Boys’ basketball: No. 9-seeded Sylmar tries to finish off surprising playoffs

Since being seeded No. 9 in the City Section Division I tournament and feeling a little under appreciated, the Sylmar basketball team has been on a mission. Each step of the way, the Spartans have pulled off an upset.

There was No. 8 Fremont that went down first. Then came No. 1 Palisades, followed by No. 5 Washington. The only team left standing in the way of the Spartans is No. 2 Granada Hills in Saturday’s Division I final at 3 p.m. at Cal State Dominguez Hills.

Coach Bort Escoto’s Spartans have caught fire, and even their hard-to-please coach has been impressed. They seem to have lots of contributors, from the outside shooting of Adrian Galindo to the court leadership of Clarence Williams to the all-around play of Tyler Hooks.

Granada Hills is looking forward to a rematch of a Dec. 13 game against Sylmar in which the Spartans won, 82-67. Both teams were missing players.

Granada Hills has a rising standout in sophomore Michael Mensah.

Granada Hills Coach Don Loperena and Sylmar’s Escoto are well acquainted with each other. They used to do battle when Loperena was the coach at Monroe.

Sylmar wants to run. Granada Hills has had a week to prepare for the Spartans.

It should be a good one.

Twitter:@LATSondheimer