playoffs

Wrexham striker Kieffer Moore has been ruled out of Wales’ World Cup play-offs with a hamstring injury.

The 33-year-old had been a major doubt since sustaining a tendon split during the FA Cup defeat against Chelsea earlier this month.

Having missed subsequent Championship matches against Hull City and Swansea City, Moore is not expected to return to action until April.

That means he will be unavailable for Wales’ World Cup play-off semi-final against Bosnia-Herzegovina on 26 March and, if they win that game, their play-off final against Italy or Northern Ireland five days later.

“Kieffer’s not going to be right for the internationals, which is a blow for him and for Wales,” said Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson.

“He’s got this tendon injury which he feels OK with, but he’s shown up on the scan and it’s one of those injuries that, up to 80-85% you’re fine, but if you extend beyond that you make yourself susceptible to muscle injuries.”

When Birmingham High’s Tekeio Phillips and X’Zavion McKay were asked if they are surprised that the Patriots are playing for a Division III state boys’ basketball championship on Friday at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento after losing in the first round of the City Section Open Division playoffs, the answer was unanimous: Yes.

The Patriots (22-7) have won four consecutive state playoff games to earn a spot against Antioch Cornerstone Christian (28-8) in a 4 p.m. final. Fellow City Section member Sylmar (24-12) is playing San Marin (21-13) for the Division V title at noon. On Saturday, Palisades’ girls’ team plays Faith Christian at 10 a.m.

Birmingham lost to Fairfax 66-58 on Feb. 11 in the City playoffs and didn’t play another game until March 3. How do you get your team motivated for state playoffs after three weeks off?

“We didn’t do anything the rest of the week and took the next week off,” Halic said. “We rested our bodies and emotionally refreshed.”

Most importantly, Patriot players decided they wanted to win in the state playoffs.

“It definitely helped us offensively connect better,” Halic said. “We’re playing a better game these last four games. When you lose you’re disappointed and sometimes going into state, people don’t care. It’s such a great opportunity for us.”

Phillips is averaging 22.8 points. McKay is averaging 12.6 points and 10.5 rebounds. Phillips has twice played at Golden 1 Center when he was a member of the Alijah Arenas-led Chatsworth team.

“It’s just a bigger gym,” Phillips said. “I feel comfortable.”

This is a daily look at the positive happenings in high school sports. To submit any news, please email eric.sondheimer@latimes.com.

HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REGIONAL PLAYOFFS

WEDNESDAY’S RESULTS

BOYS

Open Division

#1 Sierra Canyon, bye
#5 Santa Margarita 75, #4 Redondo Union 71
#3 Santa Maria St. Joseph 66, #6 Sherman Oaks Notre Dame 60
#2 Harvard-Westlake, bye

GIRLS

Open Division

#1 Sierra Canyon, bye
#4 Sage Hill, bye
#3 Etiwanda, bye
#2 Ontario Christian, bye

Note: Quarterfinals in Division I-V are Thursday, March 5 at higher seeds; Semifinals in all divisions are Saturday, March 7 at higher seeds; Finals are Tuesday March 10 at higher seeds. State championships are March 13-14 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento.

HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REGIONAL PLAYOFFS
TUESDAY’S RESULTS

BOYS
Division I
#16 Mater Dei 86 #1 La Mirada 79
#9 JSerra 60, #8 Francis Parker 59
#5 Victory Christian Academy 71, #12 Rancho Christian 65
#4 St. John Bosco 65, #13 San Marcos 55
#3 Crespi 83, #14 Bishop Amat 66
#6 Damien 84, #11 Inglewood 65
#7 Crean Lutheran 68, #10 Santa Fe Christian 56
#2 Corona Centennial 42, #15 Hesperia 38

Division II
#1 Eastvale Roosevelt 106, #16 Bakersfield Centennial 68
#8 Palisades 80, #9 Mira Mesa 67
#5 La Costa Canyon 72, #12 Aliso Niguel 68
#13 Torrey Pines 54, #4 Olympian 53
#3 Bakersfield Christian 51, #14 San Pedro 44
#11 El Cajon Christian 51, #6 Cathedral Catholic 46
#7 Murrieta Mesa 66, #10 Cleveland 63
#15 Carlsbad 61, #2 Mission Bay 53

Division III
#1 Gahr 67, #16 Narbonne 51
#8 Shalhevet 56, #9 Rancho Bernardo 42
#5 Colony 90, #12 Norte Vista 69
#13 Atascadero 69, #4 Warren 62
#3 Birmingham 79, #14 Gardena Serra 67
#6 Trabuco Hills 55, #11 El Camino Real 47
#7 Poway 63, #10 Washington Prep 56
#2 Fairfax 65, #15 Pilibos 49

