SOUTHERN SECTION GIRLS’ BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES : 2-A : Lompoc vs. Chino

It is no surprise that Lompoc and Chino high schools have reached the Southern Section 2-A Division girls basketball final at 8:45 tonight at Cerritos College.

After all, the schools met for the 2-A championship last year and have been the No. 1 and No. 2 ranked teams in the division all season.

Chino won the 2-A title, 59-40, and reached the state Division II final last year, but top-seeded Lompoc may be the favorite this time.

Lompoc is 25-2, including a non-league win over Santa Barbara--one of the top teams in the 4-A Division. Chino is 24-4.

The biggest problem for Chino may be matching up with Lompoc’s talented front line that features two All-Southern Section players in 6-1 senior forward Marie Fontaine, who averages 18 points, and 6-1 senior center Pam Coffey, who averages 16.

Toss in 5-11 senior forward Nanette Fontaine, Marie’s twin sister, who averages 11 points, and it’s no wonder why the Braves have not had many close games this season.

Lompoc had its closest game since December when it defeated Hesperia, 40-36, in the semifinals.

The Braves, an excellent fast-break team, are also strong at guard with juniors Shannin Stevens (5-7) and Velda Palm (5-4).

Chino, which defeated Irvine Woodbridge, 60-43, in the semifinals, is strong at guard with seniors Jeanine Jones (5-7) and Stephanie Dykstra (5-8). Jones, an excellent passer, averages 12 points, and Dykstra, the top scorer in a balanced offensive attack, averages 13.