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State Prep Basketball Championships : Crenshaw’s Willie West Discounts South’s Edge

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Times Staff Writer

Southern California high schools have dominated the State Division I boys’ basketball tournament, having won all seven championship games against Northern regional champions since California adopted the current playoff format in 1982.

But Coach Willie West of Crenshaw High School, whose Cougars will play Oakland Skyline tonight at 8:15 at the Oakland Coliseum for the Division I title, does not believe that Southern California holds a decided edge over Northern California in the level of play.

“If you look at the results of those games, all . . . have been close, and not blowouts,” said West, who has won three state titles.

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West was close. In the seven championship games, only two have been routs, Long Beach Poly’s 65-45 victory over San Francisco St. Ignatius in 1984, and Santa Ana Mater Dei’s 69-51 thumping of Concord Ygnacio Valley in 1987.

Otherwise, the winning margins were one point in three games, and the two others were decided in overtime.

“We have been luckier,” said West. “The breaks at the end of the games have just gone our way.”

Crenshaw (24-2) is led by 6-foot-1 senior guard Terry Cannon, who is averaging nearly 20 points a game.

Point guard Vince Langston has been steady in running the Cougar offense, setting up forwards Cornelius Banks and Donald Smith and center Danny Griffin underneath.

Oakland Skyline (25-5) is not especially tall, but it does have balance. Sean Colter, a 6-3 guard, averages 21 points a game; junior forward Rahim Harris averages 18, and 6-2 guard Kevin Washington averages 15.

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The Division I boys’ title is one of six state prep championship games that will be played today at the Oakland Coliseum.

In the Division I girls’ title game at 6:15, Inglewood Morningside (31-1) will meet Oakland Fremont (26-5) for the third time in a year and a day. In last season’s final, Fremont defeated the Monarchs, 53-52, then Morningside returned the favor earlier this season, 50-42.

In the Division II girls’ final, Anaheim Katella (29-3) faces Sacramento Grant (31-3) at 2:45 p.m. In the Division III girls’ game, Brea-Olinda (30-2) takes on San Francisco Mercy (30-0) at 11 a.m.

Mission Viejo Trabuco Hills (25-6) will play Central Valley (23-4) for the Division III boys’ title at 12:45 p.m.

Prep Notes

The Division I boys’ final will be broadcast tonight on KDAY (1580) beginning at 8. KNX (1070) will have periodic reports throughout. Prime Ticket will show a delayed telecast Sunday at 4 p.m.

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