LA VERNE >> The Crean Lutheran boys basketball team thought it could build a lead and sustain its momentum long enough to beat Damien on Tuesday night in the CIF Southern California Regional finals at Damien High School.
The Saints built a lead, but the Spartans finished with a lot more momentum.
Unfortunately for Crean Lutheran, Damien made two big runs Tuesday that ultimately decided the Division I Regional final. Damien went on a 12-0 run late in the third quarter and held off Crean Lutheran 58-53 to win the regional championship and advance to the CIF State championships.
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Koat Keat #21 of Crean Lutheran drives to the basket against Damien in the second half of a Division I CIF-State Regional boys basketball final at Damien High School in La Verne on Tuesday, March 8, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Spivey Word #2 of Damien drives to the basket against Koat Keat #21 of Crean Lutheran in the first half of a Division I CIF-State Regional boys basketball final at Damien High School in La Verne on Tuesday, March 8, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Kaleb Smith #30 of Damien seats after shooting a three pointer against Crean Lutheran in the second half of a Division I CIF-State Regional boys basketball final at Damien High School in La Verne on Tuesday, March 8, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Vyctorius Miller #10 of Crean Lutheran fights for the rebound against Jimmy Oladokun #23 of Damien in the second half of a Division I CIF-State Regional boys basketball final at Damien High School in La Verne on Tuesday, March 8, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Spivey Word #2 of Damien drives to the basket against Koat Keat #21 of Crean Lutheran in the first half of a Division I CIF-State Regional boys basketball final at Damien High School in La Verne on Tuesday, March 8, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Rj Smith #5 of Damien holds the championship plaque as he celebrates with teammates after defeating Crean Lutheran 58-53 to win the Division I CIF-State Regional boys basketball final at Damien High School in La Verne on Tuesday, March 8, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Crean Lutheran bent looks on as Damien defeated Crean Lutheran 58-53 to win the Division I CIF-State Regional boys basketball final at Damien High School in La Verne on Tuesday, March 8, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Vyctorius Miller #10 of Crean Lutheran loses the ball against Damien in the second half of a Division I CIF-State Regional boys basketball final at Damien High School in La Verne on Tuesday, March 8, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Darrell Morris #24 of Crean Lutheran drives to the basket against Rj Smith #5 of Damien in the second half of a Division I CIF-State Regional boys basketball final at Damien High School in La Verne on Tuesday, March 8, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Crean Lutheran looks on as Damien defeated Crean Lutheran 58-53 to win the Division I CIF-State Regional boys basketball final at Damien High School in La Verne on Tuesday, March 8, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Head coach Michael LeDuc of Damien celebrates with Rj Smith #5 of Damien after defeating Crean Lutheran 58-53 to win the Division I CIF-State Regional boys basketball final at Damien High School in La Verne on Tuesday, March 8, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Xavier Clinton #12 of Damien celebrates after defeating Crean Lutheran 58-53 to win the Division I CIF-State Regional boys basketball final at Damien High School in La Verne on Tuesday, March 8, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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James Agany #12 of Crean Lutheran fights for the loose ball against Jimmy Oladokun #23 of Damien and Rj Smith #5 of Damien in the second half of a Division I CIF-State Regional boys basketball final at Damien High School in La Verne on Tuesday, March 8, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Darrell Morris #24 of Crean Lutheran rebounds against Jimmy Oladokun #23 of Damien in the first half of a Division I CIF-State Regional boys basketball final at Damien High School in La Verne on Tuesday, March 8, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Darrell Morris #24 of Crean Lutheran drives to the basket against Spivey Word #2 of Damien in the second half of a Division I CIF-State Regional boys basketball final at Damien High School in La Verne on Tuesday, March 8, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Bradley Xie #11 of Damien celebrates with teammates Malcolm Windross #15 of Damien and Lucas Arrieta #24 of Damien after defeating Crean Lutheran 58-53 to win the Division I CIF-State Regional boys basketball final at Damien High School in La Verne on Tuesday, March 8, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Spivey Word #2 of Damien celebrates after defeating Crean Lutheran 58-53 to win the Division I CIF-State Regional boys basketball final at Damien High School in La Verne on Tuesday, March 8, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Damien celebrates with fans and teammates after defeating Crean Lutheran 58-53 to win the Division I CIF-State Regional boys basketball final at Damien High School in La Verne on Tuesday, March 8, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Spivey Word #2 of Damien holds up the Championship plaque after defeating Crean Lutheran 58-53 to win the Division I CIF-State Regional boys basketball final at Damien High School in La Verne on Tuesday, March 8, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Jimmy Oladokun #23 of Damien celebrate after defeating Crean Lutheran 58-53 to win the Division I CIF-State Regional boys basketball final at Damien High School in La Verne on Tuesday, March 8, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Kaleb Smith #30 of Damien drives to the basket against Vyctorius Miller #10 of Crean Lutheran in the first half of a Division I CIF-State Regional boys basketball final at Damien High School in La Verne on Tuesday, March 8, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Spivey Word #2 of Damien drives to the basket against Koat Keat #21 of Crean Lutheran in the first half of a Division I CIF-State Regional boys basketball final at Damien High School in La Verne on Tuesday, March 8, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Rj Smith #5 of Damien drives to the basket against Crean Lutheran in the first half of a Division I CIF-State Regional boys basketball final at Damien High School