Woodbridge keeps CIF playoff hopes alive defeating league-leading Northwood 73-56; Beckman and Portola also win

Woodbridge’s boys basketball team, shown warming up in a game earlier this season, still has a shot at the CIF playoffs.

Woodbridge, Portola and Beckman recorded Pacific Coast League boys basketball victories Wednesday night.

Woodbridge knocked off league-leading Northwood 73-56 at Northwood to keep its playoff hopes alive.

Northwood had a one-game lead over Beckman going into the game. Now, Beckman and Northwood are tied for first place with 5-2 records with three games left.

Woodbridge (8-15, 3-4) was led by Brandon Clarke Hosler and Brian Bae with 16 points each, Luciano Bettus with 13 points and Chris Cooper with 11 points.

Seth Locke scored 19 points to lead Northwood (12-12, 5-2). Can Oz had nine points and Shandon Sharifi eight points for the Timberwolves.

“That certainly was the most complete game that we have played all season. Our guys came in very focused and did a great job of locking in defensively,” said Woodbridge Coach John Halagan.

“Our execution at the offensive end was also on point as we had four guys in double figures. We shot the ball well but also found the paint through drives and post ups which led to 34 free throw attempts. It was a great effort considering the opponent.

“Northwood has been playing well in league so we obviously were competing at a high level tonight. After starting 0-4 in league the team has really approached each game with a playoff mentality in order to keep a realistic chance of advancing to CIF. Hopefully we can keep it going as we have a tough game with Beckman on Friday.”

In other games in the PCL Wednesday night:

Beckman 70, Irvine 49: Christopher Muller and Aaman Soma scored 12 points each and Dylan Thoerner, back in the lineup after missing last week’s game with Portola, scored 11 points.

Chase Porter and Chris Dean led Irvine (12-13, 2-5) with 12 points each and Devin Lee and Hunter Anderson had 11 points each.

“We blew the game open in the third quarter, opening up a 30 point lead, leading 60-30 going into the fourth,” said Beckman Coach John Goins. “We finished plays on both ends and luckily today’s result let us ease Thoerner back in, playing him only about 11 minutes while he is still recovering from a vicious bout with the flu.”

Portola 89, University 84: The Bulldogs (13-12, 4-3) remained in third place one game behind PCL co-leaders Northwood and Beckman. Mohsen Hashemi led Portola with 28 points. Saif Habibeh added 17 points and Shoma Doherty added 16 points for the Bulldogs.

University (13-12, 2-5) was led by Andrea Roy with 30 points and Kody Uyesugi with 23 points.