Orange County Prep Basketball Tournaments : Serra, Whittier Christian Head Laguna Beach Field

Serra High School, runner-up in the Southern Section 5-A division basketball championship last year, and Whittier Christian, 1-A runner-up, are the featured teams in the Laguna Beach tournament beginning Monday in the Artists’ gymnasium.

Top players will include Rog Middleton of Tustin, Richard Lucas of Katella, Moe Warner of Los Alamitos and Brian Tift of Estancia.

The championship game of the 16-team tournament is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Dec. 6.

The first-round pairings:

Monday: 3 p.m.--Tustin vs. San Clemente; 4:30--Fallbrook vs. Serra; 6--Estancia vs. Santiago; 7:30--Laguna Beach vs. Katella.

Tuesday: 3 p.m.--Whittier Christian vs. Lynwood; 4:30--Warren vs. Los Alamitos; 6--Huntington Beach vs. Troy; 7:30--Dana Hills vs. Corona del Mar.

COSTA MESA

La Quinta High School, with five returning starters and transfer Scott Campbell from Colorado, is the favorite in the first Costa Mesa basketball tournament beginning Monday in the Mustangs’ gymnasium.

The Aztecs’ top competition should come from University, which has three returning starters including all-league forward Lasse Glassen. The first-round pairings:

Monday: 6 p.m.--University vs. Mayfair; 7:30--Whitney vs. La Quinta.

Tuesday: 6 p.m.--San Marcos vs. (SD) St. Augustine; 7:30--Glenn vs. Costa Mesa.

GARDEN GROVE

Bolsa Grande High School, with returning starters Nam Cao and Joe Small, is the favorite in the 21st Garden Grove basketball tournament beginning Monday in the Argonauts’ gymnasium.

Other top players scheduled to compete in the eight-team tournament include Mike Hetlund and Greg Wilber of Fullerton. The championship game is scheduled for 8 Friday.

The first-round pairings:

Monday: 6:15 p.m.--Laguna Hills vs. Pacifica; 8--Loara vs. Garden Grove.

Tuesday: 6:15 p.m.--Western vs. El Dorado; 8--Fullerton vs. Bolsa Grande.

FOUNTAIN VALLEY

Long Beach Millikan High School, with four returning starters, and Marina, with three returning starters, are the top-seeded teams in the Fountain Valley basketball tournament, beginning Dec. 9 in the Barons’ gymnasium.

Millikan features all-league forwards Ken Jarvis and Shawn Williams. Marina has 6-foot 10-inch center Mark Georgeson, 6-5 forward Steve Guild and point guard Mike Meyers. St. Anthony, another tournament entry, has Darrick Martin, one of Southern California’s premier point guards.

The eight-team tournament also features Servite, with 6-4 guard Tony Smalley. The Friars have three returning starters and should also contend for the title. The championship game is scheduled for 7:30 Dec. 12.

The first-round pairings:

Dec. 9: 6 p.m.--St. Anthony vs. L.B. Millikan; 7:30--Cypress vs. Fountain Valley.

Dec. 10: 6 p.m.--Compton vs. Servite; 7:30--El Dorado vs. Marina.