Bishop Montgomery outlasts Damien, 58-56, in overtime

There are playoff thrillers in basketball and then there was Tuesday night’s Southern Section Open Division quarterfinal boys’ game between Torrance Bishop Montgomery and La Verne Damien.

The game wasn’t decided until a three-point basket by sophomore David Singleton with 2.7 seconds left in overtime to give Bishop Montgomery a 58-56 victory at El Camino College.

“It was exciting, man. I just love it. I love plays like that,” said Singleton, who finished with 27 points.

Only moments before, Bryce Peters had given Damien a 56-55 lead with a baseline shot.

Bishop Montgomery Coach Doug Mitchell decided not to call timeout. Ethan Thompson dribbled the ball up the court and found Singleton open at the top of the key.

Damien called a timeout and set up a final play but never got a shot off.

The Knights (26-1) launched a victory celebration and advanced to Friday’s semifinal game against host Chatsworth Sierra Canyon, which defeated Redondo, 74-70.

The final buzzer brought to a close a magnificent game in which Damien (25-4) opened a 20-17 after the first half, fell behind by 12 points in the fourth quarter and rallied behind football

lineman Liam Ryan, who scored eight points in the quarter.

Each time Damien needed at basket at the end, the Colorado-bound Peters delivered. He sent the game into overtime with a basket with eight seconds left in regulation.

Singleton barely missed ending the game with a three-point shot at the buzzer that went in and out from the top of the key.

Bishop Montgomery (26-1), the No. 2 seed in the tournament, got 14 points from Jordan Schakel. Peters finished with 18 points.

In other quarterfinal matchups, No. 1 Chino Hills (29-0) defeated Inglewood, 112-78. It was the 15th time Chino Hills has surpassed 100 points.

Chino Hills will play host to Santa Ana Mater Dei on Friday.