HART TOURNAMENT : Hart Staves Off Saugus, 61-60, Advances to Championship Game

This is the 19th year that Hart High has hosted a holiday basketball tournament.

But unlike the UNLVs and the Indianas, Hart doesn’t line up a gym full of patsies and walk off with an annual trophy. The Indians have yet to win their tournament.

They did, however, defeat cross-town rival Saugus, 61-60, Friday night to advance to the championship game of the 16-team tournament for the ninth time. Their opponent will be East Bakersfield.

Saugus had three chances to win it in the final 30 seconds.

Ali Peek paced the Indians (8-5) with 18 points, while teammate Doug Rich added 16 points.

Greg Yumbar, who scored nine points in the fourth quarter, finished with a game-high 22 points for the Centurions (9-4).

In other games:

East Bakersfield 57, Antelope Valley 48--Four starters scored in double figures for East Bakersfield (10-2), which will make its second championship-game appearance in three years.

Kevin Kirkland scored 17 points for the Antelopes (6-8).

Calabasas 70, San Fernando 45--Greg Waugh scored 20 points as the Coyotes beat the Tigers in a fifth-place semifinal game.

Rio Mesa 57, Alemany 49--David Halverson had 14 points, Jeff Howatt had 13 and Manuk Kayauglu added 11 to pace the Spartans in the consolation semifinals.

an Glendale 73, Westlake 58--Jason Harper scored 20 points to lead the Dynamiters in the fifth-place semifinal game. Hai Tran added 17 points and Jerry Armen had 15 points and six assists for Glendale (7-5).

Beverly Hills 85, St. Francis 76--Senior guard Kyle Barrett scored 42 points but the Knights lost in a consolation semifinal.

Palmdale 79, Hart JV 42--Jason Grimes scored 26 points in the consolation semifinals.