Providence boys’ basketball earns another upset road win in state playoffs
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For the second time in three days, the Providence High boys’ basketball team traveled to the San Diego area to participate in a CIF State Division III Southern California Regional contest.
Apparently, the long journeys south aren’t a problem for the Pioneers.
Upstart No. 11 Providence received 19 points from Jordan Shelley and 18 from Bryce Whitaker to cruise to a 65-50 road win against No. 3 Oceanside El Camino on Thursday at Army-Navy Academy in Carlsbad.
Providence (27-7) will meet No. 15 Fountain Valley (22-9) in a semifinal home contest at 6 p.m. Saturday. Fountain Valley registered a 71-47 win on the road against No. 10 Price on Thursday.
“It took us about three-plus hours to get down here, but we’re happy right now with the win,” said Providence coach Brandon Lincoln, whose team picked up a 68-66 overtime win versus No. 6 San Marcos in a first-round tilt Tuesday. “Maybe the long trips here are good because it builds the team camaraderie.
“We had a really good focus to start the game and we made the plays and defended well.”
The Pioneers led, 18-8, after the first quarter and built a 35-22 halftime advantage. Providence led, 52-39, entering the fourth quarter.
Providence got 11 points from A’Jahni Levias, seven from Andrew Dabbaghian and six from Collin Ferrell.
“We knew coming into state that we have a very good team and we our using our seed as motivation,” Lincoln said. “We have a lot of players with experience and it’s helped them throughout the playoffs.
“[El Camino] had an unorthodox defense and we were able to figure it out. We were just trying to hit the open shots and get on a roll. We were able to do a lot of good things.”
Providence, which won the Prep League for a second consecutive season, advanced to the CIF Southern Section Division III-A semifinals before falling on the road to runner-up Riverside Hillcrest.
The Pioneers reached the CIF Southern Section Division IV-A title game in 2019 before making it to the Southern California Regional semifinals.
“We’ve now gotten to where we were at state last year,” Lincoln said. “It will be a good feeling to finally play at home.
“Our guys are just going to continue to stay motivated and do what we can to get another win.”
El Camino (25-7) finished first in the Avocado East League and defeated No. 14 Adelano, 77-68, in the first round of state. El Camino reached the semifinals in the CIF San Diego Division I playoffs.