December 22, 2024

OC Sports Zone: Community First

CIF PLAYOFFS: Top-seeded Crean Lutheran advances with 75-57 win over Culver City

Michael Birket led Crean Lutheran with 26 points in Tuesday’s quarterfinal round game. (Photo Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone)

CREAN LUTHERAN 75, CULVER CITY 57: The top-seeded Saints marched into the CIF 2A semifinals with a victory in the quarterfinals in front of a big crowd at Crean Lutheran. Michael Birket scored 26 points and made seven 3-pointers to lead the Saints, who will play at Dominguez Friday night in the semifinals. Dominguez defeated Servite 69-52 in another quarterfinal Tuesday night.

Koat Keat had 17 points, 20 rebounds and 10 assists and James Agany had 13 points, 11 rebounds and four assists for Crean Lutheran (16-2). The Saints jumped out to an 8-0 lead and never trailed in the contest.

Crean Lutheran led 38-28 at halftime.

It’s the second time in three seasons that Coach Nate Klitzing has led a Crean Lutheran team into the semifinals.

Please click here for a full report with photos and other CIF playoff scores.

—Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com