Area High School Teams Seasons end after Long Playoff runs, Walnut in Div 1A Quarters, Diamond Ranch in Div 3AA Semis

LOS ANGELES – The Walnut High School boys’ basketball team was unable to contain Loyola’s size as it fell to the top-seed Cubs 93-78 in the CIF Division 1A quarterfinals Friday night.

“Obviously, they were bigger and stronger,” mustangs head coach Joe Khouzam said, “but we did a good job blocking out and got running a little bit. Then our great crowd got behind us and we got our energy going. It was a great run we threw at them.”

Walnut kept the game close in the early part of the game, trailing after the first quarter 20-18, but paid the price as center Ryan Herrera picked up three fouls in the first four minutes, while backup Eric Song picking up two more before the half.

“They called a lot of quick fouls on our big guys and that took us out of our rhythm,” Khouzam said, “but I’ve been telling them all year that we have to deal with adversity. The next man had to step up and we fought hard. There were several times we could have quit and we didn’t.”

Herrera was unavailable for the remainder of the half, and his presence was missed. However when he did return, he did so in a big way, scoring five points upon his return, but the hosts were ahead to stay.

Dwight Ramos led all scorers, tallying 34 points, two assists and nine rebounds. Senior Zuri Williams was kept quiet, finishing with 16 points, seven assists but contributed defensively, with five takeaways.

Max Hazzard led the way for the cubs, with 29 points. Henry Welsh added 17 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks, while Josh Lavergne pitched in 14 points for the Cubs who improved to 21-9 and advances to face Edison Tuesday in one semifinal.

“This is one of my favorite teams I have ever coached,” Walnut head coach Joe Khouzam said following the loss. “They are great students, great kids, and they have a lot of talent. That’s a dying breed; you don’t have many teams like that anymore, so it was my honor to be their coach.”

Walnut finished the season 25-6.

Diamond Ranch Takes early lead; Loses lead, game

Diamond Ranch falls just short of advancing to the team’s first ever championship game, as it fell to top-seeded Sonora 76-56 in a Div 3AA semi-final game Friday night.

Roman Silva had 12 points for the Panthers who ends the season 20-9. Tyler McLean added 11 points and both players will return next year for Diamond Ranch.

“We were trading some baskets early in the second half and then they hit some threes and just pulled ahead,” Silva said. “A defensive collapse is what really let us down in the end.”