PREP BASKETBALL SOUTHERN SECTION PLAYOFFS : Parks Slams Way Into Finals With Marina Victory

Cherokee Parks scored 30 points, had 10 rebounds and blocked five shots as Huntington Beach Marina High defeated Santa Ana Mater Dei, 64-55, in a Southern Section Division I-A semifinal game Tuesday before a capacity crowd of 5,000 at UC Irvine’s Bren Center.

Parks scored on eight dunks and dictated play on the defensive end to help Marina advance to the championship game for only the second time in the school’s 26-year history.

“Cherokee Parks is the best offensive player Orange County has ever seen at the center spot,” Mater Dei Coach Gary McKnight said.

“We had to use two or three guys to block him out on the boards, and the others on his team crashed the boards. We’re used to getting two or three shots on the offensive boards and we got one tonight.”

Mater Dei made only 18 of 48 shots. J.J. Ballesteros, Mater Dei’s best shooter, sank four of 12, and teammate Reggie Geary scored only two points in the second half.

Parks opened the game with three dunks. He scored four consecutive baskets in the third quarter, but Mater Dei had a 44-43 lead going into the last quarter when guard Kamran Sufi made a 30-foot shot at the buzzer.

Marina will play Santa Barbara for the championship.