The Saugus Centurions kept their historic season alive Thursday night, edging Grossmont High School 60-59 in a tightly contested second-round matchup of the CIF Division 2 State Playoffs. 

With the win, Saugus advances to the regional semifinals and will hit the road Saturday for the next round.

Defending their home court, the Centurions relied on a balanced team effort highlighted by Brianna Burroughs, who recorded a double-double with 17 points and 12 rebounds.

Her presence on both ends of the floor proved crucial in a game that remained close from start to finish.

The two teams battled evenly throughout the first half, with neither side able to build much separation on the scoreboard. By halftime, the game was deadlocked at 31-31, setting up an intense second half between the evenly matched squads.

Saugus began to create some breathing room in the third quarter, tightening its defense and finding offensive rhythm. Heading into the fourth quarter, the Centurions held a 48-41 advantage and appeared to have momentum on their side.

Grossmont, however, refused to go away quietly. The visitors turned up the pressure in the final frame, pouring in 18 fourth-quarter points and threatening to steal the game late. 

Despite the surge, Saugus held firm down the stretch. The Centurions added 12 points in the final period, doing just enough to hold off Grossmont and secure the narrow 60-59 victory.

Jasmine Garcia led the Centurions in scoring with 18 points. Garcia has been a key offensive weapon for Saugus throughout the season, highlighted by her standout performance earlier this year when she knocked down 10 three-pointers and finished with 30 points in the Centurions’ 79-39 win over Golden Valley. 

That performance set a league record on the girls’ side and also established a school record, across both the boys and girls programs for the most three-pointers made in a single game.

Rachel Correa contributed across multiple areas of the game, finishing with six points, 12 rebounds and three blocks. Natalie Weathers also made her presence felt defensively, recording three blocks of her own to help protect the paint.

Senior EvaMarie Rios, a four-year varsity player for the Centurions, added 10 points while also contributing five rebounds and four assists.

With the victory, Saugus continues a season that has already been filled with milestones. The Centurions recently reached the CIF-Southern Section championship game for the first time in program history and have now added a state playoff win to their list of accomplishments.

Saugus will look to keep that momentum going Saturday when the Centurions travel to face Birmingham in the CIF State Division 2 regional semifinals. Tip-off is scheduled for 5 p.m. as the team continues its pursuit of a state title.

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