Division IV
#1 Tulare Union 60, #16 Salesian 51
#8 Placentia Valencia 67, #8 Ramona 62
#12 Vasquez 93, #5 Laguna Hills 79
#13 Moreno Valley 41, #4 Central Valley Christian 39
#3 San Juan Hills 64, #14 Pacific Ridge 57
#11 Venice 61, #6 Ramona 50
#7 Army-Navy 57, #10 Chatsworth 48
#2 Granada Hills Charter 55, #15 Rialto 52

Division V
#1 Coalinga, bye
#9 Verdugo Hills 52, #8 Colton 47
#5 Orosi 59, #12 Redlands Adventist Academy 35
#4 Rowland 78, #13 Pacific 48
#3 Canyon Country Canyon 83, #14 Franklin 66
#6 Victor Valley 72, #11 Edgewood 55
#7 Preuss UCSD 53, #10 South El Monte 48
#2 Sylmar 104, #15 Canoga Park 65

GIRLS

Division I
#1 Mater Dei 66, #16 Windward 46
#8 La Salle 50, #9 Westview 37
#5 Corona Centennial 67, #12 Valencia 40
#13 Moreno Valley 75, #4 Fairmont Prep 69
#3 Francis Parker 65, #14 Westchester 41
#6 Oak Park 72, #11 La Jolla Country Day 57
#7 JSerra 54, #10 Mission Hills 51
#2 Rancho Christian 102, #15 Bakersfield Christian 48

Division II
#1 Birmingham 68, #16 Misson Oak 60
#9 San Diego Cathedral 48, #8 Camarillo 47
#5 Grossmont 73, #12 LA Hamilton 57
#4 Saugus 46, #13 San Diego Lincoln 39
#3 Crescenta Valley 65, #14 La Costa Canyon 63
#6 Rosary Academy 58, #11 Victor Christian Academy 47
#10 St. Margaret’s 50, #7 Chula Vista Mater Dei 36
#2 Santa Maria St. Joseph 71, #15 Venice 62

Division III
#1 Murrieta Valley 62, #16 Burbank Burroughs 55
#8 King/Drew 58, #9 Imperial 46
#5 Leuzinger 49, #12 Torrey Pines 48
#4 Granada Hills 55, #13 Redwood 42
#3 Carlsbad 51, #14 Bishop Diego 41
#11 Anaheim Canyon 60, #6 Oxnard 57
#7 La Canada 43, #10 Shafter 42
#2 El Dorado 45, #15 Montgomery 43

Division IV
#1 Marina 57, #16 Escondido 55
#8 Savanna 53, #9 El Camino Real 39
#5 Palisades 61, #12 La Palma Kennedy 59
#13 Hillcrest 46, #4 Cleveland 42
#3 Tulare Union 47, #14 San Pedro 44
#6 Granada Hills Kennedy 64, #11 San Jacinto 47
#7 Oakwood 50, #10 Warren 19
#2 Godinez 57, #15 Ridgecrest Burroughs 38

Division V
#1 Rosamond 59, #16 University Prep 25
#8 Patriot 36, #9 Chadwick 31
#5 Bakersfield Foothill 55, #12 Sierra Vista 45
#4 Laguna Hills 48, #13 Wilmington Banning 24
#3 North Hollywood 53, #14 San Pasqual 36
#6 Schurr 52, #11 Santana 30
#10 Orange 51, #7 Washington Prep 47
#2 Vista 63, #15 Desert Hot Springs 46

WEDNESDAY’S SCHEDULE

BOYS
Open Division
#1 Sierra Canyon, bye
#5 Santa Margarita at #4 Redondo Union
#6 Sherman Oaks Notre Dame at #3 Santa Maria St. Joseph
#2 Harvard-Westlake, bye

GIRLS
Open Division
#1 Sierra Canyon, bye
#4 Sage Hill, bye
#3 Etiwanda, bye
#2 Ontario Christian, bye

Note: Quarterfinals in Division I-V are Thursday, March 5 at higher seeds; Semifinals in all divisions are Saturday, March 7 at higher seeds; Finals are Tuesday March 10 at higher seeds. State championships are March 13-14 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento.

The ending was not what Jason Crowe Jr. wanted, but he got a hug from his mother and praise from his coach/father after Inglewood’s 84-65 loss to Damien on Tuesday night in the Southern California Division I regional playoff game.

