Boys Basketball: Stafford, Duffy Lead Las Lomas to Win Over Cordova in State Tournament

Las Lomas 71, Cordova 62

The Star: Kevin Stafford knocked down eights 3s and finished with a game-high 29 points, while teammate Treaven Duffy went for 25 in the win. 

The Turning Point: After Cordova took the lead at 58-56 with 5:14 left in the game, Duffy took over. The crafty guard scored 12 of the game's next 16 points as the Knights went on a 14-2 run to put the game away.

Who's Next? Las Lamas will travel to Stockton to play Sac-Joaquin Section Division II champion St. Mary's at Delta College at 7:30 p.m., on Thursday.

The Bottom Line: Stafford's precision from long range kept the game close throughout, but he passed the baton to Duffy to take the game home.

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When the boys basketball team gets in a game of run-and-gun, the Knights like their chances.

So when Tuesday's California Interscholastic Federation Northern California Regional first-round game against Cordova-Rancho Cordova turned into just that, Las Lomas was at home.

Behind 29 points from Kevin Stafford and 25 from Treaven Duffy, Las Lomas pulled away late to advance with a 71-62 victory.

"It was awesome, we didn't want to end our season on our home court," Stafford said. "We haven't lost here all year."

The senior sharp-shooter did his part to make sure the home winning streak continued. After knocking down three 3s in the first half, Stafford opened the second half with three more triples in just 100 seconds to turn a 34-31 deficit into a 40-34 lead. He finished with eight 3s in the game.

"Kevin got us going to the point where Treaven took over," Las Lomas coach Jeff Loving said. "They have been our two-headed monster all year long."

Cordova took its final lead at 58-56 with five minutes, 14 seconds left.

Enter Duffy.

He went on to score 12 of the game's next 16 points and guided the Knights on a 14-2 run to put the game away.

"He makes it easy on us," Stafford said of Duffy. "They have to pay a lot of attention to him and we get open shots. Sometimes he takes crazy shots, but a lot of time they go in."

Las Lomas' reward for its first round win is a meeting with Sac Joaquin Section champion St. Mary's-Stockton at Delta College on Thursday at 7:30 p.m.

The Rams' roster boasts a lot of height, including 6-foot-10 Chris Magalotti, but the player to watch is 6-4 senior Alex Simmons, who comes in averaging 15.8 points per game.

Stafford said the Knights, who will give up a lot of height, are up for the challenge.

"We've been undersized all year," he said. "We just have to get up and go and get the big guys tired."

Las Lomas 71, Cordova 62

Cordova