in La Verne on Tuesday, March 8, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Darrell Morris #24 of Crean Lutheran drives to the basket against Rj Smith #5 of Damien in the first half of a Division I CIF-State Regional boys basketball final at Damien High School in La Verne on Tuesday, March 8, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Vyctorius Miller #10 of Crean Lutheran rebounds against Rj Smith #5 of Damien in the first half of a Division I CIF-State Regional boys basketball final at Damien High School in La Verne on Tuesday, March 8, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Koat Keat #21 of Crean Lutheran slam dunks against Damien in the first half of a Division I CIF-State Regional boys basketball final at Damien High School in La Verne on Tuesday, March 8, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Rj Smith #5 of Damien is fouled against Crean Lutheran in the first half of a Division I CIF-State Regional boys basketball final at Damien High School in La Verne on Tuesday, March 8, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Head coach Nate Klitzing of Crean Lutheran reacts against Damien in the first half of a Division I CIF-State Regional boys basketball final at Damien High School in La Verne on Tuesday, March 8, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Head coach Michael LeDuc of Damien looks on against Crean Lutheran in the second half of a Division I CIF-State Regional boys basketball final at Damien High School in La Verne on Tuesday, March 8, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Jimmy Oladokun #23 of Damien fights for the ball against James Agany #12 of Crean Lutheran in the first half of a Division I CIF-State Regional boys basketball final at Damien High School in La Verne on Tuesday, March 8, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Vyctorius Miller #10 of Crean Lutheran fights for the rebound against Jimmy Oladokun #23 of Damien in the second half of a Division I CIF-State Regional boys basketball final at Damien High School in La Verne on Tuesday, March 8, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Vyctorius Miller #10 of Crean Lutheran loses the ball against Spivey Word #2 of Damien in the second half of a Division I CIF-State Regional boys basketball final at Damien High School in La Verne on Tuesday, March 8, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Head coach Michael LeDuc of Damien looks on against Crean Lutheran in the second half of a Division I CIF-State Regional boys basketball final at Damien High School in La Verne on Tuesday, March 8, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Damien fans celebrates after defeating Crean Lutheran 58-53 to win the Division I CIF-State Regional boys basketball final at Damien High School in La Verne on Tuesday, March 8, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Bradley Xie #11 of Damien seats after teammate Jimmy Oladokun #23 of Damien slam dunks against Crean Lutheran in the second half of a Division I CIF-State Regional boys basketball final at Damien High School in La Verne on Tuesday, March 8, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Head coach Michael LeDuc of Damien celebrates after defeating Crean Lutheran 58-53 to win the Division I CIF-State Regional boys basketball final at Damien High School in La Verne on Tuesday, March 8, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Rj Smith #5 of Damien celebrates with fans and teammates after defeating Crean Lutheran 58-53 to win the Division I CIF-State Regional boys basketball final at Damien High School in La Verne on Tuesday, March 8, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Damien (31-4) will face Clovis North for the state title on Friday, March 11, at 8 p.m. at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento.
“It was a hard-fought game,” Crean Lutheran coach Nate Klitzberg said. “We put ourselves in a good position to continue to battle and fight through. Damien was a couple of shots better tonight. Basketball is a game of runs and they’re capable to go on runs. We went on runs, but their run was the one that finished it.”
This was the second time in a month that Crean Lutheran and Damien faced each other in a playoff game. Damien overcame a 20-point deficit to beat the Saints in a CIF Southern Section Open Division pool-play game.
Damien 58 Saints 53 Final@CIFState Div 1 SoCal Regional Finals
‘22 K. Keat 17pts
‘24 @vyctorius5 14pts
‘22 @jamesdeng_ 6pts
‘22 @ruihan_1 6pts@ocvarsity @SteveFryer @FrankieBur @RonMFlores @OCSportsZoneJoshua 1:9
— Crean Lutheran
(@CreanHoops) March 9, 2022
In Tuesday’s game, Crean Lutheran (25-7) took a 9-0 lead to start the game, but RJ Smith fired right back for the Spartans with three consecutive 3-pointers to tie the score.
“It’s just something I work on,” said RJ Smith, who finished with 16 points. “We were down 9-0 and we put ourselves in a bad position. Big shots come in big games. I’m glad I hit those shots.”
Postgame interview with RJ Smith of Damien. 14 points, including 3 quick 3 pointers to keep Damien alive as they head to the CIF State Finals!@ocvarsity @James_Escarcega @DamienBasketba1 @DamienSports pic.twitter.com/U5r88byRr9
— Manny Alvarez
(@MAlvarez02) March 9, 2022
The score was tied at halftime, but Crean Lutheran took control of the game by going on a 13-2 run in the third quarter.
After Damien coach Michael LeDuc used a timeout, Damien went on a 12-0 run to give the Spartans the lead.
“Coach just came in and said we can’t complain,” Damien’s Kaleb Smith said. “The last game, we were down 20 and we went in the locker room tonight tied. We just take what we can get. We knew this could be our last game of the season, so we just gave it our all.”
The Saints stayed with Damien and had a chance to tie the game, but they turned the ball over late in the fourth quarter.
Crean Lutheran was down by three points with seconds left when Kaleb Smith missed a free throw, but Vyctorius Miller (14 points) fouled Smith and put him back at the free-throw line. This time Kaleb Smith put the game away.
Spivey Word and KJ Smith each scored 14 points for Damien, while Jimmy Oladokun added 10 points and seven rebounds.
Koat Keat had 17 points and 11 rebounds for Crean Lutheran. Rui Han and James Agany each scored six points.
“Our guys have shown such resiliency after a really tough Open Division,” Klitzberg said. “We had some heartbreaking losses. It’s hard to regroup and I’m proud of the way they did that. They fought to the very end. This doesn’t take away the season that they had. It was a historic season for Crean Lutheran basketball.”
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