Moorpark’s Run Comes to End, 89-66

TORRANCE —  At least they don’t have to worry about Compton Dominguez.

Todd Tomlinson eventually found his outside shot and Moorpark High made things interesting, but the Musketeers’ surprising playoff run came to an end Friday night.

Redondo downed Moorpark, 89-66, in a quarterfinal game of the Southern Section Division II-AA playoffs at Torrance High.

Tomlinson, the sweet-shooting guard for Moorpark, finished with 22 points after making only one of 10 shots in the first half.

“Second half, I was definitely feeling it,” said the senior guard. “I knew in my heart that the game wasn’t over. But too bad it couldn’t have been [a better] first half.”

The season is over for Moorpark (19-10) and the jerseys will be collected in the next couple days, but, looking on the bright side, the Musketeers will be worry-free next week.

Redondo (24-4), on the other hand, plays Dominguez (29-2), which has won 22 consecutive games, in a semifinal Tuesday at a site to be determined.

Redondo had too much size and depth for Moorpark.

Andrew Zahn, a 6-foot-9 center who is deciding between UCLA, Arizona and Oregon State, was held scoreless in the first quarter but finished with 27 points, including 14 in a pivotal second quarter.

Dijon Thompson, a 6-5 guard who is one of the top juniors in Southern California, added 18 points for Redondo.

Moorpark led, 13-11, at the end of the first quarter but was outscored in the second, 28-9.

Tomlinson heated up with three three-pointers in the third quarter and two more early in the fourth quarter, the latter pulling Moorpark to within 61-49 with 7:15 left to play.

But Redondo answered with a steady dose of Zahn and Thompson, who sparked a 20-7 run that put the game out of reach.

Next up, Dominguez.

“What are we going to do, lay down?” said Redondo Coach Jim Nielsen. “We’re going to go after them.”

Despite finishing fourth in the Marmonte League, Moorpark went on a run in the playoffs, beating Anaheim Canyon in a mild upset and knocking off No. 4-seeded Pasadena on Tuesday.

Tomlinson scored 26 points in the first round game and 30 against Pasadena.

“We surprised a lot of people,” said Tomlinson, who made eight of 22 shots against Redondo. “I’m not disappointed at all.”

Ron Russ scored six points in the first quarter to help Moorpark take an early 13-6 lead.

“They draw from a lot of areas . . . we’re Moorpark,” said Coach Tim Bednar. “They were laughing at us as we walked in. But our kids have nothing to be ashamed of.”

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HIGH SCHOOL BOYS’ BASKETBALL PLAYOFF SCORES

BOYS’ BASKETBALL

Southern Section

Quarterfinals

Division I-A

Simi Valley 66, Villa Park 51

Division II-AA

Redondo 89, Moorpark 66

Division V-AA

St. Anthony 82, Bell-Jeff 67

Calvary Chapel 45, Santa Clara 40

Campbell Hall 63, Chadwick 48

Semifinals

Division IV-A

Orange Lutheran 70, St. Bonaventure 61

Division V-A

Price Chr. 64, Granada Hills Chr. 40

Heritage Chr. 68, Antelope Vly. Chr. 65

City Invitational

Semifinals

North Hollywood 61, Venice 60

Manual Arts 84, Granada Hills 54

* BOX SCORES ON PAGE 10