SOUTHERN SECTION BOYS’ BASKETBALL PLAYOFF PREVIEW : DIVISION II : Road to This Title Will Be Tough Going

Tom McCluskey, Tustin basketball coach, was assessing his team’s draw in the Southern Section Division II-AA playoffs when he said, “Wow, this could be ugly.”

He could have been describing the entire division’s competition, which appears to be among the section’s most difficult. Ten teams, including Tustin, have 18 or more victories this season. Five teams have 20 or more victories. One team, Glendora, is unbeaten.

And that explains why Tustin, the defending section and State champion, isn’t among the top four seeded teams.

Should Tustin (19-7) defeat Whittier La Serna (13-11) in the first round Friday, the Tillers will probably play Cerritos Gahr (18-8). And if Tustin gets by Gahr, Pasadena Muir (18-8) is expected to be the Tillers’ quarterfinal opponent.

Ugly, indeed.

Now, consider the fate of unseeded Sunny Hills (20-4).

If the Lancers beat Garden Grove (10-14) they’ll face Woodbridge (16-6), and if they win that game, they’ll likely face No. 3-seeded Riverside La Sierra (23-2).

Suffice to say, it takes something special to stand out in this division.

And maybe that’s why Glendora (26-0) is top-seeded. The Tartans, the only unbeaten team among the 347 playoff entrants, are led by sophomore Cameron Murray and junior Adam Jacobsen. Both were All-Southern Section selections last season.

Lakewood Artesia (21-3 and second-seeded) moved from Division II-A to II-AA this season, which only made the division that much tougher.

Charles O’Bannon, a junior who led Artesia to the II-A championship last season, might be the division’s best player.

Division I-A--It doesn’t take a second glance to notice why Trabuco Hills is an overwhelming favorite to reach the Division II-A championship game.

He’s 6-feet-10, with arms that seem to reach to forever. He’s got a soft touch from the outside, devastating moves inside and is an intimidating force wherever he goes on the court. And he averages more than 20 points and 10 rebounds.

When Gavin Vanderputten left his native Australia for a year at Trabuco Hills as an exchange student, the Mustangs suddenly became a basketball powerhouse again.

In 1988-89, Trabuco Hills advanced to the State Division III championship game before suffering an overtime loss.

A year ago, Trabuco Hills slipped a couple of notches and was a woeful 6-18.

Now, the Mustangs are 20-5 and top-seeded in the division. Does a section championship await?

It will hardly be a shock to see Trabuco Hills face second-seeded Santa Barbara San Marcos (20-5) in the championship game March 7 at the Sports Arena.

Like Trabuco Hills, third-seeded Kennedy (19-6) also is led by a talented center, 6-9 senior Jermaine Galloway.

Unlike Trabuco Hills, Kennedy isn’t deep, relying heavily on Galloway, who averages 20 points and nine rebounds.

Fourth-seeded Buena Park (19-5) is led by a couple of football players, Angel Barrios and Gavin Molinar, who have turned out to be pretty solid on the basketball court.

Division II-AA at a Glance

Defending champion: Tustin.

Top teams: Lakewood Artesia (21-3), Claremont (20-5), Cerritos Gahr (18-8), Glendora (26-0), Riverside La Sierra (23-2), Pasadena Muir (18-8), Tustin (19-7), Ventura (19-6), Woodbridge (16-6).

Dark horse: Sunny Hills (20-4).

Top players: Todd Loewe (Woodbridge), Terry Mann (Sunny Hills), Jentry Moore (Tustin), Cameron Murray (Glendora), Charles O’Bannon (Artesia), Derek Roche (Tustin), Brandon Titus (Gahr), Ethan Twer (Woodbridge).

Best draw: Glendora was suitably rewarded for its unbeaten regular season.

Worst draw: Tustin is likely to face Gahr in the second round. Brutal.

Notes: The division probably has the most anticipated championship game of any. Unfortunately for county fans, it doesn’t figure to match county teams. Top-seeded Glendora and No. 2 Artesia are expected to meet in the battle of brothers of Bruins. Glendora’s Murray is the younger brother of UCLA forward Tracy Murray, and Artesia’s O’Bannon is the brother of the Bruins’ injury-plagued Ed O’Bannon. Also, Glendora is the only undefeated team in the section. La Sierra is seeded third and Muir is No. 4. If Tustin survives the early rounds, the Tillers could be a factor. Keep an eye on Sunny Hills and Mann, who averages 23 points and 10.2 rebounds.

Division II-A at a Glance

Defending champion: Lakewood Artesia (moved to Division II-AA this season).

Top teams: Buena Park (19-5), El Modena (17-7), Kennedy (19-6), Manhattan Beach Mira Costa (17-6), Santa Barbara San Marcos (20-5), Savanna (16-8), Trabuco Hills (20-5).

Dark horse: Pomona (15-8).

Top players: Angel Barrios (Buena Park), Gavin Brown (El Modena), Jermaine Galloway (Kennedy), Corey Klinke (Trabuco Hills), Tobie Priest (Savanna), Ron Ramaker (San Marcos), Gavin Vanderputten (Trabuco Hills).

Best draw: Kennedy faces nothing but stiffs until the quarterfinals, where it will likely meet Pomona.

Worst draw: Buena Park will probably get stuck with Mira Costa in the quarterfinals.

Notes: Artesia’s move to the II-AA leaves the II-A wide open. If there is a favorite here, it has to be top-seeded Trabuco Hills, which appears to have all the qualities of a championship-caliber team. Vanderputten, the Mustangs’ 6-10 exchange student from Australia, averages 20.3 points and 10.5 rebounds. The last time Trabuco Hills had a big center (Rick Swanwick), the Mustangs went all the way to the State Division III championship game in 1989. Galloway of third-seeded Kennedy (a 6-9 center) has signed with DePaul. Buena Park is the No. 4 seed.