The Pasadena boys basketball team is adjusting to a new normal following the devastating Eaton fire. But the Bulldogs are starting to find their rhythm again — just in time too.

Pasadena took advantage of its height and size to wear down a smaller Beverly Hills team in a 55-37 win on Wednesday night in the first round of the CIF Southern Section Division 2A playoffs.

Pasadena (17-7) will face Irvine (27-2) on Friday night on the road in the second round. Irvine defeated Bishop Amat 63-42 on Wednesday night.

“At this juncture you just want to move on,” said Pasadena coach Tony Brooks.

The Bulldogs won with a true team effort. No one player dominated the game though Pasadena wore down the Normans thanks to 6-foot-6, senior forward Brandin Carpenter and 6-foot-5 junior forward Derek Jordan. They were able to bully Beverly Hills down low, blocking shots and making it difficult for the Normans to get easy layups.

Jordan scored 10 points off the bench and grabbed nine rebounds. Carpenter scored six points and hauled in nine rebounds himself.

— Donald Morrison

In other CIF-SS playoff games Wednesday:

DIVISION 1

Canyon 60, Damien 55: After trailing by eight points at the half, Canyon took control of the game in the third quarter, pulled ahead by double digits in the fourth and then withstood a late push by visiting Damien (21-11).

Damien’s Jacob Allen had a team-high 16 points, and Eli Garner finished with 15.

— Lou Ponsi

DIVISION 2AA

Glendora 83, Mayfair 79 (3OT): The Tartans (26-3) pulled out the biggest thriller of the first round, outlasting Mayfair in triple overtime to advance to Friday’s second round. They will host Camarillo, a 55-52 winner over Lakewood.

Tartans senior Colton Gray scored 31 points to go with 22 rebounds and eight assists. Max Hilgenfeldt added 24 points and Sebastian Demano contributed 17 points.

Newport Harbor 66, South Pasadena 64: The Tigers entered the playoffs with a lot of momentum, having won the Rio Hondo League title, but they fell two points short in their playoff opener. They finished the season 19-10.

South Pasadena’s Oni Balogun scored a team-high 19 points and Jack Madison finished with 17 points and nine rebounds.

DIVISION 2A

Irvine 64, Bishop Amat 42: Bishop Amat (23-6) felt the sting of a season-ending loss. The Lancers got their typical 19 points from freshman Aiden Shaw, and nine apiece from Rayshaun White and Eli Chavez.

The Lancers had trouble stopping Irvine’s Cooper Stearns, who scored 16 of his game-high 31 points in the first quarter to set the tone.

“We knew they were good, but they’re really, really good,” Bishop Amat coach Brandon Ertyle said. “They’re good at sharing the ball and they did a great job on defense. It’s tough that somebody has to lose.”

— Martin Henderson

Blair 80, Crescenta Valley 69: Junior sensation Timmy Anderson led the way with 31 points while Myles Payne finished with 17 points and Manny Macias added 12. The Vikings improved to 15-10 and will be at St. Bonaventure in Friday’s second-round game.

Los Altos 63, Bellflower 60: The Conquerors improved to 22-6 with winning a game that came down to the wire. They advance to Friday’s second-round game at North Torrance. Kevin Keshishyan and Kylen Kincy led the way with 19 points apiece.

Valencia 70, Walnut 48: The Mustangs couldn’t keep up on the road and finished the season 19-10. Senior Myles Wainright scored a team-high 13 points for Walnut, Nathan Leon added 13 points and Isaiah Leon finished with seven points.

DIVISION 3AA

San Gabriel Academy 58, Cajon 42: SGA (14-12) got off to a good start in the playoffs with a 16-point win. Mohamed Touré scored a team-high 13 points while Coco Britt and Marquise Humphreys had six points apiece.

Knight 63, Arcadia 55: The Apaches had four players finish in double figures, but it wasn’t enough to win the first-round game. Tyrese Butler had a team-high 14 points to go with four steals. Junior Noa Eteuati-Edwards finished with 13 points and 12 rebounds.

DIVISION 4A

Wilson 65, San Jacinto Academy 36: The Wildcats (17-12) cruised to an easy first-round victory. Junior Jett Hung finished with a game-high 17 points to go with four steals and three rebounds. Isaiah Esguerra poured in 12 points on four 3-pointers and added five assists.

DIVISION 5AA

Sierra Vista 71, Mesa Grande 44: The Dons cruised in their playoff opener, improving to 19-10. Ethan Guevara had 20 points and seven rebounds. Aaron Buna finished 11 points, five rebounds and five assists and Peter Albir had 11 points, five rebounds and three steals.

DIVISION 5A

Baldwin Park 51, Grace 39: Randle Tebo scored a game-high 18 points and Rafael Godinez finished with 14 points and six rebounds as the Braves improved to 14-12.