SOUTHERN SECTION BOYS’ BASKETBALL PLAYOFFS : Western Meets Old Foe One Last Time

“Here we go again,” was all Greg Hoffman, Western High School’s basketball coach, had to say when he first glanced at the Southern Section Division III-AA bracket sheet. “It’s Rolling Hills for the third year in a row.”

Hoffman’s memory was a little off, but his prediction that Western would meet Rolling Hills in the boys’ basketball playoffs at 7:30 tonight for a third time was certainly right on.

For the record, the teams have met twice in the second round of the playoffs over the past three years. Rolling Hills defeated Western, 60-59, in the 3-A division playoffs in 1988 when Western’s Troy Joseph missed an uncontested layup at the buzzer.

Western avenged the loss with a 79-76 victory last year, surviving a fourth-quarter rally in which Rolling Hills trimmed a 12-point lead and trailed by one with 21 seconds remaining.

“I considered it a great honor to beat a team coached by Cliff Warren,” Hoffman said. “I consider him one of the greatest coaches in California.”

Rolling Hills (15-12) is 123-45 under Warren in six seasons. Rolling Hills has a 13-5 record in postseason play under Warren, who is likely coaching in his final season.

Next year, Palos Verdes, Rolling Hills and Miraleste high schools are being consolidated into Peninsula High because of declining enrollments. Veteran John Mihaljevich of Palos Verdes is expected to be named the school’s coach.

Center Roger Hendrix is Rolling Hills’ top player, averaging 25 points and 9.3 rebounds. Guard Chad Heitzler adds 18 points per game, and has made 89 three-point shots.

Western (21-3) is seeded third in the division. Guard Tom Barraza, a three-year starter, leads the team with a 17.5 scoring average. Steve Siefken adds 12.6 points per game.

In other Division III-AA games involving Orange County teams:

Foothill (13-11) at Newport Harbor (15-11)--Forward Sean Amos averages 21.3 points for Foothill, but it was the Knights’ big men--center Nick Konopisos and forward Mike Busalacchi--who were instrumental Friday in a 60-45 victory over Palos Verdes. Konopisos had 24 points and 13 rebounds and Busalacchi added 16 points. Newport Harbor forward Justin McIntee scored 34 points in a 64-49 victory over Culver City, making 10 of 22 shots and 14 of 16 free throws.

Estancia (21-4) at Paso Robles (8-15)--Estancia will have a distinct height advantage with 6-6 Matt Fuerbringer and 6-5 Torrey Hammond opposing Paso Robles’ 6-1 center, Gary Klintworth. Guard Allen Jackson averages 15.6 points and 6.6 rebounds for Paso Robles, which lost by 27 points to San Clemente in nonleague play. Fuerbringer, the most valuable player in the Pacific Coast League, averages 16.2 points.

Troy (9-14) at Savanna (17-9)--Savanna draws its second playoff opponent with a losing record at home after an 89-61 romp over La Quinta. Center Andy Trumpour averages 16 points and 13.8 rebounds. Forward Randy Abbott is Troy’s top player, averaging 17.9 points and 83% of his free throw attempts.

Pomona (17-6) at Trabuco Hills (6-17)--Pomona enjoyed the biggest opening playoff victory, routing Brawley, 121-39. Forward Johnny McWilliams, a two-time all-Southern Section selection, averages 28.2 points and 13.3 rebounds. Underclassmen have led Trabuco Hills’ resurgence. Sophomore forward Pat Barnes averages 10.2 points, and junior center Corey Klinke averages 11.1 points and 7.7 rebounds.

DIVISION I-A

Mater Dei (23-4) at Arroyo (19-7)--Top-seeded Mater Dei is on the road and that’s just where Coach Gary McKnight prefers to be at this point in the playoffs. McKnight told his players Monday that Arroyo didn’t bother to scout the defending state champions and questioned whether Arroyo respected them. Guard Reggie Geary averages 14 points and 5.7 rebounds. Arroyo beat the county’s second-ranked team, Tustin, 65-59, in a nonleague game. Forward Greg Mann averages 18.1 points and 8 rebounds for Arroyo.

Hart (19-6) at Los Alamitos (19-6)--Hart tries to avoid being eliminated by a county school for the second consecutive year after losing to Ocean View, 76-67, in the first round last year. Forward Marty Downen (16.6 points, 8.1 rebounds) and center Keith Halcovich (11.7 points, 9.8 rebounds) lead Hart. Junior forward Jason Cunningham averages 17 points and 8.8 rebounds for Los Alamitos.

Marina (16-11) vs. Capistrano Valley (18-8) at Saddleback College--Center Cherokee Parks broke former Marina star guard Rich Branning’s school single-game scoring record with 44 points in an easy 96-75 victory over Alta Loma. Branning scored 43 points in an Orange Tournament game against Garey in 1975. Capistrano Valley guard Tom Airey made four three-pointers against Pasadena and has 121 for the season. Rolling Hills’ Steve Clover holds the Southern Section mark of 140 three-pointers in a season.

Irvine (23-3) at Cerritos (18-8)--Irvine went on a 19-3 scoring run in the second and third quarters to beat Pasadena, 69-46, Friday. Forward John Molle, averaging 28.1 points, had 25 points and teammate Brian Boothroyd had a season-high 20 points. Cerritos is coming off the closest first-round game, defeating Huntington Beach, 76-74, in double overtime. Forward Kesojn Hornbeak had 20 points in the victory and did a fine job of containing Huntington Beach’s Mustapha Abdi.

