Home Sweet Home for Vikings Hoops Squads

Just like the girls team had three days earlier, the St. Bernard High School boys basketball team appeared determined to send a message in its opening game of the Division V state playoffs.

The top-seeded Vikings did just that Saturday night, rolling past eighth-seeded Fresno Christian 96-64 in the quarterfinals of the Southern California Regionals. St. Bernard outscored the visiting Eagles 32-16 in the first quarter and 26-10 in the second for a commanding 32-point halftime lead. Each squad had 38 points in the second half.

Junior guard Brandon Randolph, who made the All-State second team last year, and senior forward Jalen Walker led the charge with 19 points apiece, Broderick Jones had 11 and fellow freshman forward Chance Comanche had nine. Junior forward Justin Wesson and senior guard Lance Booker each added eight points for the Vikings (24-7), who had a first-round bye.  

Cooper Belmont had 31 points for Fresno Christian (25-3), the Central Section Division V champion, which eliminated Southern Section 5A winner Encino Holy Martyrs 70-58 in the first round.

St. Bernard, which lost by three points to Alameda St. Joseph Notre Dame in the state final last season, has won 18 straight games since a 10-point loss to Lakewood Mayfair in the Torrey Pines Tournament on Dec. 29. It defeated Los Angeles Ribet Academy for the Southern Section 5AA title last weekend in Anaheim.

The Vikings will host fifth-seeded Sun Valley Village Christian, a CIF-SS Division VAA semifinalist, Tuesday night in the regional semifinals. The Crusaders (30-3) upset fourth-seeded San Luis Obispo Mission Prep 59-56 in the quarterfinals. Second-seeded Ribet Academy will host third-seeded La Canada Renaissance Academy in Tuesday's other semifinal.

Before the boys took the court, the Lady Vikings had some business of their own to attend to and they put the home fans in a celebratory mood with a 65-51 victory over Bell-Jeff of Burbank in a Division IV quarterfinal matchup.

The Vikings' skilled front line was the difference as center Lajahna Drummer, an All-State freshman team selection last season, had 20 points while sophomore forward Chenelle Pelle had 17 points and sophomore guard Cydney Bolton had 13. It was St. Bernard's second victory over the Guards (24-9) this winter. The Vikings beat Bell-Jeff 71-58 on the road in a nonleague game Feb. 4. 

After opening the tournament with two home games, No. 4 St. Bernard (27-8) travels south to top-seeded La Jolla Country Day (29-1), the San Diego Section Division IV champion, which routed North Hollywood Campbell Hall, 66-42, in the quarterfinals for its 18th win in a row.

Despite falling to defending champion Los Angles Windward in the CIF-SS 4AA semifinals, St. Bernard is still in the hunt for its second straight state final. The Vikings lost by 11 points to Los Altos Hills Pinewood in the Division V title game last season.

Here are the boys' CIF SoCal Regional Division V semifinal matchups: 

No. 5 Village Christian (Southern 5AA semifinalist) at No. 1 St. Bernard (Southern 5AA champion)

No. 3 Renaissance Academy (Southern 6 champion) at No. 2 Ribet Academy (Southern 5AA runner-up)

Here are the girls' CIF SoCal Regional Division IV semifinal matchups:

No. 4 St. Bernard (Southern 4AA semifinalist) at No. 1 La Jolla Country Day (San Diego IV champion)

No. 3 Los Angeles Windward (Southern 4AA runner-up) at No. 2 Gardena Serra (Southern 4AA champion)

Note: Regional finals Saturday, March 17, at Colony High in Ontario. State championship Saturday, March 24, at Power Balance Pavilion in Sacramento.