He finished with 34 points, ending his high school career with a state-record 4,718 points in 124 games, according to CalHiSports.com. He’s more than 1,000 points ahead of the next closest player. His scoring average was 38.0 points.

“I think he’s had an amazing high school career,” said his father, Jason Sr., who will join his son at Missouri next season serving as an assistant coach. “He had to go against the best defenses every night. I’m proud of him. He brought this program to the Division I level. He was on honor roll every year.”

Damien (28-7) had too much firepower for Inglewood (28-7). Eli Garner scored 25 points and Zaire Rasshan had 24 points. Garner had a five-point play and Rasshan added a four-point play. Damien will play at No. 3-seeded Crespi on Thursday. Crespi defeated Bishop Amat 83-66. Isaiah Barnes scored 20 points. Sophomore Aiden Shaw had 25 points for Bishop Amat.

Jason Crowe Jr. of Inglewood launches three against Damien. He finished with 34 points in loss.

(Nick Koza)

“Incredible career,” Damien coach Mike LeDuc said of Crowe Jr.

Damien fans get excited in state playoff game.

(Nick Koza)

Mater Dei 86, La Mirada 79: The Monarchs came back from a 12-point halftime deficit to eliminate No. 1-seeded La Mirada on the road in Division I.

St. John Bosco 65, San Marcos 55: Christian Collins scored 30 points and Max Ellis 19 for the Braves.

Venice 61, Riverside Ramona 50: Canaan Rodriguez scored 18 points for Venice in Division IV.

Girls basketball

Oak Park 72, La Jolla Country Day 57: Karisma Flores scored 27 points, including seven of seven from the three-point line, to lead Oak Park.

The City Section boys’ soccer playoffs are in turmoil.

On Wednesday, City Section commissioner Vicky Lagos announced that Marquez and South East have been removed from the Open Division playoffs because of ineligible players that violated CIF bylaw 600, which bans players from participating in outside leagues during the season of their sport. Both players are involved with MLS Next, a soccer development program.

South East reached the Open Division final after beating Marquez in the semifinals. Marquez was scheduled to face El Camino Real in the final but now is also out. As a result, two schools that were beaten in the first round, Birmingham and Venice, will play Thursday at Birmingham for the right to face El Camino Real at 6 p.m. at Pasadena City College on Saturday for the Open Division title.

But there are more problems. At least four Birmingham players, thinking their season had ended, have already started playing for their club teams, so they won’t be eligible to play for the Patriots on Thursday.

Franklin was also removed from the playoffs, and Chatsworth and L.A. Jordan forfeited games this season for similar reasons.

“It’s a big mess,” Lagos said.

Birmingham athletic director Rick Prizant, whose school is part of the West Valley League, is proposing to change bylaw 600.

“This proves we should get rid of the rule,” he said.

Lagos emphasizes before the season to coaches that players can’t play in club competitions or in showcases during their high school soccer season. Lagos said she doesn’t believe any of the head coaches were aware of the violations. She received an email last week informing her of a possible South East violation and another Monday regarding Marquez.

SATURDAY’S RESULTS

CITY SECTION

BOYS

SEMIFINALS

At Southwest College

OPEN DIVISION

#2 Cleveland 68, #6 Fairfax 62 (OT)

#1 Palisades 71, #5 San Pedro 56

Note: Finals Feb. 27 at 8 p.m. at Southwest College.

GIRLS

SEMIFINALS

At Pasadena City College

OPEN DIVISION

#2 Birmingham 73, #3 LA Hamilton 28

#1 Westchester 79, #5 Venice 45

Note: Finals Feb. 28 at 6 p.m. at Pasadena City College.

At Southwest College

DIVISION I

#1 El Camino Real 37, #4 Eagle Rock 36

#2 Granada Hills Kennedy 63, #3 San Pedro 52

At Pasadena City College

DIVISION II

#2 North Hollywood 56, #3 Santee 31

#1 Harbor Teacher 49, #5 West Adams 29

DIVISION III

#4 LA Marshall at #1 Washington Prep

#2 Gardena 41, #3 San Fernando 25

DIVISION IV

#12 Wilmington Banning 39, #1 Maywood CES 15

#11 Bravo 51, #10 Panorama 28

DIVISION V

#20 Sotomayor at #9 Los Angeles

#2 Legacy 43, #3 Vaughn 33

Note: Finals Feb. 27-28 at TBA.

SOUTHERN SECTION

GIRLS

QUARTERFINALS

OPEN DIVISION

Ontario Christian 114, Fairmont Prep 50

Sage Hill 59, Oak Park 56

Etiwanda 87, Rancho Christian 36

Sierra Canyon 79, Mater Dei 38

Note: Semifinals Tuesday; Finals Feb. 28 at 8 p.m. at Toyota Arena.

