sexton scored 19 points, including nine in the fourth quarter, to lead the Cardinals into a Friday semifinal game against top-seeded Saddleback Valley Christian.
The semifinal game will be played off-campus at Westmont College at 8 p.m. The Bishop Diego gym is being used this weekend for a fundraising event.
Bishop jump out to a 24-11 first-quarter lead, but foul trouble kept it from extending the lead.
Starters Peter Kwock, Grant Sexton and Nick Busch were all on the bench for most of the quarter.
“We stopped scoring a bit, but defensively we were where we wanted to be,” Bishop coach Dean Prophet said.
The foul trouble carried over into the third quarter and Bishop was outscored 22-10 to fall behind 44-43.
But the Cardinals regrouped in the fourth quarter and dominated New Community Jewish.
“The kids responded in the fourth quarter, and we held them to two points,” said Prophet.
Nick Busch scored 13 points and Will Busch added nine points for the Cardinals.
Prophet has a challenge on Friday, Besides going up against the division’s top seed, his seniors will be returning from a school retreat in Ojai on the day of the game.
“They’re used to handling adversity,” Prophet said of his players. “We should be fine. We’re glad to be there (in the semifinals).”
