High School Basketball Regionals : Madison Coach Holds High Hopes for His Division

According to Jim Thompson’s crystal ball, Division II is where San Diego County teams will succeed during the Southern California Regional basketball tournament, which begins tonight.

Four county teams, including Thompson’s team at Madison High School, will open boys’ Division II play tonight. Eleven other county teams will begin tonight what they hope will be a journey to either Oakland or, for the smaller schools, Santa Clarita for the state championship.

“I think a couple of our Division II teams will advance pretty far, at least to the second round (Thursday),” Thompson said. “I’m not going to name teams, but I wouldn’t be surprised if one of our teams is in the (regional) finals (Saturday).”

Rankings back Thompson’s prediction.

Madison, Torrey Pines, El Camino and Kearny were ranked among California’s top six at the end of the regular season. They are a combined 100-14.

Jeff Alexander, Madison’s 6-foot, 7-inch center, will guard 6-6 Leo Parker in the key matchup when No. 2-seeded Madison (26-2) plays Tustin at Torrey Pines at 7:30.

Parker has hit 62% of his shots and has averaged 20 points and 8 rebounds for Tustin (24-6), the No. 7 seed.

Tonight’s other games: DIVISION I BOYS

Santana (25-2, No. 7) vs. Simi Valley (27-3, No. 2) at Simi Valley High School, 7:30

Santana: Stu Back, a 6-8 senior exchange student from Norway, has picked a good time to peak. Back’s inside play and the outside shooting of senior guard Tim Barry led Santana to its first section title since 1977. Back could be the key against Simi Valley, which features 6-10 Don MacLean, last year’s Southern Section 4-A player of the year.

Simi Valley: MacLean, 6-5 Shawn DeLaittre and 6-0 guard Buth Hawking--son of Coach Bob Hawking--are in their fourth year as starters. MacLean averaged 31.8 points and 12.5 rebounds per game.

DIVISION I GIRLS

Santana (25-2, No. 5) vs. Hanford (24-1, No. 4) at Hanford High School, Hanford

Hanford: It applies the press often and won its third straight West Yosemite League title. Five starters return from last year’s team, which lost in the first round of the Southern Section playoffs to Granada Hills Kennedy. Jo Layne Thompson (6-foot) is the top scorer.

Santana: Success could hinge on whether guards Barbara Bennett and Rebecca Aase can break the press and get the ball to 6-foot center Leslie Ellis. Lost to Mt. Carmel in section championship.

Lynwood (28-4, No. 6) vs. Mt. Carmel (24-4, No. 3) at Mt. Carmel High School, 7:30

Lynwood: Lost to state’s No. 1-ranked team, Morningside, in final of Southern Section, which placed the state’s top four teams in the semifinals. Players to watch are guard Trise Jackson (20 points per game) and Linda Watson (19.5).

Mt. Carmel: Handled Santana’s press well for its first section championship. Keys could be whether press disrupts Lynwood, and performance of frontline players Lynda Jones, Kara Warner and Tracy Peck.

DIVISION II BOYS

Irvine Woodbridge (22-6, No. 6) vs. Kearny (24-5, No. 3) at Mira Mesa High School, 7:30

Woodbridge: Adam Keefe, last year’s Division II player of the year, led Woodbridge to state title. He has averaged 26 points and 14 rebounds in the regular season and 31 points in Southern Section playoffs, which ended with loss in final to Banning. The 6-10 senior has signed with Stanford.

Kearny: Didn’t believe victory over previously top-ranked Torrey Pines was an upset, so it probably won’t be awed tonight. Must shore up rebounding--Madison outrebounded Kearny, 43-25--and avoid shaky finishes.

Torrey Pines (28-2, No. 5) vs. La Palma Kennedy (22-7, No. 4) at Kennedy High School, 7:30

Torrey Pines: Maybe layoff will help leading scorer Courtie Miller, held to nine points in semifinal loss to Kearny. Other keys should be 7-0 Neal Pollard, 6-0 Kevin Flanagan and 5-10 point guard Tom Underwood.

Kennedy: Forwards and brothers Maurice and Mike Keith, each 6-4, combine for about 25 points per game. Team captured first 3-A Southern Section title in 24-year history of school. Won Garden Grove League title.