STATE PLAY-IN GAMES

JSerra 50, Redondo Union 43

Corona Centennial 66, Lakewood St. Joseph 55

SEMIFINALS

DIVISION 1

Valencia 59, Windward 46

La Salle 48, Moreno Valley 40

DIVISION 2

Saugus 48, Camarillo 46

Crescenta Valley 45, Rosary Academy 44

DIVISION 3

Murrieta Valley 59, Oxnard 56

St. Margaret’s 54, Leuzinger 50

DIVISION 4

La Canada 47, Anaheim Canyon 33

El Dorado 44, Marina 34

DIVISION 5

Bishop Diego 48, Godinez 42

Burbank Burroughs 44, Oakwood 35

DIVISION 6

Savanna 52, San Jacinto 43

Warren 33, Hillcrest 32

DIVISION 7

Laguna Hills 53, Patriot 50

La Palma Kennedy 49, Ridgecrest Burroughs 32

DIVISION 8

Orange 49, University Prep 36

Schurr 44, Chadwick 32

DIVISION 9

Desert Hot Springs 47, Vista del Lago 35

Sierra Vista 62, La Sierra 34

Note: Finals Feb. 27 or 28.

FRIDAY’S RESULTS

CITY SECTION

BOYS

SEMIFINALS

DIVISION I

#2 Chatsworth 53, #3 Venice 51 (OT)

#1 Granada Hills 48, LA Jordan 30

DIVISION II

#3 Sylmar 93, #10 Marquez 75

#4 King/Drew 72, #1 Bravo 44

DIVISION III

#1 RFK Community 55, #5 Huntington Park 28

#10 Verdugo Hills 70 #3 SOCES 57

DIVISION IV

#5 San Fernando 85, #8 Hawkins 68

#2 Franklin 64, #6 Angelou 47

DIVISION V

#1 Van Nuys 48, #21 Camino Nuevo 46

#2 Canoga Park 56, #19 Santee 38

Note: Finals Feb. 27-28 at TBA.

SOUTHERN SECTION

BOYS

QUARTERFINALS

OPEN DIVISION

Sierra Canyon 70, Santa Margarita 47

Sherman Oaks Notre Dame 59, Corona Centennial 56

Harvard-Westlake 49, Crespi 46

La Mirada 73, Redondo Union 70

Note: Semifinals Tuesday; Finals Feb. 28 at 6 p.m. at Toyota Arena.

STATE PLAY-IN GAMES

St. John Bosco 70, Corona del Mar 42

Damien 59, Etiwanda 46

SEMIFINALS

DIVISION 1

Crean Lutheran 67, Rancho Christian 55

JSerra 103, Inglewood 91

DIVISION 2

Bishop Amat 65, Eastvale Roosevelt 51

Hesperia 57, Mater Dei 52

DIVISION 3

Murrieta Mesa 63, Warren 56

Aliso Niguel 66, Gahr 59

DIVISION 4

Norte Vista 69, Trabuco Hills 62

Colony at Shalhevet, Saturday at 8:30 p.m.

DIVISION 5

Gardena Serra 89, Vasquez 80

Pilibos 59, San Juan Hills 42

DIVISION 6

Ramona 60, Placentia Valencia 57

Laguna Hills 62, Moreno Valley 51

DIVISION 7

Salesian 61, Canyon Country Canyon 58

Rialto 52, Rowland 44

DIVISION 8

Redlands Adventist at Victor Valley, Saturday at 6:30 p.m.

South El Monte 45, Edgewood 43

DIVISION 9

Colton 58, Santa Maria Valley Christian 45

Pacific 62, Samueli Academy 41

Note: Finals Feb. 27 or 28.

SATURDAY’S SCHEDULE

(All games at 7 p.m. unless noted)

CITY SECTION

BOYS

SEMIFINALS

At Southwest College

OPEN DIVISION

#6 Fairfax vs. #2 Cleveland

#5 San Pedro vs. #1 Palisades, 6 p.m.

Note: Finals Feb. 27 at 8 p.m. at Southwest College.

GIRLS

SEMIFINALS

At Pasadena City College

OPEN DIVISION

#3 LA Hamilton at #2 Birmingham, 4 p.m.

#5 Venice vs. #1 Westchester, 6 p.m.

Note: Finals Feb. 28 at 6 p.m. at Pasadena City College.

At Southwest College

DIVISION I

#4 Eagle Rock at #1 El Camino Real, 12 p.m.

#3 San Pedro at #2 Granada Hills Kennedy, 2 p.m.

