HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL / STATE REGIONAL FINALS : Fremont Given Added Incentive

While stacking up victories this week in the Southern Regional State basketball tournament, Fremont High Coach Sam Sullivan did not think he was going to have to answer any critics.

After all, his team is ranked No. 1 in the City and state and has a 33-1 record. The Pathfinders will take on Santa Barbara at 9 tonight at the Sports Arena in the Division I regional championship, the winner advancing to next week’s state final in Oakland.

But Sullivan was surprised to learn that North Hollywood Coach Steve Miller was not impressed with Fremont, even though Fremont had defeated North Hollywood last Friday in the City 3-A title game, 70-37.

Miller said he wanted the Pathfinders to prove they are the No. 1 team in California.

“I’m not impressed with their half-court offense,” he said. “I’m not sold on their offense at all.”

Miller also questioned why Sullivan did not regularly clear his bench this season when Fremont was winning big, saying: “Last year they had had a class program, but somewhere down the line they’ve lost it. I think (Sullivan) feels pressure to be No. 1 in the state.”

Those statements did not sit well with Sullivan. “I can’t believe Miller would say such things,” he said. “I’ve never said this before, but this season I honestly believe we’re the best high school basketball team in Southern California.”

Boys’ and girls’ regional finals will be played today in five divisions. Divisions I, II and III will be at the Sports Arena, with Divisions IV and V at Cal State Dominguez Hills. Champions will play the Northern Regional winners for state titles next Friday and Saturday at the Oakland Coliseum.

Fremont, which has defeated Long Beach Millikan and Poway in regional games this week, faces a Santa Barbara team which few expected to go this far. The Dons (28-5) defeated Bakersfield on the road Tuesday and upset Long Beach Jordan Thursday night at Long Beach City College.

Although Division I is generally considered the showcase game, the most interesting matchup of the day should be the Division II boys’ showdown between Lakewood Artesia (28-2) and Tustin (28-4) at 5:30 p.m.

Artesia is the top-seeded team and features one of the biggest front lines in the state, led by the sophomore trio of Avondre Jones, 6 feet 11; Charles O’Bannon, 6-6, and James Cotton, 6-5. The Pioneers are the defending Division II state champions.

Tustin is led by guard David Beilstein.

The boys’ Division III game between Costa Mesa Estancia (27-5) and Pomona (24-6) at 10:45 a.m. is a rematch of last week’s Southern Section III-AA championship, won by Pomona, 48-45.

At Cal State Dominguez Hills, Santa Clara (27-4), seeking its second consecutive boys’ state Division IV title, takes on San Diego Lincoln (21-9) at 8:30, and La Canada Ribet Academy (30-2) plays Arcadia Rio Hondo Prep (27-2) at 4:30 p.m.

In girls’ action, Inglewood Morningside (31-2) hopes to make it three straight trips to Oakland with a victory over Fresno Clovis West (27-2) in the Division I game at 7:15 p.m.

Brea-Olinda (31-1), which won the Division III state title in 1989 and finished as runner-up last year, will play Ventura (25-4) in the Division II final at 12:30 p.m.

Palos Verdes (30-1) starts the action against Lompoc (24-3) in the Division III game at 9 a.m.

Morro Bay (26-3) and Santa Maria St. Joseph (25-5), Los Padres League rivals, meet for the Division IV regional title at 6:30 p.m. The Division V game, between San Luis Obispo Mission (23-5) and El Cajon Christian (23-4), starts at 2:30 p.m.