Dixon Scores 26, Leads Valencia to Victory

Eric Dixon scored 26 points to help Valencia defeat host Palm Desert La Quinta, 69-66, in a first-round Southern Section Division II-AA boys’ basketball playoff game Friday.

Dixon scored 16 points in the second half for the Tigers (13-14), who advanced to play second-seeded Temecula Chaparral, a 57-45 winner over Lake Elsinore Temescal Canyon.

Valencia’s Emmanuel Ortega made two three-point baskets in the fourth quarter, the second one put the Tigers up by two in the final 1 1/2 minutes.

Skyler Wilson scored 24 points for La Quinta (13-14).

In other Division II-AA games:

Brea Olinda 80, Torrance 68--Landon Lewis scored 19 points, including five three-pointers, for host Brea Olinda (21-6), which advanced to play Newport Harbor.

Newport Harbor 53, Cerritos Gahr 45--Chris Martin made three free throws in the last two minutes of the game to give host Newport Harbor (18-8) a six-point lead.

Dustin Illingworth had 23 points and 13 rebounds for the Sailors.

Santa Margarita 59, Los Amigos 33--R.J. Socci had 20 points and Chris Pearce had 10 points, nine assists and eight steals for host Santa Margarita (22-5), which advanced to play Littlerock.

Lenny Collins had nine points on three three-pointers and Brandon Rohe also scored nine points for the Eagles.

Littlerock 52, Buena Park 40--Gene Myvett scored 28 as Littlerock (20-7) won its first playoff game in any sport since beginning varsity competition in 1991.

Deandre Gipson scored 13 for Buena Park (12-15).

Whittier La Serna 72, Cypress 62--Cypress shot 67% for the game, but had only 11 rebounds. Justin Yun, who made six three-point baskets, scored 20 points for Cypress (14-12).

La Serna advanced to play Redondo Union.

Redondo Union 63, Garden Grove 32--Norman Smith scored 12 points for visiting Garden Grove (7-18), which was outscored, 38-11, in the first half.

In the second round of Division III-AA:

Corona del Mar 47, Covina Northview 25--Kevin Hansen had 14 points and 12 rebounds for host Corona del Mar (21-6), which advanced to play Sherman Oaks Notre Dame.

In a Division IV-A first-round game:

Orange Lutheran 74, Brentwood 53--Jason Whieldon scored 28 points and teammate Patrick Salyer had 22 points and 11 rebounds for host Orange Lutheran (22-4), which advanced to play Riverside Notre Dame, a 66-35 winner over Mojave.

Chris Latham led Brentwood (10-17) with 17 points.