At Pasadena City College

DIVISION II

#3 Santee vs. #2 North Hollywood, 12 p.m.

#5 West Adams vs. #1 Harbor Teacher, 2 p.m.

DIVISION III

#4 LA Marshall at #1 Washington Prep

#3 San Fernando at #2 Gardena

DIVISION IV

#12 Wilmington Banning at #1 Maywood CES

#11 Bravo at #10 Panorama

DIVISION V

#20 Sotomayor at #9 Los Angeles

#3 Vaughn vs. #10 Port of LA / #2 Legacy

Note: Finals Feb. 27-28 at TBA.

SOUTHERN SECTION

GIRLS

QUARTERFINALS

OPEN DIVISION

Fairmont Prep at Ontario Christian

Oak Park at Sage Hill

Rancho Christian at Etiwanda

Mater Dei at Sierra Canyon

Note: Semifinals Tuesday; Finals Feb. 28 at 8 p.m. at Toyota Arena.

SEMIFINALS

DIVISION 1

Windward at Valencia

La Salle at Moreno Valley

DIVISION 2

Saugus at Camarillo

Crescenta Valley at Rosary Academy

DIVISION 3

Oxnard at Murrieta Valley

St. Margaret’s at Leuzinger

DIVISION 4

La Canada at Anaheim Canyon

Marina at El Dorado

DIVISION 5

Bishop Diego at Godinez

Burbank Burroughs at Oakwood

DIVISION 6

Savanna at San Jacinto

Hillcrest at Warren

DIVISION 7

Laguna Hills at Patriot

Ridgecrest Burroughs at La Palma Kennedy, 6 p.m.

DIVISION 8

University Prep at Orange

Chadwick at Schurr

DIVISION 9

Desert Hot Springs at Vista del Lago, 6 p.m.

Sierra Vista at La Sierra

Note: Finals Feb. 27 or 28.

Jaden Bailes, JSerra’s leading scorer, was being patient. He had just eight points going into the fourth quarter Tuesday night in a Southern Section Division 1 quarterfinal playoff game against Rolling Hills Prep at North Torrance. The Lions were clinging to a seven-point lead.

That’s when Bailes decided to go into Stephen Curry mode. He made three consecutive threes to ignite a 15-0 surge that left Rolling Hills Prep helpless. The Lions pulled away for a 66-49 victory that only took 71 minutes to complete. The Lions (22-12) are a 12-loss team that’s looking pretty good with no fellow Trinity League teams left in Division 1. They do have to figure out a way to contain high-scoring Jason Crowe Jr. of Inglewood in Friday’s semifinals at JSerra.

Bailes certainly can make shots with Crowe if given the opportunity.

“They were doubling him on everything and I told him to be a playmaker,” JSerra coach Keith Wilkinson said.

Said Bailes: “I was confident the ball was going to come back to me. It’s a collective team effort. Lanes started opening up and I took advantage.”

Bailes finished with 19 points, Earl Bryson had 18 points and Godschoice Eboigbodin had 11 points and 12 rebounds. Kawika Suter scored 16 points for Rolling Hills Prep, which trailed by five points at halftime and 41-34 after three quarters.

Harvard-Westlake 83, Santa Margarita 62: After losing three of their last four games, the Wolverines have come back big time in the Open Division playoffs, winning their pool with an impressive road win. Joe Sterling and Pierce Thompson each scored 22 points and Amir Jones 21.

Redondo Union 69, Corona Centennial 57: Chris Sanders scored 22 points to help Redondo Union win its pool and move on to a quarterfinal home game Friday against La Mirada.

Sherman Oaks Notre Dame 69, St. John Bosco 60: The Knights won their Open Division pool and will host Corona Centennial on Friday. NaVorro Bowman Jr. scored 20 points and Zach White had 14 points.

Sierra Canyon 95, Corona del Mar 65: Maxi Adams had 25 points and Brandon McCoy 23 for the 24-1 Trailblazers, who won their pool and will play host to Santa Margarita on Friday.

Inglewood 82, Fairmont Prep 69: Jason Crowe Jr. finished with 45 points to help Inglewood reach the Division 1 semifinals and assure Crowe will be in the state playoffs.

Mater Dei 82, El Dorado 72: Luke Barnett led the way with five threes and 26 points and Zain Majeed added 25 points to advance the Monarchs into the Division 2 semifinals.

Crean Lutheran 83, Village Christian 58: The top-seeded Saints routed Village Christian to move into the Division 1 semifinals, where it will face Rancho Christian, a 71-62 winner over Long Beach Millikan.