CIF BASKETBALL PLAYOFFS : Santa Monica Comes From Nowhere, KOs Simi Valley

Just two months ago the Santa Monica High Vikings were struggling, losing six straight games heading into Ocean League competition.

Samohi, which is what the team calls itself and actually stitches across its jerseys, was 4-8 and showing few signs of going anywhere, much less into a Southern Section 4-A Division quarterfinal game with Simi Valley.

But that was then, and this is now. Santa Monica has since won 9 of 10 in league play, and has now disposed of three straight playoff opponents.

This is not the same old Samo.

Santa Monica’s Keith Neal made the second of two free throws with one second left in overtime as the Vikings (16-9) shocked top-rated Simi Valley, 55-54, on Friday night at Santa Monica College.

Santa Monica faces Diamond Bar in the semifinals on Friday. Diamond Bar was a 65-56 winner Friday night over Ventura.

“This leaves us with a rather hollow feeling, as you can probably imagine,” Simi Valley Coach Bob Hawking said. “There aren’t a lot of words that are of any essence at this point. There’s nothing I can say to alleviate the hurt this caused.”

Neal needed few words, making the game-winning foul shot after being hacked by Pioneer center Don MacLean with one second left in overtime. Neal grabbed a rebound off an 18-foot miss by Danny Price with four seconds left, and was fouled while shooting from just inside the right side of the key.

With an overflow crowd on its feet and the Simi Valley (26-2) team waiting at halfcourt, Neal missed the first attempt off the left side of the rim, but the 6-4 junior guard calmly buried the second, turned, and raised a clenched fist to the partisan crowd.

The fist nearly indicated Simi Valley’s shooting percentage in the fourth quarter. The Pioneers made just one field goal in six attempts, and scored the remainder on eight free throws by MacLean, who finished with a game-high 23 points despite sitting out the entire second quarter with three fouls.

While MacLean was keeping Simi Valley close down the stretch, Price was right on for Santa Monica, scoring 14 points in the second half, including a streak of five straight from the field.

Price gave Santa Monica a 54-52 lead on a jumper with 2:06 in regulation. Simi Valley forward Shawn DeLaittre scored inside with 1:40 left to bring the Pioneers even.

On Santa Monica’s next possession, MacLean grabbed a rebound off a William Benjamin miss with 57 seconds left, and Simi Valley ran the clock down to 10 seconds before calling timeout.

The Simi Valley inbounds play broke down, however, and DeLaittre was forced to take an off-balance, 20-footer with three seconds left.

Simi Valley controlled the tip at the beginning of overtime but MacLean missed an eight-foot bank shot. It would be Simi Valley’s last realistic attempt of the year.