PREP BASKETBALL PLAYOFF ROUNDUP : Late Surge Sends Santa Clara Past Whittier Christian

Junior Chris Cole scored 11 of his team-high 17 points in the final three minutes as Santa Clara defeated Whittier Christian, 57-50, in a Southern Section Division IV-AA boys’ basketball game Friday at Whittier College.

Cole, a 6-foot-4 junior, made all three field-goal attempts and was five for five from the free-throw line during the closing minutes. He also led the Saints, champions of the Frontier League, with eight rebounds, three assists, three steals and two blocked shots.

“We had too many offensive weapons for Whittier Christian,” said Santa Clara Coach Lou Cvijanovich. “Whittier Christian is a fine team, but once we got ahead, we were able to pull them out of their zone defense.”

Whittier Christian (15-12) was ahead, 16-14, after the first quarter but top-seeded Santa Clara (23-4) scored the first seven points of the second quarter and led, 21-16, with 5 minutes 8 seconds left in the half. Santa Clara led at the half, 32-28, and never trailed again. Santa Clara’s biggest lead was 10 points, 55-45, with 1:03 left.

Ruben Oronoz of Whittier Christian scored a game-high 23 points.

Art Barron scored 14 points for Santa Clara.