Markum Scores 33, but SVCS Is Eliminated from Playoffs

Senior guard Josh Markum scored 33 points but it wasn't enough as Saddleback Valley Christian's season ended with a 64-61 loss to fourth-seeded Pasadena Poly in the second round of the CIF Southern Section Division 5A boys basketball playoffs Friday night at Saddleback Valley Christian High.

Behind 62-61 in the game's waning moments, SVCS had the ball and a chance to win the game, but Poly stole the ball an Hunter Merryman's layup gave the Panthers their final margin of victory.

Senior Daniel Wohl had 23 points to lead Poly (23-2), which advances to the quarterfinals on Tuesday..

Forward Nick Worrel scored 16 points for the Warriors, the runners-up in the San Joaquin League who finished their season with a 21-7 record.

Poly jumped to a 22-13 lead after the first quarter, but the Warriors fought back, and Markum's three-pointer with one second left gave them a 30-29 advantage at halftime. SVCS remained in the lead the entire third quarter and entered the fourth with a 50-45 advantage.

"We played really hard," Poly coach Bradford Hall said. "I'm really proud of how everyone played against such tough competition."