SOUTHERN SECTION BASKETBALL PREVIEW : Mater Dei Boys, Peninsula Girls Start Out at Top of Heap

Over the weekend, the Lynwood High boys’ basketball team lost to Santa Ana Mater Dei in the championship game of the Trabuco Hills tournament.

It was an important game because the winner became the early-season favorite in the Southern Section. But to Lynwood, it was merely another game, compared to two on its regular-season schedule.

In those games, Lynwood will play archrival Compton Dominguez for neighborhood bragging rights and, probably, the San Gabriel Valley League title.

Both teams were successful in the playoffs last season, even though they were considered a year away from greatness while playing mostly young players.

With only one senior starter, Lynwood reached the Southern Section Division I-AA semifinal round before losing to Long Beach Millikan. Lynwood qualified for the playoffs despite having to forfeit 16 games for using an ineligible player.

Dominguez made it to the Division II-AA quarterfinals, where it lost to Pasadena Muir.

This season, Lynwood and Dominguez are ranked second and fourth, respectively, in The Times’ preseason Southern Section rankings.

When they play Jan. 24 and Feb. 14, the games figure to be high school basketball shootouts.

“We don’t get a lot of coverage because to some (newspapers) we are left out in the wayside,” Lynwood Coach Bill Lee said. “Despite the (media) void, both Dominguez and Lynwood have very good programs. There are a lot of good athletes in this area.”

In the Trabuco Hills tournament, Lynwood advanced to the final, thanks largely to 6-foot-7 junior Nathan Ware and 6-3 senior guard Rodney Malloy. Jamal Lawrence, a 6-2 senior who starred in the playoffs last season, also played well.

Other key players for Lynwood are twins Derrick and Eric Barnes, transfer guards from Rialto Eisenhower; point guard Derrick Smith and 6-7 Deon Amos.

Over the years, Lynwood has grown used to winning. In 1976, the Knights won the Southern Section 3-A Division title and in 1990, they reached the 5-AA championship game with Earnest Killum, the division player of the year. But this season’s team might be better.

“We have possibly five Division I players on the team,” Lee said. “This is the most talented group of athletes I’ve ever had here.”

Whereas Lynwood fell short in its first tournament, Dominguez traveled to the Palm Desert tournament and defeated Indio for the championship last Saturday.

Coach Russell Otis has a quick team with plenty of size, led by 6-8 Larry McGlothin.

McGlothin, who was named most valuable player of the tournament, is joined by 6-5 Chris Blanton and point guard Jason Pickens.

This year’s team is compared to the 1989 Dominguez team that won the 4-A championship.

“They are a very good team that is well coached,” Lee said of Dominguez. “Things run in cycles and the last three years or so, the play around here has been very good. Hopefully, it will continue.”

BOYS

Santa Ana Mater Dei holds the top position in the Southern Section, with Lynwood and Artesia right behind. The Monarchs, who play in the Angelus League, won the State Division I title two seasons ago and last season finished 25-5. Three starters return, headed by Reggie Geary, a 6-3 leaper, and Terence Wilborn, a 6-6 junior forward.

Artesia Coach Wayne Merino is again loaded with talent. The Pioneers have three starters back from last season’s 28-3 team that won the Southern Section II-A Division title. Heralded juniors Charles O’Bannon, a 6-6 forward, and Avondre Jones, a 6-10 center, lead the way along with 6-8 senior Jae Park for the Pioneers, who are favorites in the Moore League.

Mission Viejo Capistrano Valley finished 22-6 last season and has three returning starters, headed by 6-1 guards Tom Airey and David Sedgwick. Steve Ransom, a 6-6 center, should also make an impact for the Cougars in the South Coast League.

Lakewood of the Moore League, which finished 16-13 last season, will be strong behind 6-8 Javon Rouzan and 6-6 Eddie Cochran. Pasadena Muir has three starters back from last season’s 24-5 team, with 5-11 junior Jacque Vaughn running the offense. Germaine Stewart, a 6-3 forward, and Demetrius Collier, a 6-2 guard, will also play big roles for the defending Pacific League champions.

Santa Barbara San Marcos of the Channel League will rely on 6-9 center Rob Ramaker, who is one of the state’s best big men. The Royals also have Carlo Campana, a 6-foot guard, back from last season’s 26-3 team.

La Puente Bishop Amat will challenge Mater Dei in the Angelus League with 6-5 sophomore Jelani Gardner. The Lancers, who finished 18-7 last season, also have returnees David Ng, a 6-8 center, and John Gray, a 5-10 guard.

Glendora Coach Mike LeDuc has one of Southern California’s best young backcourts in Cameron Murray, a 6-0 sophomore, and Adam Jacobsen, a 6-1 junior. Last season, the Tartans finished 24-5 in the Baseline League.

Other teams to watch include San Bernardino Cajon with 6-6 Shaun Battle; Huntington Beach Edison with 6-5 Brandon Jessie; Cerritos Gahr with 6-4 Brandon Titus and Inglewood Morningside with 6-3 Stais Boseman.

