Southern Section Basketball Playoffs : Valencia, Corona del Mar Compare Defenses

Two of Orange County’s top defensive teams are matched in the second round of the Southern Section 3-A division basketball playoffs at 7:30 tonight as Valencia High School plays host to Corona del Mar at El Dorado High in Placentia.

Valencia (19-5) has allowed an average of only 45 points a game while averaging 54 points in 24 games. The Tigers play a deliberate style, hoping to control the tempo.

Corona del Mar (22-6) is traditionally one of the top teams in the county with its trademark, a pressure man-to-man defense. The Sea Kings limited Woodbridge to only 49 points and Marina to 57 points in impressive victories this season.

“They played excellent defense,” said Ray Rodriguez, Valencia coach. “They’re always in the right spot at the right time.”

Valencia is coming off a 53-46 first-round victory over Kennedy in which center Dennis Burbank had 29 points and 16 rebounds. Burbank made 11 of 13 shots and 7 of 11 free throws.

“When I coached Don Carfino at St. John Bosco, he had some great games,” Rodriguez said. “But I don’t remember ever coaching a player who did more for a team than Dennis did on Friday night.”

Corona del Mar forward Chris Burns will guard Burbank. Burns has limited Marina’s Steve Guild to eight points and Woodbridge’s Vince Bryan to six points.

“Burbank is going to score,” Corona del Mar Coach Paul Orris said. “The key is to make him work hard for his points and try to keep him off the boards.”

Guard Markus Muller-Stach, who averages 21 points, bruised his knee in the Sea Kings’ 65-47 victory over Sonora Friday but Orris said he will play tonight.

In other 3-A division games:

Etiwanda (24-3) vs. Bolsa Grande (16-6) at Alta Loma High: Etiwanda is coming off its first playoff victory in the school’s four-year history. Forward Barry Howard, who has signed with the University of Washington, averages 17.5 points and guard Dion Tolbert averages 17 points. Both are three-year starters. Howard will likely guard Bolsa Grande forward Joe Small, who averages 22.2 points and 11.9 rebounds. Matador guard Nam Cao averages 16.6 points and 5.9 assists.

Rolling Hills (23-3) vs. Brea-Olinda (18-8) at Sonora High: Rolling Hills is the top-seeded team in the division and the No. 1-ranked Division II team in the state by Cal-Hi Sports of Sacramento. Forward Doug Gehr had 31 points and guard Cameron Terry 30 in the Titans’ 84-70 opening-round victory over Montebello. Gehr averages 21 points and Terry averages 17. Brea has three starters--Gary Chiotti, Ron Thomas and Mike Thorum--shooting 51% or better.

Ganesha (21-4) vs. Magnolia (19-5) at Cypress College: Third-seeded Ganesha has averaged 89.5 points in its last two games, including a 26-point victory over Los Amigos in its first playoff game. The Giants are led by forward Antonio Johnson, who averages 18 points and 12 rebounds, and swingman Eric Madison, who averages 21 points. Magnolia’s 63-60 victory over University was only the second playoff victory for the Sentinels since 1960.

Morningside (15-9) vs. Tustin (20-5) at Foothill High: Morningside has a six-game winning streak and scored 86 points in its first playoff game. Center Tim Little averages 16.5 points and 10 rebounds and guard Tarron Wiley adds 12.5 points. Tustin beat Buena Park, 75-55, in the first round, the Tillers’ first playoff victory since 1981. Forward Rog Middleton averages 22.3 points and 9.8 rebounds and shoots 70% from the field.

In the 4-A division:

Capistrano Valley (18-8) vs. Fontana (23-3) at Redlands High: Fontana won its first league title in the school’s 33-year history and then won its first playoff game since 1965, defeating Perris, 79-51. Sean Rooks, a 6-10 center, averages 21.4 points and 16 rebounds. He has signed with the University of Arizona. Capistrano Valley guard Scott McCullough averages 19 points. The Cougars have advanced to the semifinals in four of the past five seasons.

Santa Monica (14-9) vs. Santa Ana (21-6) at Saddleback High: Santa Monica rebounded from a six-game losing streak in midseason to win 10 of its last 11 games. Guard Danny Price and forward Trane Hunter were named co-most valuable players in the Ocean League. Price has signed with Weber State. Santa Ana’s most consistent player has been Jeff Stewart, who averages 16.7 points and 10.2 rebounds. Four starters scored in double figures in the Saints’ 63-53 first-round victory over Gahr.

In the 2-A division:

Walnut (19-4) vs. Woodbridge (21-5) at Irvine High: Walnut features a balanced attack led by guard Greg Johnson. He averages 16.5 points, followed by 6-8 center James Essex (13.8) and 6-6 forward Brian Crockett (12.0). Junior center Adam Keefe had 24 points and 11 rebounds in Woodbridge’s 17-point victory over Central in the first round. Keefe averages 22.2 points and 12.8 rebounds.