PHOTOS: Santiago reaches CIF finals for first time with home victory against Pacifica

Santiago players celebrate Friday night after the Cavaliers victory over Pacifica in the CIF 4AA semifinals. (Photos courtesy Mark Bausman, For OC Sports Zone).

Santiago High School’s boys basketball team is headed to the CIF finals for the first time in school history.

The Cavaliers clinched a berth to next weekend’s CIF 4AA final with a 50-43 semifinal playoff victory over Garden Grove rival Pacifica in front of a big crowd at Santiago Friday night. Santiago (21-11) will face Ramona (26-6) in the finals. Day and location will be announced Monday by CIF officials.

To see the slide show, click on the first photo:

Santiago's Jordan De La Mora scores on a reverse layup as Anthony Smith of Pacifica defends.

Pacifican's Anthony Smith prepares to take a shot against Jerell Guidry of Santiago.

Santiago's Jerell Guidry takes a jump shot, as Anthony Smith of Pacifica defends.

Pacifica's Myles Salas scores on a reverse layup as Santiago's Jordan De La Mora defends.

Jordan De La Mora of Santiago puts pressure on Pacifica's Gianmarco Mendoza.

Santiago's Jerell Guidry tries to power past Pacifica's Anthony Smith.

Santiago's Jayden Baude puts up a shot as Anthony Smith of Pacifica defends.

No. 3 Jordan De La mora and No. 1 Jayden Baude trap Luke Thompson of Pacifica.

“I’m just really happy for the school, the alumni and the community,” Santiago Coach Matt Moorhouse said Saturday. “That’s all I wanted when I took the job was to do something that has never been done. Last time, they made it to the semifinals was 1970 and they lost.”

Jorden De La Mora led Santiago with 25 points, including 14 points in the final quarter. He had five 3-pointers.

Jayden Baude added eight points for Santiago. Anthony Bermudez also contributed to the win, Moorhouse said.

“He only had two points but he’s 5-6 and he played like he’s 6-2,” Moorhouse said. “He had a bunch of rebounds.”

Myles Salas had 13 points and Anthony Smith 12 points to lead Pacifica (21-11). Pacifica and Santiago will both be advancing to the CIF State Regionals which begin the week after the CIF finals.

It will be Moorhouse’s second trip to the CIF finals. He was an assistant coach under Coach Ringo Bossenmeyer at Tustin when the Tillers captured the CIF Division 3AAA title in 2013.

“I was at Tustin for 10 years and I can’t thank him enough for teaching me how to run a program,” Moorhouse said.

Bossenmeyer was cheering on the Cavaliers Friday night.

“Matt was an integral part of our coaching staff at Tustin High for a decade,” Bossenmeyer said. “His contributions to the program were invaluable and contributed greatly to the success we had on the court at Tustin.

“Our friendship and mutual respect for each other has continued to this day and I couldn’t be happier for him, his coaching staff and his players. The sustained success he has achieved in leading Santiago basketball program has been beyond impressive. I was so glad I could be there to witness history and cheer on the Cavs. It was a special night and an amazing atmosphere.

“I am truly looking forward to supporting Coach Moorhouse and his team in the CIF finals next weekend.”

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