SOUTHERN SECTION PLAYOFFS : Saddleback Will Try to Run Past Brea-Olinda

Teams with contrasting styles will meet in the second round of the Southern Section’s 3-A division playoffs at 7:30 tonight when Brea-Olinda High School plays host to Saddleback at Sonora High in La Habra.

Saddleback (23-4) earned the division’s top seeding with a classic, run-and-gun style led by versatile Gylan Dottin. Dottin, named the player of the year in the Sea View League, averages 17.5 points, 9.1 rebounds and 6.6 assists.

Brea-Olinda is making its 14 appearance in the playoffs in the past 15 years. The Wildcats (14-10) upset Garey, 59-49, in the opening round. Forward Keith Walker, one of four underclassmen in the starting lineup, scored 32 points for the Wildcats.

Brea is basically a perimeter-shooting team that relies primarily on the scoring of Walker and Matt Chamberlin. The Wildcats are a patient, methodical team whose slower tempo could create problems for Saddleback.

“We’re going to have to expand our defense more because they’ve got some excellent shooters,” said Pat Quinn, Saddleback coach. “We’ll put our best defensive player, Craig Marshall, on Walker and see what happens.

“We’re basically going to attack them and force the tempo. We’re an up-tempo team that likes to run. When the game goes into slow motion, we have problems getting into a groove sometimes.”

Saddleback appeared to be out of rhythm in the first quarter against Burbank last week, but responded in time for an 86-61 victory.

In other 3-A division games:

Kennedy (18-7) vs. Antelope Valley (14-10) at Quartz Hill High: Although Antelope Valley finished only third in the Golden League, the No. 3 team from the league last year, Saugus, surprised everyone by winning the 3-A title. Reggie Betton, a 7-foot high jumper, averages 25 points. Kennedy is led by forwards Michael Keith (13 points and 10.7 rebounds) and Wendell Lauderdale (12.5 points and 7.6 rebounds) and point guard Michael Pettengill (9.6 assists).

Los Alamitos (20-6) vs. Schurr (18-5) at Montebello High: Schurr upset Los Alamitos, 63-62, in overtime last year in the opening round of the playoffs. Two four-year varsity players--forward Paul Chavez and guard Thai Ngo--captain the Spartans. Chavez averages 24 points and 8.3 rebounds and Ngo averages 16 points. Los Alamitos has 11 straight victories behind the play of center Dre Lamoureux (20.8 points, 13.5 rebounds) and point guard Brett Pagett (15.5 points and 7.8 assists).

Rolling Hills (19-6) vs. Western (17-7) at Katella High: Rolling Hills advanced to the 3-A title game last season, and despite losing all five starters to graduation, the Titans won the Bay League title for the second straight year. Junior John Hardy leads the team with a 24-point average and 10 rebounds. The Titans are one of the best three-point shooting teams in Southern California. Western counters with multitalented Chris Bowen (20.3 points).

Bonita (14-11) vs. Tustin (21-5) at Foothill High: Eric Smith, one of the Southern Section’s leading scorers, owns the school record with a single-game high of 45 points. Smith, who averages 25.3 points, made a 30-point shot at the buzzer to give the Bears an 83-80 victory over El Dorado in the first round. Teammate Greg Snedden had 30 points against El Dorado. Center Leo Parker averages 20.3 points and 8.4 rebounds, but the senior had little help last week in a 65-57 victory over La Quinta.

Savanna (22-4) vs. Palos Verdes (17-8) at Rolling Hills High: There were great expectations for Palos Verdes with three starters returning from a team that advanced to the 3-A semifinals last season, but the Sea Kings were runner-up to Rollings Hills in the Bay League after opening with a 2-3 record. Mike Matteoni (16 points), Jeff Whitley (14 points) and John Mika (14 points) are the Sea King veterans. Robby Booker had his best game of the season last week against Bolsa Grande, scoring 28 points.

Sunny Hills (21-3) vs. Cypress (9-15) at Loara High: Forward David Chisum made a successful transition from forward to guard to replace academically ineligible Chris Drakos last week for second-seeded Sunny Hills. Chisum scored 23 points against Estancia and new starter Walter Mitter added 10 points. Cypress entered the playoffs with the worst record in the 3-A division, but the Centurions played their best game of the season for a 61-58 overtime victory over Montebello.

In the 4-A division:

El Toro (20-5) vs. Buena (22-2) at Ventura College: This game features two of Southern California’s best point guards. Mike Sandoval of Buena led the section with 10.3 assists and El Toro’s Bret Johnson wasn’t far behind with a 9.2 average. Buena’s 6-10 center, Shawn Kirkeby, is drawing attention from Pacific 10 colleges with a good showing late in the season. El Toro showed it can score with the best with 44 points in one half against third-seeded Capistrano Valley in a South Coast League game.

Santa Ana (24-3) vs. Glendale (21-4) at Hoover High: Jeff Sofra, 6-3 point guard, averages 24 points and 5.5 assists and is an excellent three-point shooter. Justin Lord, a lanky 6-4 forward, averages 13.5 points per game but had 18 points in a first-round victory over Ramona. Center Bobby Joyce averages 24.2 points and 15.6 rebounds, but he also nearly cost the Saints a first-round victory over Dominguez when he hung on the rim and received a technical foul late in the game after play had been stopped.

Capistrano Valley (23-4) vs. Downey (16-8) at Warren High: Capistrano Valley raced to a 90-61 victory over Palm Springs in the opening round and should have another easy game against a smaller Downey team. Todd Hammond (6-4), the Vikings’ tallest player, averages 17.2 points per game to lead the team. Todd Marinovich leads Capistrano Valley with a 15.2 average and 7-0 center Jim Waikle and 6-10 backup Steve McCaughey should give the Cougars a big height advantage.

Foothill (16-7) vs. Glendora (27-0) at Chino High: Tracy Murray, a 6-7 junior, is the third-leading scorer in the Southern Section with a 31.3 average. Murray has excellent inside moves and averages six three-point shots per game. Point guard Kurt Bonds averages 20 points per game. Glendora and Banning in the 2-A division are the only unbeaten teams in the Southern Section. Greg Reiber leads Foothill with 13.8 points and 7.5 rebounds.

In the 2-A division:

Woodbridge (19-5) vs. Cabrillo (13-9) at Lompoc High: Cabrillo rebounded from a dismal 1-21 record last season to make the playoffs. Forwards James Loggins (15.0) and Aaron Barksdale (10.3) are the Conquistadores’ leading scorers and guard Scott Vigil has made 30 three-point shots. Woodbridge center Adam Keefe established a school record with 47 points in a first-round playoff game against Elsinore, including 35 in the second half.