Downey’s Tyler Harris (30) drives to the basket as they play Bellflower in their league boys basketball game at Downey High School on Tuesday. Bellflower defeated Downey 50-47. (Photo by Keith Durflinger)

DOWNEY — It was senior night at Downey High School before a packed gym and drama was in the air for both the girls and boys basketball teams.

The girls, who finished 14-14 overall and 3-5 in the Gateway League, won in double overtime, 64-56, over Gahr to finish in third place and are headed for the post season.

Meanwhile, the boys made a tremendous comeback against visiting Bellflower, but fell short, 50-47, in San Gabriel Valley League action. They finished third but will also begin the second season next week.

The brackets for both the boys and girls CIF Southern Section playoffs will be announced on the website on Saturday (Feb. 8) at noon.

In the Downey (18-10, 7-3) boys game, senior forward Tyler Harris had a game-high 23 points, followed by 11 points from junior guard Shane Costello. Senior guard Earl Santos added 7 points.

“Even though (Wednesday) wasn’t the outcome we wanted, I’d say we fought the best we could,” Harris said. “We always fight to the end.

“I’m proud of my team and we have a lot to prove in the playoffs.”

Bellflower was led by senior guard Deacon Botts with a team-high 19 points, followed by 12 points by senior guard EJ Andrews. Senior forward Christian Saldana added 10 points.

The Downey boys started out in a big hole, trailing 14-2, with just under half the period elapsed.

After Costello opened the game with a driving layup, it was all Bellflower for the next 14 points.

The Vikings ended the opening quarter with a 6-2 run, led by a driving layup at the buzzer by Harris, to trail, 16-8.

The second quarter was low-scoring for both teams, as Downey led with nine points and the Buccaneers had just eight points.

Harris opened the second quarter with a fade away jumper and scored a layup under the basket and a short jumper to trail, 24-17 at the intermission.

The third quarter got the Vikings back into the game, as they outscored Bellflower, 18-13 to trail by a basket heading into the final quarter.

Trailing by nine points (29-20) with 4:35 left in the quarter, Costello scored on a driving layup and after a defensive stop by the Vikings, Santos scored three of his seven points on a three-pointer to trail, 29-25.

Downey scored the last seven points of the quarter led by Harris with a driving layup and free throw, which was followed by a layup by Costello and two more free throws by Harris to trail by a bucket, 37-35, heading into the final quarter.

“I just think that represents Downey basketball and we always climb our way back in,” said Harris, of the third and fourth quarter scoring for the Vikings. “When I say Downey Basketball, I don’t just mean on the court, I mean our attitudes and the way we are in the classroom and our daily routines.

“I think it really reflects the parents and coaches that we have here at the school.”

The final quarter was nearly even with the Buccaneers holding a 13-12 advantage.

Costello scored on a short jump shot with 4:44 left to get within a point, 42-41.

Two minutes later, Harris hit a fall-back three-pointer to tie the game up, 44-44, with 2:39 left.

Bellflower extended the lead to 48-44 on a couple of free throws and Costello hit a fade-away three-pointer with 1.5 seconds left to trail, 50-47. The defense had to foul and the game ended after two more free throws by Bellflower.

“We dug ourselves a hole to start this game and did the same thing against Warren and it’s hard to come back,” Downey second-year coach Tyler Ellis said.

As for the third and fourth quarter comebacks, Ellis said, “I’m not surprised by our fight and grit. We’ve been doing that all year. I don’t know if it was the senior night festivities or what. I think our guys were a little too overamped I guess. When Bellflower went on their run to start the game, we were mentally sped up for no reason.

“Unfortunately, we came out on the wrong side of it, but we still hopefully have a lot more basketball left with the playoffs. The fans definitely got their moneys worth if they stayed for both games.”

As for Harris, Ellis said, “He’s one hell of a player and he gets everyone’s best defender and best athlete usually. The second half, he settled in and did a better job just getting to his spots before he caught the ball.

“I’m proud of all of them for just continuing to fight and they could have rolled over.

Emilio (Jaimes) had some plays down the stretch, Earl (Santos) has been making plays for us all year and Emari (Welcome), that was his first game back. He’s been on a bum ankle since we played Bellflower at their place (Jan. 17). For him to tough it out was impressive too.”

Downey girls win in double OT

With the Downey girls basketball not only having to win, but had to win by five points to qualify for the playoffs, they just did that and more.

Tied at the end of regulation, 43-43, they had to go two overtimes to win going away, 64-56 over Gahr in the final regular season game.

Downey freshman guard Natalie Gomez, who had 11 points in regulation and 10 points (9 free throws made) in two OT’s, led with 21 points and senior forward Amanda Velazquez had 14 points.

Downey junior guard Geneva Serrano and senior center Isabella Ceja both added eight points.

Bellflower was led by Christine Ho with 21 points, which were all 3-pointers.

After the first overtime, it was still tied, 53-53, but with that 5-point winning margin still needed to advance to the playoffs, it was all Vikings in the second OT, as they outscored the Gladiators, 11-3. Gomez led with six of those points

“I honestly believe that was the biggest regular season win of my coaching career,” said coach Nate Harris, of his 16 years at the helm of the girls program. “We’ve never missed the playoffs, and it came down to that.

The Vikings were in a peculiar situation near the end of regulation. A win with less than the five-point margin wouldn’t help their cause, but the tie and eventual OT did wonders for their chances for a post season berth.

“Me and my assistant talked about it,” Harris explained. “It’s hard to know what to do. If we win, we would have a .500 record and we would have to apply for an at-large berth.

“As it worked out, we got double overtime and then we won by more than five.”

Downey High boys, girls basketball headed for CIF playoffs