Jones Leads N. Hollywood Against Mater Dei

North Hollywood High, the newly crowned City Section 3-A Division basketball champion, plays tonight in the first round of the state Southern California Regionals against Mater Dei of Santa Ana, the Southern Section 5-AA champion. Tip-off is 7:30 at Ocean View High in Huntington Beach.

North Hollywood (24-3) stunned favored Fremont in the City 3-A final Friday, 76-71, behind senior center Dana Jones’ 29 points, 29 rebounds and seven blocked shots.

Mater Dei (30-1), ranked No. 2 in the state by Cal-Hi Sports, defeated Loyola in the Southern Section 5-AA final Saturday at the Sports Arena, 83-57. The Monarchs, who have won Southern Section championships in six of the past eight seasons, are paced by Andy Karich, a 6-foot-6 off-guard who is averaging a team-high 15 points a game.

The Monarchs’ front line consists of 6-8 center Derek Stone, 6-7 forward Charlie Andres (15 points, 14 rebounds vs. Loyola) and 6-5 forward David Boyle (32 points, seven rebounds vs. Loyola).

In a Division V game, Faith Baptist will play host to Calipatria of the San Diego Section at 7:30 p.m. Faith Baptist (19-10) defeated Brethren, 65-59, in overtime in the Southern Section 1-A Division championship game last Friday, winning the first basketball championship in school history.

Calipatria, located near Brawley, lost to Christian of El Cajon, 65-48, in the San Diego Section Division V championship game Saturday. Calipatria was the top-seeded team in the division.

Calipatria (21-4) is led by point guard Bernie Sotelo, a 5-10 senior who averages 12 points a game. Cesar Romero, a 6-foot senior forward, averages 10. It is not a big team--the tallest starter is 6-2.

In a Division I girls’ game, Hart, the two-time defending Southern Section 5-A Division champion, plays host to San Diego Mt. Carmel, the San Diego Section Division I champion.

Hart (25-4) came from behind to upset top-seeded Buena last Friday, 49-45. Sophomore guard Anjanette Dionne is averaging 23 points a game and 6-3 senior center Sara Wilson is averaging 19.

Mt. Carmel (22-5) defeated Santana, 56-55, last Friday. Forward Vicki de Jesus averages a team-high 17.5 points and 11 rebounds. Center Kris Grazzini (10.5 points, 10 rebounds) will match up with Wilson.