CITY BASKETBALL : Girls 3-A : Will the Third Time Be a Charm for Fairfax?

When Fairfax and Crenshaw meet for the City Section 3-A girls’ basketball championship today at 4 p.m. at the Sports Arena, the lucky number may be three.

Fairfax (15-8), the defending 3-A champion, is making its third straight appearance in the Sports Arena.

Also, the Lions have played Crenshaw twice this year and have lost twice, settling for a co-championship with the Cougars (14-3) in the Park West League.

The Lions are led by senior forward Shameil Coleman, who averaged 31.2 points a game this season, a City record. An All-City selection last season, Coleman is averaging 19 rebounds, 6 assists and 5 steals a game

Crenshaw, however, may have a match for Coleman in forward Yolanda Kelley. Kelley, a 5-11 junior, is averaging 23 points and 17 rebounds a game in league play.

However, the key matchup is between Fairfax’s other returners--Demetrice Davis and Michelle King--and Crenshaw’s versatile backcourt. Davis is a shooting guard who has consistently produced about 25 points and 10 rebounds a game. King, a starter last year, is a ballhandler and critical to Fairfax’s fast-break offense.

For Crenshaw, the heart of the team lies in the backcourt. At 5-3, guard Maria Elzy may appear to be a small threat, but her 27 points were instrumental in the Cougars’ 54-41 semifinal win over Eagle Rock.