SPORTS: Samohi Loses In Playoff Semifinal:

Santa Monica High’s bid for the school’s first CIF basketball championship since 1987 ended with a 62-58 loss to Long Beach Jordan last week in a game at Millikan High in Long Beach.Jordan won a coin flip to have the game at a home alternative site. Under CIF playoff rules, it could not be played in its gym.Samohi came back from an 11-point second half deficit and had a chance to win at the end. But on three possessions the Vikings had a turnover, a missed free throw and another turnover.“It’s infortunate we didn’t win the championship but I’m extremely proud of the team,’’ said Coach James Hecht.“There was a lot of fight in these players. It was a pleasure to coach this group.’’Samohi finished the season with a 20-10 record.Bryan Louff scored 17 points and Dominique Christopher had 16.In reaching the semifinals, Samohi went farther than it has gone in the playoffs since 1987. It reached that level by winning a home court third round game from traditional power Long Beach Poly.“Jordan was very athletic and a little bigger,’’ said Hecht.In the championship game Saturday, top-seeded Los Alamitos defeated Jordan, 71-61.Four Samohi players earned all-Ocean League recognition. Guard Terrence Boozer and forward Will Freeman were named to the first team. Guard Akil Gainer and Christopher made the second team. Samohi’s junior varsity team had a 23-3 record and is expected to contribute several players to the varsity next season.In the girls’ playoffs championship game, Windward defeated Brentwood, 53-45. It was a rematch of last season’s division title game, once again matching the Olympic League rivals.Brentwood won last year, but the teams met three times this season and Windward won them all. Brentwood won every league game except the two against Windward.Earlier in the playoffs, Windward eliminated New Roads.Brentwood, coached by Dave Smith, won 19 games and lost nine.