Southern Section Basketball Playoffs : Irvine Surprises Pasadena

Coach Steve Keith, who led Glendale High to two titles before leaving the school last season, masterminded another trip to a Southern Section boys’ basketball championship as Irvine shocked top-seeded Pasadena, 67-60, in the 5-A division semifinals Saturday night before 1,800 fans at Christ College of Irvine.

Irvine (24-5) will meet South Coast League rival Capistrano Valley (23-4) in the championship game at 6:15 p.m. Saturday at the Sports Arena. Capistrano Valley defeated Irvine twice in league play, but Keith isn’t discounting his team’s chances.

“If you’re good enough to get there (the championship game), you’re good enough to win,” Keith said. “You’re so happy to be there, you don’t care if it’s the Lakers you’re playing.”

Irvine advanced to its first championship game by making 10 of 13 free throws in the final quarter and getting a critical 12-foot jump shot from sophomore John Molle with 1:06 remaining to push Irvine ahead, 62-58.

Irvine made six free throws in the final 38 seconds to snap Pasadena’s 15-game win streak.

Pasadena (23-3) had won 19 games by 10 or more points, but the Bulldogs wilted down the stretch with Steve Dunmeyer dogging guard Idris Jones, who led Pasadena with 18 points.

Jones failed to get a field goal in the last quarter as Pasadena made only 2 of 10 shots.

Irvine guard Bryan Allred scored nine of his game-high 22 points in the fourth quarter.