Harvard-Westlake proves point, takes Mission League tournament title with win over red hot Notre Dame

Though the margin was closer, this one didn't match the excitement the first times the teams met.

But Harvard-Westlake's 75-71 win over Notre Dame-Sherman Oaks in the Mission League Tournament finals Friday still offered plenty.

The teams could very well face off in next week's Southern California Open Division tournament. Each was selected before the game even began.

Harvard-Westlake, ranked 15th nationally by SBLive Sports, took control in the second quarter and held a double digit lead most the rest of the way until a late Notre Dame comeback, led by Duke-bound guard Caleb Foster (26 points) and Gonzaga signee Dusty Stromer, who scored 16 of his 19 in the second half.

But the Wolverines (28-1) had too much size down low with Princeton-bound Jacob Huggins (23 points, 11 rebounds) to go along with the fantastic all-around play from Trent Perry (24 points) to snap Notre Dame's six-game win streak.

Robert Hinton (14) and Brady Dunlap (12) also were key contributors for a team that hasn't lost since Dec. 30. The Wolverines recorded their 12th straight win, one which included an 85-78 double-overtime win over Notre Dame two weeks ago.

The game was even after one, 15-15, when Perry and Huggins led a 22-11 second quarter run to take control.

After losing the ball to Mercy Miller, who went in for a breakaway deuce, Perry made amends with a highly contested 3-pointer at the buzzer, giving Harvard-Westlake a 37-26 halftime lead.

It was the third 3-pointer of the second quarter for Perry, who had 27 points against Notre Dame the first time.

Huggins, a 6-8 senior headed to Princeton, scored nine inside buckets through the first three quarters, when Harvard-Westlake took a 58-43 lead.

The Wolverines then slowed the game up and Notre Dame began to chip away, thanks to Foster, a 6-3 guard who scored 14 in the fourth.

Harvard-Westlake scored just three baskets in the fourth, but two were big 3 daggers, one each from Dunlap and Perry. The rest of the damage was done at the line, where the Wolverines made nine.

A 3-pointer by Stromer with 11 seconds left cut the lead to 75-71. But after two missed free throws, one last 3 missed and Notre Dame simply ran out of time.

A few hours before the game, the Southern Section announced its eight Open Division teams for the playoffs. Both teams were obvious picks. Harvard-Westlake made a case for the No. 1 spot, but it will probably go to defending state Open Division champion Corona.

Notre Dame, which got 11 points from Miller, will likely get the No. 3, 4 or 5 selection.