HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL FINALS : Division III Girls : Big Difference for Lincoln in Rematch With Ramona

When the Lincoln and Ramona High girls’ basketball teams played in December, Lincoln’s Keiba Lewis did not play.

Ramona won, 52-33, but things will be different when the two teams meet at 10:30 this morning at the Sports Arena to decide the San Diego Section Division III champion.

This time Lewis--who is 6-feet 1-inch tall with averages of 17.5 points, 13.1 rebounds and 5.0 blocks per game--will play.

“I hold back some of my kids during (holiday) tournament time,” Lincoln Coach Dorothy Robinson said. “That’s just my philosophy. I knew what Keiba could do.”

When asked what kind of a difference Lewis could make this time around, Robinson said: “You’re talking about a 30-point difference.”

That’s how many points Lewis scored in Lincoln’s 54-49 semifinal victory over University of San Diego High last Friday.

“Obviously, we have to stop her,” said Joe Bess, Ramona’s coach. “We hopefully will not let them control the boards on us.”

The teams match up well in size. Joining Lewis on the front line for Lincoln (16-7) are 6-2 Tracy Alexander and 6-3 freshman Sheila Dickson, who will split time with Angelina Vasquez.

Ramona (17-7) also has three 6-footers on its front line, all juniors--Maleea Van Patton (13.0 points, 15.0 rebounds per game), Kris Miller (13.0 points per game) and Kendra Brunje (15.0 rebounds).

“We have to make sure we come out and don’t let them control the paint inside,” Bess said. “We have to try to deny the ball to their big people.”

Where Lincoln may have an advantage is with its speed in the backcourt. Michelle Powell, the team’s second-leading scorer with a 7.6 average, and Tanya Mays are quick and aggressive and have the ability to create turnovers on the press.