Chaminade is a victory away from reaching...

Chaminade is a victory away from reaching its first Southern Section boys’ basketball championship game since 1971.

The Eagles (20-7) have done it the hard way, winning at Bishop Montgomery, 62-20, on a last-second tipin and coming from behind to defeat Cabrillo, 73-61, on Tuesday at Simi Valley High.

With a victory over Morningside tonight at Inglewood High, the Eagles will face the winner between Harvard-Westlake and Duarte in the Division III-A final. Chaminade finished second in the Mission League to Harvard-Westlake, the defending state Division III champion.

“Our kids have just gotten up for the playoffs,” Chaminade Coach Jeff Young said. “It might be surprising, but I’m not surprised.”

Bowing out: Agoura girls’ soccer Coach Dave Godwin resigned Thursday for personal reasons after 14 years, Agoura Athletic Director John Crowe said. Godwin had a record of 213-59-21 and won four Southern Section title (three in Division III and one in Division II). The Chargers finished 12-6-2 this season and did not make the playoffs.

Tall order: Newbury Park boys’ basketball Coach Steve Johnson is drawing on everyone’s experience--including his own--to help the Panthers prepare for tonight’s game against heavily favored Dominguez at Compton High.

The Dons were the preseason No. 1 team in the nation by USA Today and are still considered one of the top teams in the state, despite some midseason losses. They feature three future Division I players in 5-foot-10 point guard Kenny Brunner, 6-5 forward Jason Thomas and 6-8 forward Tayshaun Prince.

However, Newbury Park guard Daniel Bobik played on an all-star team last summer against similar competition.

“He tells the guys how not to get intimidated,” Johnson said. “And we’re going to try to not let them get many fastbreaks on us.”

Johnson also told his team about when he was a Simi Valley assistant in 1993 and the Pioneers upset Lynwood at Dominguez.

“I just need them to know that anything can happen, that they can be beaten.” Johnson said.