El Camino (22-5, No. 8) vs. Bakersfield Foothill (24-4, No. 1) at Bakersfield College, 7:30

El Camino: Scott Oatsvall, a 6-3 forward, (sore wrist) and 6-6 center Lee Cobb (bruised back) are healthy after three days off. “We have no excuses now,” said Coach Ray Johnson, whose team lost to Madison in semifinals.

Foothill: Shared South Yosemite League title with Bakersfield High, won Central Section championship, beating Sanger, 64-58. Arthur Charles, a 6-5 senior headed for Boise State, averages 17 points and 13 rebounds.

DIVISION II GIRLS

Helix (18-6, No. 7) vs. San Pasqual (26-2, No. 2) at San Pasqual High School, 7:30

Helix: Did not play San Pasqual en route to section semifinal loss to Fallbrook.

San Pasqual: Point guard Julia Doria, who matched her average with 17 points in section title victory against Fallbrook, usually controls game.

Fallbrook (17-9, No. 5) vs. Los Altos (20-4, No. 4) at Los Altos High School, Hacienda Heights, 7:30

Fallbrook: Needs to start quicker. Its comeback, which included a 13-0 run, fell short in section title against San Pasqual.

Los Altos: Something of a surprise. Went from No. 9 to No. 1 in state rankings with two victories in final week of regular season, including a 52-45 upset of former No. 1 Brea-Olinda.

DIVISION IV BOYS

Christian (12-12, No. 6) vs. Beaumont (23-5, No. 3) at Beaumont High School, 7:30

Christian: Guard David Jermiah averaged 23 points during the regular season but has been hampered by an ankle injury. Jeremiah scored 17 in section title victory over Mtn. Empire.

Beaumont: Center Scott Haskins (6-10) had 58 points and 9 rebounds in Southern Section 1-A title victory.

Mtn. Empire (17-7, No. 7) vs. Washington Union (27-2, No. 2) at McLane High School, Fresno, 7:30

Mtn. Empire: Played against 1-A opponents most of the season but nearly defeated Christian, a member of the 2-A City Central League, for Division IV title.

Washington Union: Has 24 straight victories. Center Curtis Stroud scored 22 in Central Section Championship victory.

DIVISION IV GIRLS

Coronado (11-12, No. 7) vs. Valley Christian (25-2, No. 2) at Cerritos High School, 7:30

Coronado: Forward Connie Braithwaite, who scored only nine in loss to Holtville in section final, leads team in scoring and rebounding.

Valley Christian: Keys are Rolynn Rienstra, a 5-11 junior, and 5-10 senior Tonya Zwaggerman. Beat Oxnard Santa Clara for Southern Section 1-A title.

DIVISION V BOYS

Bishop’s (22-1, No. 4) vs. Immanuel (17-8, No. 5) at Immanuel High School, Reedley, 7:30

Bishop’s: Guard Kamal Assaf and center Chris McKenna lead way. Fell by one point in the section championship against Calipatria.

Immanuel: Steve Heinrichs, a 6-7 center, and guard Matt Toews lead a well-balanced attack.

DIVISION V GIRLS

La Jolla Country Day (20-4, No. 4) vs. Riverdale (14-12, No. 5) at University City High School, 7:30

La Jolla Country Day: Guard Robin Chatman is top scorer. Won section title against Lutheran.

Riverdale: Rallied from a 2-11 start with 11 straight victories. Mikki Andersen, Sharla King and Coach George Haire’s daughter, Amy, are top scorers.

Lutheran (19-7, No. 7) vs. Avenal (24-3, No. 2) at Avenal High School, Avenal, 7:30

Lutheran: Janell Neal and Hanne Norby provide most of the scoring. Fell to La Jolla Country Day in sectional championship.

Avenal: No senior starters on a balanced team.

Calvin Christian (17-6, No. 6) vs. Lone Pine (21-4, No. 3) at Lone Pine High School (Lone Pine), 7:30

Calvin Christian: Junior point guard Betsy Wilgenburg is averaging 21 points per game.

Lone Pine: Guards Kasey Wuester and Peggy Schou lead the team.