HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL FINALS : Division II Boys : Kearny and Madison Match Talent, Experience

When the boys’ basketball season began in December, the opposing coaches in today’s San Diego Section Division II championship game at the Sports Arena shared both similar and differing views.

Each thought his team was talented, but while Kearny High School’s Bill Peterson was confident his team would succeed, Madison’s Jim Thompson had his doubts.

Now, with their teams set to meet at 4:30 p.m. for the title, Peterson’s confidence has been rewarded, and Thompson has become a believer.

“We knew we would have a good team,” Peterson said. “These kids did some off-season work that we knew would help. It was just a matter of staying injury free and working hard.”

The Komets did just that and are ranked eighth in the state by Cal-Hi Sports with a 24-4 record.

They were seeded fourth in Division II but reached the championship game by dominating top-seeded and No. 1-ranked Torrey Pines, 68-59, in the semifinals Tuesday.

Peterson believes the Komets are playing their best basketball of the season.

“I think we’re peaking right now,” he said. “We’re playing pretty well.”

Center John Williamson, who tore ligaments in his left ankle last season, has been a major reason for the strong showing, Peterson said.

“When he’s in there, we’re a different team,” he said. “He’s starting to play the way he did before he got hurt.”

Kearny’s primary weapon is City Western League player of the year Randy Robinson. A 6-foot 6-inch senior forward, he is smooth inside and out and averaged 19.1 points per game.

At the other forward is 6-8 Darin Weeks; Chris Ortiz and Andrew Chan start at guard. Another guard, Mike Hutchinson, is usually first off the bench. All six are seniors.

Madison also has plenty of experience, with four seniors and two juniors receiving most of the playing time.

But Thompson wasn’t sure about the his team’s mental makeup when practice began last fall.

“The season has surprised me,” he said. “We’ve probably gone over my expectations.

“I knew we had the personnel to be a championship contender, but I didn’t know if we had the hunger or the competitiveness.

“But I’m a believer now. They seem to have that drive. They are competitors and they wanted it. We’ve met every challenge we’ve faced.”

Madison, 25-2 and seeded second in the division, is ranked fourth statewide by Cal-Hi Sports. The Warhawks defeated El Camino, 79-72, in Tuesday’s other semifinal.

Though 6-7 center Jeff Alexander was named City Eastern League player of the year, Thompson said Madison has no stars.

“We’re balanced,” he said. “There’s no team that can match our balance. But we don’t have a guy among the area’s scoring leaders. We have five guys who average in the low double figures.”

Alexander is joined underneath by forwards Robby Robinson and Andre Mitchell. The guards are Jeff Harper and Wesley Bertelson. Garry Ramey, a 6-8 center, is a key reserve.

As for playing styles, the teams are similar, both coaches say.

“It’s going to be a good game,” Peterson said. “I think we match up with each other well. They have size, we have size. They have quickness, we have quickness. They have shooters, we have shooters.”

But only one will have the title.