GIRLS

When Palos Verdes, Rolling Hills and Rancho Palos Verdes Miraleste merged last spring to form Peninsula High, former Palos Verde Coach Wendell Yoshida took over a team that this season is considered the best in the nation.

Five starters return from Yoshida’s Palos Verdes team that won the State Division III title last season. Leading the way for the Panthers are Monique Morehouse, a 6-3 senior; Kristen Mulligan, a 5-7 senior; and Jeffra Gausepohl, a 6-5 senior.

Thousand Oaks of the Marmonte League has four starters back from last season’s 28-4 team, headed by Michelle Palmisano, Southern Section Division I co-player of the year. The Lancers also have transfer Marion Jones, a 5-9 junior who is also the two-time state track champion in the 100 and 200 meters.

Lynwood of the San Gabriel Valley League finished 24-4 and will also benefit from a key transfer in 6-4 Janet Davis, who was the other Division I co-player of the year at Morningside last season. Morningside also has starters LaTasha Burnett, Shefonda Colbert and Elana Adams returning.

Brea-Olinda of the Orange League won the State Division II title last season with a 33-1 record, and four of that team’s starters are back. Going into the season, Coach Mark Trakh needed only eight victories to reach 300 in his 11-year career at Brea-Olinda. Key players for the Ladycats are Jody Anton, last season’s Division II player of the year, and Nicole Erickson, a 5-6 sophomore.

Chino has three starters back from last season’s 29-5 team, headed by four-year starter Francine Moreno, a 5-8 guard, and Amee Pina, a 5-7 junior. The Lancers, who play in the Baseline League, also have Kerri Collins, a 5-10 senior, and Diane Hinshaw, a 6-3 senior.

Other teams to watch are Gahr, Ventura Buena, Palmdale, Ventura and Inglewood Morningside.

Southern Section Players to Watch

BOYS

Name School Hgt Pos Adam Anderson Servite 6-5 F Shaun Battle Cajon 6-6 F Stais Boseman Morningside 6-5 G Quincy Brewer Riverside North 6-4 G Jason Dixon Santa Monica 6-3 G Matt Fuerbringer Estancia 6-6 F Jermaine Galloway LP Kennedy 6-9 C Jelani Gardner Bishop Amat 6-5 G Reggie Geary Mater Dei 6-3 G Brandon Jessie Edison 6-5 F Avondre Jones Artesia 6-10 C Shani Kennedy Culver City 6-7 F Jentry Moore Tustin 6-3 G Cameron Murray Glendora 6-0 G Fabian Nixon LB Poly 6-2 G Charles O’Bannon Artesia 6-7 F Rob Ramaker San Marcos 6-9 F DeAndrae Smith LB Jordan 6-6 F Brandon Titus Gahr 6-3 G Jacque Vaughn Muir 5-11 G Nathan Ware Lynwood 6-7 F

GIRLS

Name School Hgt Pos Jody Anton Brea-Olinda 5-11 F Allison Arrendondo Gahr 6-2 F Tasha Burnett Lynwood 5-7 G Janet Davis Lynwood 6-4 C Anjanette Dione Hart 5-6 G Jeffra Gausepohl Peninsula 6-4 C Marion Jones Thousand Oaks 5-9 F Amy McConnell SM St. Joseph 6-0 G Monique Morehouse Peninsula 6-1 F Francine Moreno Chino 5-7 G Kristen Mulligan Peninsula 5-8 G Michelle Palmisano Thousand Oaks 5-9 G Denise Rea Ventura 5-9 G Joi Turner St. Bernard 5-7 F Davette Williams Walnut 5-10 G

Southern Section Preseason Polls

BOYS

No. School League 1990 1. Mater Dei Angelus 25-5 2. Lynwood San. Gab. Val. 7-22* 3. Artesia Surburban 28-3 4. Dominguez San. Gab. Val. 18-9 5. Capistrano Valley South Coast 22-6 6. Lakewood Moore 16-13 7. Muir Pacific 23-5 8. San Marcos Channel 26-3 9. Bishop Amat Angelus 18-7 10. Glendora Baseline 24-5 11. Cajon San Andreas 22-5 12. Edison Sunset 21-6 13. Gahr San Gab. Val. 24-7 14. Morningside Ocean 27-5 15. Trabuco Hills Pacific Coast 6-19

*--Lynwood’s 1990-91 record includes 16 forfeits for the use of an ineligible player. GIRLS

No. School League 1990 1. Peninsula Bay None 2. Thousand Oaks Marmonte 28-4 3. Lynwood San. Gab. Val. 24-4 4. Brea-Olinda Orange 33-1 5. Chino Baseline 29-5 6. Gahr San Gab. Val. 27-3 7. Buena Channel 25-4 8. Palmdale Golden 24-6 9. Ventura Channel 25-4 10. Morningside Ocean 32-3 11. Cerritos San Gab. Val. 19-6 12. Tustin Pacific Coast 22-4 13. Alemany Mission 19-8 14. Rubidoux Citrus Belt 25-4 15. Bishop Montgomery Mission 24-6