STATE HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES : Division II Boys : Woodbridge Closes Its Road Show With a Flourish, 89-63

No longer should they simply be the Warriors. Road Warriors fits the Woodbridge High School basketball so much better, especially after what happened Saturday at the Oakland Coliseum Arena.

The Southern Section 2-A champions, playing the sixth straight game away from their home base in Irvine--a span that has included trips to Hancock College in Santa Maria, to Victor Valley High and to Fresno for the Southern California Regionals--came farther than ever. Literally and figuratively.

The Warriors, No. 3 in the latest Cal-Hi rankings, capped an outstanding season by shooting 60% from the field and 92% from the free-throw line to beat No. 1 De Anza of Richmond, 89-63, and win the California Division II basketball title.

“It’s kind of been a vacation for us,” senior guard Dave Townsend said of the frequent travels.

“It’s been a great year. This had to be the year. I couldn’t ask for anything more to go out with.”

Safe to say, neither could Woodbridge.

The Warriors (28-5) got balanced scoring and a strong inside game. Along the way, they also got into the record books.

--Widest margin of victory, 26 points. That ties Hacienda Heights Wilson’s 1986 win over Aptos.

--Most free throws made in a game, 23. Logan of Union City had the old mark of 22, and that came in an overtime game.

--Most points by one team, 89. That bettered San Anselmo Drake’s 1982 mark by two.

--Tied Drake for the Division II record for most assists, 18. Crenshaw, in 1986, had 21.

--Most free throws made by a player, center Adam Keefe with 11. The 6-8 junior also tied the mark for most free throws attempted, 12.

“We played really well,” said Keefe, who played better than anyone with 25 points, 11 rebounds and 5 assists. “We probably played the best we can play. . . . The score wasn’t that close, but the way our team played you can understand why.”

Added Coach Bill Shannon, perhaps summing up Woodbridge’s domination better than anyone: “I say it went like I hoped it would.”

The Warriors also got 24 points (including 10 of 10 from the line) and a game-high 12 rebounds from forward Vince Bryan, 12 points from forward Bill York and reserve Chris Deibert and 10 from Townsend. The team hit 33 of 55 shots from the field and 23 of 25 free throws.

De Anza (31-4) shot just 31.3% in the first half (10 of 32) and fell behind, 36-22, after two quarters. The Dons came back to outscore Woodbridge in the third, 26-24, before the Warriors put the game away by outscoring the Northern California champions, 27-17, in the final eight minutes.