BOYS’ BASKETBALL / SOUTHERN REGIONAL

Westchester 79, Clovis West 54--The top-seeded Comets took an 11-4 lead early in the first quarter and then went on an 11-5 run near the end of the quarter and never looked back in a Division I semifinal at Loyola Marymount.

Westchester (28-3) will play Artesia (32-1), a 67-54 winner Thursday over Glendora, in the Division I championship game Saturday night at Pauley Pavilion.

“We thought they would come out and try to slow the pace down, but they wanted to run with us,” said Westchester senior Tony Bland, who scored 10 of his game-high 16 points in the second quarter. “That just played into our hands and made it easier for us the whole night.”

Westchester continued to increase its lead with a 19-point second quarter that gave the Comets a 41-28 halftime lead.

Westchester Coach Ed Azzam credited his team’s defense for the quick start.

“When our defense creates scoring opportunities, we can be very good,” Azzam said. “And tonight I was very pleased with the defense.”

In the second half, Clovis West (31-3) had little energy to make a comeback and Westchester cruised the rest of the way.

David Bluthenthal scored 16 points for Westchester, and Brandon Glanville and C.J. Williams each scored nine points for the Comets.