SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REGIONAL BASKETBALL FINALS : Gaines Makes Things Go for Balanced Lincoln : His Leadership Will Be a Key as Team Challenges Lemoore for Championship

You take one look at Carl Gaines, and you think you have him figured out.

There’s that smooth walk, the smooth way he talks, the sly smile that exudes confidence. Add to that the No. 4 (his playing number) cut into the back of his hair, and it all seems to mean flashiness, almost arrogance.

You take a look at his style of play, and your opinion does not change much. His 19.4-point scoring average and penchant for getting out on the scoring end of the fast break don’t give you much reason to think otherwise.

But closely watch Gaines play guard for the Lincoln High School boys’ basketball team, and he surprises you.

There’s Gaines passing up shots that most guards would take, opting to punch it inside to one of Lincoln’s big guys. He plays tenacious defense. He slows it up if the break isn’t there. He barks out orders.

In short, he is a team-oriented player with individuality.

“I just do all that stuff--like my hair--for the fans,” Gaines said. “It’s great when they say, ‘Look at Carl with the thing in the back of his head.’ I don’t do it to be intimidating at all. I’d rather be known as a team player.”

And Lincoln Coach Ron Loneski figures that is a big reason his team will be playing Lemoore in the Southern California Regional Division III final today at 1 p.m. at the Los Angeles Sports Arena.

Gaines’ scoring average is terrific, Loneski said, but Lincoln (25-2) has plenty of scorers. Five players other than Gaines are averaging in double figures, and Lincoln has scored more than 80 points 18 times this season.

One of those was an 88-64 victory over Visalia Golden West Thursday night in the regional semifinals.

Gaines scored 21, most off the break. But Loneski said the other things Gaines did in that game were the same things he has been doing all year, and that’s why Lincoln is the top-seeded team in the four-team regional tournament and a favorite to win the state title.

“That’s his unknown quality,” Loneski said. “He’s a very unselfish player. He’s been a blessing this season because of his leadership, not just his playing ability.”

Gaines will be matched up this afternoon against Lemoore’s Tommy Jones, a 5-foot 8-inch junior. Jones is extremely quick and likes to take the three-point shot. He scored 18 points in a 69-57 victory over Ramona in the semifinals.

Lemoore Coach Jim Gordan said he had heard about Gaines and his style of play, and it worries him.

“I don’t want to get into an out-and-out running game with them like Golden West did,” Gordan said. “But I think we can run better with them than Golden West.”

Gordan said he also knows that Lincoln has a strong inside team. Forwards Aaron Wilhite and Roger Johnson, both 6-6, like to bang the boards.

Lemoore (17-8), which has only one senior on the team, has a guy Gordan said will be tough to stop, 6-5 junior center Dennis Hubanks. Hubanks also scored 18 against Ramona.