The Damien Monarchs are in the state tournament.

Damien swished 10 free throws in a row during the final minutes for a 57-44 win over University on Saturday afternoon to claim the second and final ILH Division II state-tournament berth.

Senior Kolin Galdiano led the Monarchs with 15 points and Lindon Sevilleja added 12. Crumel Mooring chipped in 10 points. It was a gritty, mostly poised effort by a team that endured injuries in preseason — they were down to seven players at one point — and midseason suspensions. Seniors like Galdiano and Mooring held down the fort. Coach Alvin Stephenson gave the two seniors a big hug after replacing them with the game in hand during the final seconds.

“We stressed playing for family, playing for the pride of our school. All the years I’ve been here, these kids fight to the end. They’re always scrapping. I’d go to war with them,” Stephenson said.

Damien (14-8 overall including nonconference games) was just 8-for-16 at the free-throw line with less than five minutes remaining, trailing 38-36. Freshman Jydon Hall drove left and scored to tie the game. With 3:30 to play, Sevilleja cut to the bucket and scored to give Damien the lead for good, 40-38.

Damien’s 10-1 run, buoyed by a torrent of missed long-range shots by the visiting Jr. ‘Bows, was based on good passing and movement without the ball. By the time Sevilleja sank two free throws with 1:45 remaining, the home team had its biggest lead of the game, 46-39.

Ryder Rebbis’ corner 3 brought University within four with 1:22 left, but the Jr. ‘Bows got no closer. The Monarchs made their next eight free-throw attempts, six of them by Galdiano. His final free throws stretched the lead to 54-44 with 14.9 seconds left.

The Monarchs finished the game 21-for-32 at the line. Much like their roller-coaster season, they found a way to finish strong in the clutch.

Mooring, a 6-foot senior who plays four positions, played center in the first half. He finished with three offensive rebounds, three assists and one steal. His 4-for-4 shooting in the final quarter was part of a clutch team performance.

“Each of his players has to make 25 free throws to start practice, and 25 at the end,” Mooring said of his coach.

“It helped us get our mind-set right,” added Galdiano, who was a freshman on the varsity squad when Damien last reached the state tourney.

St. Francis already had the ILH D-II title sewn up by placing first during the regular season. The Snapple/HHSAA Boys Basketball State Championships in Division II open on Wednesday. St. Francis is the defending state champion.