Lightning wins first playoff game

Facing the Big Sky League champions on their home floor didn’t faze

the Sage Hill School boys basketball team in the least Wednesday

night.

The Lightning (11-13) led all the way and defeated Hamilton,

57-47, in the first round of the CIF Southern Section Division IV-A

Playoffs at Anza High in Riverside County. The win is the Lightning’s

first in its inaugural trip to the CIF Playoffs in two varsity

seasons.

“It feels great,” said first-year Lightning Coach Steve Keith.

“Not too many teams travel on the road for two hours and beat the

league champion on its home court on any level.”

Hamilton (17-5) was no match for a Sage Hill attack that included

Michael Fitzhugh’s 22 points and 17 rebounds to go with a season-high

13 points by Matt Loper and 12 from Kevin Joyce.

“That was Matt Loper’s best game of the year,” Keith said. “He hit

a clutch three-pointer at the three-minute mark to let us breathe

easy again.” Loper’s three increased the lead to seven, as the guard

scored 11 of his 13 points in the second half, despite Hamilton

outscoring Sage Hill, 30-25, in the final two quarters.

“We had a great first half and were executing well, but the second

half got ugly with guys starting to get fatigued,” Keith said.

Sage Hill led, 30-17, at the break.

Scott Cho scored six points to go with seven rebounds with Joyce

and Fitzhugh each adding five assists.

“I don’t think there’s a Michael Fitzhugh in the Big Sky League,”

said Keith praising the effort of his senior.

Sage Hill advances to Friday’s second round at Los Angeles-based

Yeshiva, the co-champion of the Liberty League, at 7:30 p.m.

*--*

CIF Division IV-A

First round Sage Hill 57, Hamilton 47

Score by Quarters

Sage Hill 19 11 12 13 -- 57

Hamilton 8 9 16 14 -- 47

Sage Hill -- Loper 13, Joyce 12, Wilkins 4,

Fitzhugh 22, Cho 6, Lefler 0, Brewer 0,

Samel. 3-pt. goals -- Loper 3, Joyce 2.

Fouled out -- Loper. Technicals -- none

Hamilton -- Quinionez 8, Estrada 7, Davis 14,

Mendez 7, Minert 9, Lopez 2, Delgado 0,

Tuxson 0. 3-pt goals -- Estrada 1, Minert 1.

Fouled out -- none. Technicals none

*--*