Southern California Regional Basketball : Oceanside, Saugus Play Tonight in Reward for Finishing Strong

In what would have seemed an improbable matchup before the season, Oceanside (21-7) will play Saugus (22-9) at College of the Canyons tonight in a first-round game of the boys’ Division II Southern California Regionals.

Oceanside, under first-year Coach Don Montamble, lost its first five games of the season. But then football season ended and three starters--Junior Seau, Sai Nu and Morey Paul--joined the team.

The Pirates have since gone 21-2 and defeated Avocado League rival El Camino for the San Diego Section 2-A championship.

Oceanside is led by Seau, the second-leading scorer in the county this season, who had 23 points against El Camino in the section final. Seau, a guard, is an integral part of the Oceanside offense and the Pirates have struggled when he has been out of the lineup.

Saugus is in the midst of a Cinderella season. The Centurions were a wild-card selection to the Southern Section tournament and became only the second team to win the title as an at-large entry when it defeated powerful Rolling Hills, 66-53.

Saugus and Oceanside offer contrasting styles. Saugus likes to run the ball and is led by Rusty Morse, who had 29 points (14-of-20 shooting) and 12 rebounds against Rolling Hills.

Oceanside likes to control the tempo but has proven proficient at adapting to both slow- and fast-paced games.

The key for Oceanside should be its defense. The Centurions had little trouble breaking the press of Rolling Hills.

DIVISION II

La Jolla (18-5) at Valley Christian (25-2)--La Jolla, the section girls’ 2-A winner, has to play the No. 1-seeded team in the division at Cerritos High School. Valley Christian, the Southern Section 1-A champion, is led by 6-3 center Kari Parriott, who scored 38 points on 17-of-19 shooting from the field in the Southern Section final. Speedy guard Nicole Anderson leads La Jolla, but the Vikings will have to depend on 5-10 center Vera Littleton and their forwards to control Parriott.

DIVISION III

Calipatria (22-1) vs. Whitney (24-2)--Calipatria, the section boys’ 1-A champion, plays host to the two-time Southern Section Small Schools champion at Central High School in El Centro. The Hornets’ only loss has been to El Camino, the runner-up in the San Diego Section 2-A final. Calipatria, an experienced team that likes to run, takes advantage of its balanced scoring. Whitney is led by 6-5 Chris Barnes, who had 17 points, 14 rebounds and 5 blocked shots in the Southern Section final.

Calvin Christian (20-4) vs. Woodlake (20-5)--The Central Section champion plays host to Calvin Christian at Redwood High School in Visalia. Calvin Christian, the section girls’ 1-A champion, is led by senior Mary Andringa, who scored 17 points and had 17 rebounds in the 38-32 victory over Holtville for the section title.