HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL FINALS : Division V Boys : Calipatria’s Bombers Meet Taller Bishop’s

The teams that will meet tonight for the San Diego Section Division V boys’ basketball championship at 6 p.m. at Serra High School couldn’t be more different.

Calipatria (24-5), the defending Section 1-A champion, is a short running team. Bishop’s (22-0) is a tall, disciplined team.

Only two regulars for Calipatria are over 6 feet tall, and the tallest is 6-1 sophomore Javier Sagun. The Hornets, who structure their offense for the three-point shot, have scored 90 points or more in both playoff games.

“They do a lot of screening for the exterior around the three-point line,” said Ren Marquette, Bishop’s coach. “They are an extremely fine shooting basketball team.”

The biggest threat for Calipatria is Robert Romero, Desert League player of the year. The 5-10 guard averages 31 points per game and scored 40 in Calipatria’s semifinal victory over Francis Parker Wednesday night.

Bishop’s guard Maurile Tremblay (6-0) will try to slow down Romero.

“You don’t stop kids like Romero,” Marquette said. “You try to help them have an off night.”

Kamal Assaf, a 6-2 guard and Coastal League player of the year, averages 17 points per game to lead Bishop’s.

Chris McKenna (6-6) is Bishop’s leading rebounder and the blocked-shot leader of the Coastal League. He’ll be joined by 6-4 Josh Peterson on the front line.