Prep Wrap-Up : For Coach, Finals Are Unbearable Sight

Cliff Warren was debating Saturday morning whether or not to attend the CIF Southern Section basketball finals at the Sports Arena.

“I’m reasonably sure I’m going to go,” he said. “But it’s real tough.”

The Rolling Hills basketball coach had a difficult time accepting the role of spectator at the 3-A Division championship game after coming so close to being a participant.

Warren watched in frustration on Tuesday night as the Titans blew a 24-point third-quarter lead and eventually lost in three overtimes to Kennedy of La Palma, 83-80, in the semifinals at West Torrance.

The loss was so devastating that Warren couldn’t bring himself to watch Tustin’s 63-59 semifinal win over Palos Verdes on Wednesday. Kennedy won the 3-A title on Saturday with a 58-54 victory over Tustin.

“I was just so down,” he said. “I was a coward.”

Time heals all wounds, however, and Warren realizes he has a lot to look forward to. The Titans return four of their top six players next season, including 6-4 center John Hardy, the Bay League most valuable player.

“You never know how things are going to work out, but as far as talent goes, we should have a real good team,” he said. “We should be a real offensive machine.”

That machine will include guards Mark Tesar, Steve Clover and Ron Dinnel, three of the South Bay’s top outside shooters. Also back are guard Ross Pier, forward Rick Judge and two promising freshmen from the league champion junior varsity team: 6-3 forward Roger Hendrix and guard Chad Heitzler.

If Miraleste is closed, Rolling Hills figures to gain additional players.

That will undoubtedly translate into a high rating for the Titans next season when they move up to the 4-A Division in the realigned eight-team Bay League.

Of course, that was little consolation to Rolling Hills on Tuesday.

After winning so many close games this season, including two last-second victories in the playoffs, Warren’s young team succumbed to Kennedy’s pressure and spirited second-half play.

Rolling Hills held leads of 16-3, 42-17 and 52-28 before Kennedy mounted its comeback. But Warren said the worst of it was allowing Kennedy sophomore Jim Barker to break free for a three-point shot with two seconds left in the second overtime that tied the score, 74-74.

“We were supposed to keep them from having any type of shot in three-point range,” Warren said. “But in the excitement of the game, things happen. I don’t think it was anyone’s fault.

“We have so much to look forward to, but I wanted to reach the final game. I feel bad for the seniors in particular.”

Rolling Hills finished with a 21-7 record, marking the third season the Titans have won more than 20 games since Warren became coach. His record at the school is 68-17 overall and 9-3 in the playoffs.

West Torrance girls soccer Coach Andy Bonchonsky experienced a disappointing case of deja vu on Friday night in the Warriors’ 1-0 loss to Mission Viejo in the Southern Section 4-A championship game at Gahr High in Cerritos.

Last year, West lost to Mission Viejo by the same score in the quarterfinals on a goal scored in the final minute. Preceding the goal was a fine defensive play by a Mission Viejo player who lost consciousness after blocking a shot with her head.

Mission Viejo was saved by a head again on Friday.

West freshman Katie Schonbachler lofted a shot early in the second half that sailed over the goaltender’s hands and appeared to be heading for the net when Mission Viejo’s Jennifer Ward headed the ball out.

About five minutes later, Kerri Kennedy scored the game’s only goal to give the Diablos their second straight 4-A title. They defeated Torrance, 2-1, in overtime in last season’s finals.

“It was kind of a flashback,” said Bonchonsky. “It was a great play on their part. The defender covered the back post beautifully.”

Bonchonsky also had kind words for his team, which came a long way during the course of the season. West was 4-4-4 in non-league play, but gradually improved and won the Bay League title with an 8-0-2 record. The Warriors finished at 15-5-6.

“Our defense was awesome all year,” he said. “In the five years I’ve coached here, these girls had the best team unity. They worked together.”

When will St. Bernard beat Mater Dei in basketball? The Vikings lost for the 10th straight time to the Monarchs, 87-70, on Wednesday night in the semifinals of the Southern Section 5-A playoffs at Ocean View High in Huntington Beach.

With the return of several talented juniors, St. Bernard would appear to have a good chance of snapping the five-year streak next season. However, the Vikings might not get the chance.

St. Bernard is moving back to the Camino Real League, while Mater Dei will remain in the Angelus League. Counting its two league losses, St. Bernard lost three times to Mater Dei this year.

The Vikings should have one of the best teams in the area next season with the return of 6-10 center Ed Stokes, 6-4 forward Juno Armstrong and guard Mark Raveling, son of USC Coach George Raveling.

Baseball notes:

Redondo’s Scott Davison pitched a one-hitter and hit a three-run homer to lead the Sea Hawks over Channel Islands, 5-0, in the first round of the Westside Tournament at Redondo on Friday night. Davison, last year’s Southern Section 3-A co-player of the year, struck out nine and walked two in recording the 31st victory of his career. . . .

Derrel Thomas’ coaching debut at Leuzinger didn’t turn out well. The ex-Dodger looked on Friday as his Olympians were dealt a 12-1 thumping by Simi Valley in the El Segundo Tournament. . . .

Banning’s first-year coach, Syl Saavedra, enjoyed a better debut as the Pilots defeated a strong Culver City team, 6-2, in the Westside Tournament. Ricardo Bernal pitched a two-hitter and Fernando Hernandez hit a two-run homer for Banning. . . .

Rolling Hills Coach Garry Poe wants his team to hit the ball better this season. He couldn’t have been happier Friday as the Titans collected 11 hits and David Breneman pitched a two-hitter in a 17-1 win over Mayfair in the El Segundo Tournament.