Teams’ Playoff Berths Surprised Coaches : Schurr, Bell Gardens to Meet in Opener

Before the season, Schurr High School Coach Tom Thompson seemed serious when assessing his team’s ability to get into the Southern Section playoffs. To hear him tell it, the Spartans didn’t have a prayer.

“I have reservations for Mammoth in February,” Thompson said in November.

Thompson had better reschedule the vacation, because Friday night at 7:30 he’ll guide the Spartans into the first round of the 3A basketball playoffs against visiting Bell Gardens.

Both Bell Gardens (Whitmont) and Schurr (Foothill) finished second in league play--accomplishments both coaches found extraordinary.

“We’re a different club than we were early in the year,” said Bell Gardens Coach Charlie LoCommare. “We started 0-3 and had to win 10 of our last 11 games to get here.”

Thompson was equally surprised at his team’s performance.

“I think our kids have done a fantastic job,” he said. “We began the year with two proven players and the rest were youngsters.”

Unranked Bell Gardens was 16-8 in the regular season. Schurr was 18-6. The teams scrimmaged early in the season with Schurr winning, 52-51, according to LoCommare.

Bell Gardens gained the playoffs on the strength of its aggressive defense. Lancer opponents averaged fewer than 50 points a game. Senior guard Richard Garcia averaged 16 points, forward Sergio Montenegro averaged nine rebounds and guard Freddie Sanchez reached double figures in scoring in the last three games.

Behind seniors Kevin Kurz (28 points a game) and Todd Inatomi (17 points and 10 assists a game), Schurr scored 80 or more points four times. Kurz scored 53 in a 104-102 double-overtime loss to then top-rated El Dorado.

In other Friday night boys games, Lynwood (23-1), ranked first in the Southeast/Long Beach area by The Times, is at home against Oxnard (14-6), and second-ranked Dominguez (19-4) will entertain Redlands (17-7) in 4A play.

In the Big Five, Moore League champion Poly (17-7) is the home team vs. Servite (9-13), runner-up Compton (14-9) is at Fountain Valley (15-8) and third-place Jordan (11-12) visits Crespi (15-7). Camino Real League co-champion St. Anthony (17-5) is at Alemany (18-7) and Angelus League runner-up Pius X (17-5) plays at home against St. Bernard (16-7).

In girls 4A playoffs, which begin Saturday, top-ranked, undefeated Moore League champion Compton (21-0) is at home against Santa Monica (8-11), runner-up Poly (17-6) plays visiting Centennial (8-6) and third-place Millikan (19-6) is at Chaffey (18-3).

San Gabriel Valley League champion Lynwood (24-2) is at home against Don Lugo (14-8), runner-up Gahr (21-6) faces Newbury Park (17-6) and Angelus League runner-up St. Paul (16-7) travels to Pomona (16-4) in other 4A games.