Pacifica Christian earns trip to CIF SoCal regional final with road win over Oxnard

Pacifica Christian players and fans celebrate a Triton basket during the CIF 2A semifinals. (File photo courtesy Jim McCormack, For OC Sports Zone).

Pacifica Christian High School’s boys basketball team, coached by Jeff Berokoff, has reached the state regional final for the first time in school history.

The Tritons (26-9) defeated Oxnard 60-56 in the CIF SoCal Division II semifinals Saturday night in Oxnard to earn a trip to Tuesday’s CIF regional final against Orange Lutheran at 7 p.m. at Orange Lutheran.

Orange Lutheran defeated Tesoro 51-50 in the other semifinal.

Sophomore EJ Spillman, who currently holds offers from Pepperdine University, Portland University, and Fordham University led the scoring for the Tritons with 14 points and five assists Saturday night.

Northwestern commit Parker Strauss had 13 points, senior Tanner (Sarge) Deal recorded nine points and sophomore Logan Stewart contributed eight points and nine rebounds. 

Pacifica Christian was in control for most of the game, but Oxnard trimmed the lead to two points with 20 seconds left.

But Strauss had a steal and layup that gave the Tritons a two-possession lead with just seconds on the clock. “That play was huge,” said Berokoff. “It really helped keep the momentum in our favor and make it a two-possession game.”

Both teams sank a pair of free throws before Spillman sealed the win with a free throw with three seconds left to make it 60-56.

“I am so proud of these guys, my coaches, everyone on staff who is helping make this possible, said Berokoff.  “I am especially proud of the guys, each guy truly believes that the most important guy on the team is the teammate standing next to him.”

Pacifica Christian has set a program record for wins (26) and went 12-0 at home, securing its first outright San Joaquin League title.

—Source: Pacifica Christian athletics