DIVISION II-AA

Gahr (23-4) at Canyon (15-9)--Four teams from the tough San Gabriel Valley League--Gahr, Lynwood, Dominguez and Cerritos--are still alive in the playoffs. Gahr’s junior forward Brandon Titus is the top player in the division, averaging 26.4 points. Three-year starters Kevin Wilborn (15.6 points, 12.1 rebounds) and Abdi Barkhordar (12.6 points, 4.1 assists) are Canyon’s top players.

Tustin (22-4) vs. Orange (14-8)--Orange has won seven consecutive games but the Panthers’ playoff hopes were hurt when center Jamiel Worthem was declared academically ineligible last week. Worthem averaged 15.5 points and 8.3 rebounds. Guard Carlos Duran is Orange’s top player, averaging 17.9 points. Tustin’s balanced attack features guard David Beilstein (20.7 points) and forward Thomas Clayton (14.8 points and 7.6 rebounds).

Elsinore (18-7) at Edison (20-6)--It’s Edison’s Brandon Jessie versus Elsinore’s Marcus Maxey in a battle of marquee forwards. Maxey averages 10.9 points and 7.6 rebounds. Jessie averages 21.4 points and 13 rebounds.

Dominguez (16-8) at Sunny Hills (18-7)--Point guard Travone Davis is out with a calf injury for Dominguez, so shooting guard Kevin McKinney will move into his position. Junior forward Larry McGlothin is the team’s top player, averaging 10.3 points and nine rebounds. Junior forward Terry Mann averages 16.1 points and 10.2 rebounds for Sunny Hills.

DIVISION II-A

El Modena (18-7) at Redondo (14-12)--Guard Bob Baytosh leads a very ordinary but effective El Modena offense with a 15-point average. Redondo counters with forwards Dave Cottey (12.9 points, 6.6 rebounds) and Ron Grim (12.4 points).

Kennedy (17-8) at North Torrance (8-16)--Who’s going to guard Kennedy’s 6-9 center Jermaine Galloway? North Torrance’s tallest starter is Sean Roberts, 6-2, who averages 23.2 points and 7.4 rebounds. Galloway averages 24.4 points and 10.2 rebounds.

Woodbridge (17-8) at Hacienda Heights Wilson (8-16)--Forward Ryan Rauch leads Woodbridge with an 18.6 scoring average and center Mike Fenton averages 7.7 rebounds. Sophomores Damien Jones (14 points) and his cousin, Bobby Williams (15 points), are Wilson’s top players.

Valencia (16-7) at Temple City (13-13)--Valencia isn’t flashy, but it gets the job done with point guard Justin Jiminez (5.8 assists) running the show. John Wilson (14.6 points) is the team’s leading scorer and Adolfo Gomez is the top rebounder (7.8 rebounds). Guard Tony Bittner is Temple City’s top player, averaging 18.8 points.

DIVISION III-A

South Pasadena (19-6) at Corona del Mar (12-12)--Bookend forwards Jon Upham (19.3 points, 8.0 rebounds) and Doug Hesse (12.6 points, 8.7 rebounds) lead Corona del Mar. Guard Jason Clark has made 56 of 103 three-point shots. South Pasadena relies on center Paul Perkins (13.4 points, 9.9 rebounds) and forward Matt Minehan (12.8 points, 5.7 rebounds).

Santa Margarita (14-9) at St. Paul (14-12)--Returning all-section forward Dan Bathey leads Santa Margarita with a 19.6 scoring average. Center Jeff Layne, who has signed with Cal Poly Pomona, averages 10.5 points and 6.5 rebounds. St. Paul’s balanced attack features center Ryan Granillo (12.6 points) and guards Matt Lenzen (12.2 points) and Greg Gomez (10.7 points).

Servite (19-6) at Pacifica (16-7)--It’s Servite’s tough defense versus Pacifica’s high-scoring offense. Pacifica has three players--guards Kevin Gaughen and Larry Nagata and forward Scott Lesser--who average 16 or more points. Gaughen is the team’s top scorer at 24.1 points per game. Servite allows an average of only 52 points.

DIVISION V-AA

Montclair Prep (19-4) at Capistrano Valley Christian (5-20)--The school that gave the county football stars Derek and Leland Sparks (Mater Dei) comes to the county to play surprising Capistrano Valley Christian. Guard J.T. Billingslea leads Montclair Prep with a 19.5 scoring average. Capistrano Valley Christian’s Nathan Owens scored 44 points in upset playoff victories over Linfield and Chadwick.

Providence (16-12) at Brethren Christian (21-5)--Providence has four returning starters off a team that finished 13-10 last year. Brandon Stott, the starting quarterback for Brethren’s football team, averages 12.7 points and four assists.

DIVISION V-A

Riverside Calvary Chapel (15-7) at Cal Lutheran (9-8)--Brad Pluckhan averages 20.6 points for Cal Lutheran of Huntington Beach.

St. John’s (15-5) at Liberty Christian (14-8)--Liberty Christian has turned around last year’s 3-16 record behind the play of forwards Dave Kellams (16.2 points) and Dave Vaccaro (9.0 points, 9.2 rebounds).