SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA HIGH SCHOOL REGIONAL BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT : Division I Girls’ Regional Final : Edison Accentuates the Positive Against Mann and Point Loma

The Edison High School girls’ basketball team has made it to the final of the Division I Southern California regionals.

If lessons of the past several seasons are an indication, the Chargers, making their first appearance in the final, are in for:

--Additional press clippings.

--A valuable life experience.

--An all-expenses paid trip to the Sports Arena.

--A beating by Point Loma High School, three-time defending state champion.

Edison defeated Mission Viejo, 46-42, in the semifinals to gain a place in the final against--who else?--Point Loma tonight at 6:15.

But rather than accept what seems to be fate, the Chargers (31-1) believe they can defeat Point Loma.

Whether this is disrespect, delusion or destiny speaking remains to be seen, but let’s take a look at what makes Point Loma a great team: Terri Mann.

Mann is, by consensus, the best girl high school player in California. She has been that for four seasons, leading Point Loma to a 119-1 record.

She is a 6-foot 2-inch woman among girls who has set national high school records in rebounding for a career (2,187) and a season (747) and is second in all-time scoring with 3,106 points.

She is the two-time, soon to be three-time, San Diego Section player of the year, averaging 37 points and 28 rebounds.

She is a two-time All-American that many compare with Cheryl Miller in talent and ability to carry an entire team. Mann has done that this season.

Point Loma is 32-0 after it beat Kennedy of Granada Hills in the semifinals, 56-50.

The Edison players think they have a chance. They believe that Point Loma is too dependent on Mann.

Consider that Mann had 40 of Point Loma’s 56 points against Kennedy. Point Loma had 27 points by halftime; Mann had 25 of them.

“It’s going to take a great effort,” said Dave White, Edison coach, “but I think we can beat them. I mean, we respect Terri Mann a whole lot, but I don’t think they’re as strong at other positions as they have been in the past.”

He was referring to Point Loma’s guards. In the past, the guard position was a strength because of Chanelle McCoy, who was an excellent ballhandler and outside shooter. But McCoy graduated after last season.

“I don’t think their guards can handle the pressure that Edison is going to put on them,” said John Hattrup, Mission Viejo coach.

Hattrup should know. Edison guards Michelle Hennessey and Denise Ogburn pressured his guards in the semifinal, coming away with nine steals and contributing to 19 Mission Viejo turnovers.

“Hey, Terri Mann is a great player, the best I’ve seen,” Hattrup said. “But if she can’t get the ball from the guards, she can’t score.”

And if Mann gets the ball?

“Oh, it’s all over if she gets it inside,” Hattrup said.

Edison center Kristi Smith figures to guard Mann, if that’s possible. Smith, 6-1, is averaging 20 points and 10 rebounds.

“I’ve never seen her,” she said of Mann. “But of course I’ve heard of her. I’m just going to try and play her tough.”

Edison’s offensive strength, its diversity, was evident against Mission Viejo.

The Diablos played a special defense designed to stop Smith. It did. She had only three points after three quarters. But 5-9 forward Stacee Johnson picked up the slack by scoring 19 points.

“That’s the thing about our team,” White said. “There’s always someone else to do the job. One person gets shut down, someone else picks up.”