SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REGIONAL BASKETBALL FINALS : Division II Boys : Madison Is Loaded With Talent, but Foothill, Which at Last Leaves Home, Is Very Defensive

Perhaps no one can offer a better perspective on today’s Southern California Regional Division II boys’ basketball final than Coach Ray Johnson of El Camino High School.

In the past two weeks, El Camino has played--and lost to--Madison and Bakersfield Foothill, the teams that will meet this afternoon for the regional championship at the Los Angeles Sports Arena.

“Both have super-quick athletes and good leapers,” Johnson said. “I think Foothill plays a little better defense, but Madison has better talent. It will be a close game.”

Madison (28-2) defeated El Camino, 79-72, in the San Diego Section semifinals March 1. Foothill (26-4) edged El Camino, 68-66, in double overtime Tuesday night in a regional quarterfinal game.

Johnson said he thinks Bakersfield, seeded first in the Southern region, has had an easier path through the playoffs.

“Bakersfield had an advantage with everyone going up to their place,” Johnson said. “They had a yellow brick road to the finals with everyone going up there. up there. It remains to be seen how they’ll do at a neutral site.”

Foothill beat La Palma Kennedy, 71-64, Thursday night in front of 2,500 partisan fans at Bakersfield College to reach the regional final.

Madison didn’t have that kind of edge. The Warhawks beat Tustin, 75-50, Tuesday, and Irvine Woodbridge, 67-64, Thursday at Torrey Pines High School. Both games were attended by about the same number of fans from each school.

Both teams in the regional final have balanced attacks.

Madison’s five starters average in double figures. The Warhawks have had a different scoring leader in each of their past four playoff games. Against El Camino, Jeff Harper led with 27 points. In the section final against Kearny, Robby Robinson had 24. Jeff Alexander was the high man against Tustin with 21, and Andre Mitchell had 18 against Woodbridge.

Point guard Wesley Bertelsen keeps a sizzling running game on the move and occasionally pops from three-point range.

Madison usually opens in a man-to-man defense but has had success with 3-2 and 1-3-1 zones.

Coach Dan Shannon of Foothill said his team plays a more controlled offense than Madison.

“We don’t run up and down the floor much, but we will when the opportunity comes,” he said. “Most of the time we try to be patient and take high-percentage shots.

“We’re not a real flashy team, just solid.”

Arthur Charles, a 6-foot 6-inch senior forward, leads the Trojans in scoring with a 16.2 average. Archie Wright adds 14.1 per game and Reggie Phillips 11.2.

Foothill, co-champion of the South Yosemite League with Bakersfield High, uses a variety of defenses, all of them tough to crack. Shannon said his team surrendered an average of just 48 points per game this season.

Today’s winner will play next Saturday against the Northern California Division II champion at the Oakland Coliseum Arena.

Jim Thompson, Madison’s second-year coach, said he is confident his team will respond well to playing for a spot in the state final.

“We’re a team that does our best when there’s a big challenge,” he said. “Every game we win now, it’s just more fun, not more pressure. This is just the icing on the cake.

“We’re finding out it’s fun to extend our season halfway into March.”