In its first state tournament appearance, the St. Francis High basketball team defeated a CIF section champion. Another balanced scoring attack might put the Golden Knights in position to accomplish the feat again.
The task might be considerably taller for 11th-seeded St. Francis, which will travel to meet third-seeded Rancho Santa Margarita in a CIF State Division III second-round game at 7 p.m. Saturday.
The Golden Knights, who finished runner-up in the CIF Southern Section Division III-A championship game against Oak Park, opened the state tournament Wednesday with a 67-62 road win against sixth-seeded San Diego Kearny. Santa Margarita, which captured the CIF Southern Section Division III-AA title against Brea Olinda, started off its state journey with a 64-51 home victory against 14th-seeded Bakersfield Independence.
"We know they have a nice resume of success," said St. Francis co-Coach Ray O'Brien, who divides the coaching chores with Jeff Stephens. "We know they are an experienced team with a lot of seniors and they have a lot of height.