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Boys’ basketball: St. John Bosco wins Division II regional championship

St. John Bosco players pose for a team photo with their championship plaque following their 72-55 win over Compton in the Southern California Regional Division II final at Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario on Saturday.
(Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
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The “big three” were at their best for St. John Bosco on Saturday, and when that happens, the Braves just don’t lose.

Daniel Hamilton had 22 points, nine rebounds and six assists. Tyler Dorsey had 20 points and Vance Jackson added 18 points to lead the Braves past Compton, 72-55, in the Southern California Regional Division II final at Citizens Business Bank Arena. They will play Folsom on Saturday at 4 p.m. at Sleep Train Arena in the Division II state championship game in Sacramento.

“That’s the best I’ve seen them play,” Compton Coach Tony Thomas said. “They were very relaxed. They were having fun.”

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It took 33 games, but the Braves (22-11) may have turned a corner and just in time to win a state title. Coach Derrick Taylor has had his ups and downs trying to get everyone on the same page, but St. John Bosco appears to be peaking at the right time.

Compton (25-8) didn’t produce the energy needed to topple the Braves. Isaiah Bailey, who’s meant so much to the Compton program, finished his career by scoring 20 points. Iziahiah Sweeney added 17 points.

Taylor said his team had its best practice of the year on Friday, so he was confident they would play well.

Now the Braves have a chance to win a state title just a few months after the football team went 16-0 and won the CIF state championship Open Division bowl game.

Taylor, in his third season, said before he was hired that St. John Bosco had “untapped potential.”

“I really think this is just a beginning,” he said.

Eric.sondheimer@latimes.com

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