Mater Dei to Meet Riordan in State Final

Since California adopted its statewide prep basketball playoff format in 1982, Southern California schools have won all eight boys’ Division I championship games against Northern California’s regional champions.

Tonight, pressure is on Santa Ana Mater Dei to keep the winning streak alive when it plays Northern champion San Franciso Riordan for the title at 7 at the Oakland Coliseum Arena.

The Monarchs, who won the State title in 1987 and have been the top-rated team in the state most of this season, feature a balanced scoring attack led by swing men David Boyle and Andy Karich. A key substitute is guard Dan O’Neil, who is headed to Oregon next fall on a football scholarship.

Riordan, 29-2 and making its first appearance in the State final, routed defending Northern Regional champion Oakland Skyline, 80-60, as Dwayne Fontana and Dorian Manigo combined for 48 points and 29 rebounds.

In the boys’ Division II final, Artesia, 28-2, will play Sunnyvale Fremont, 29-3, at 3 p.m.

To reach the final, Artesia defeated Glendora, defending Southern Regional champion, 57-44. Fremont defeated Sacramento Jesuit, 53-47.

Defense will be showcased in the boys’ Division III final at 11:15 a.m. between Anaheim Servite, 20-11, and Hayward Mt. Eden, 28-7. Each team held its opponent under 40 points in Regional finals last week.

In girls’ play, Inglewood Morningside, 31-3, will seek to repeat as Division I champion against Berkeley, 31-1, at 4:45 p.m.

With Lisa Leslie scoring 35 points, Morningside defeated Washington, 61-45, in the Southern Regional final to earn its third consecutive appearance in the State final. Last season, the Monarchs defeated Fremont, 60-50, after having lost to Fremont in 1988, 53-52.

In the State playoffs, Berkeley has routed three opponents by an average score of 71-41. In the Division II girls’ final, Pasadena Muir, 29-5, will play Northern champion San Ramon, 29-5, at 1:15 p.m.. In the Division III girls’ final, Brea-Olinda, 33-0, will go for its second consecutive title when it meets Auburn Placer, 28-3, at 9:30 a.m.