Generally Speaking, Masson Is Pleased With Colts’ Draw : Basketball: Despite having to play rugged Washington High in second round of City playoffs, Carson coach is happy to be out of top-seeded Westchester’s bracket.

Carson High boys’ basketball Coach Richard Masson, whose Colts must play highly regarded Washington at 7:30 tonight in a City Section 4-A Division quarterfinal game, is not entirely pleased with the matchup. But playing the Generals beats the alternative.

When the City pairings were originally announced last week, the Colts were in the same bracket as the top-seeded Comets.

It was only after protests from Masson and Westchester Coach Ed Azzam that the playoff draw was changed. Carson, the Pacific League champion, was moved into the bracket opposite Westchester.

“It’s a heck of a lot better than (how City officials) had it before,” Masson said.

Because the Colts (18-7) and second-seeded Generals (19-4) won their leagues with 8-2 records, a coin toss was held to determine the home team. Carson won.

“We’re still playing the No. 2 team, but we’re pleased to be playing them at home,” Masson said.

On Wednesday, Washington beat Banning, 72-36, and Carson defeated Kennedy, 59-53.

Although Carson held standout Washington guard Brandon Martin to a season-low eight points, the visiting Colts lost, 57-50, on Jan. 31. Masson says Carson will have trouble repeating their feat against Martin.

“I’m not sure that we can play any better defense than we played against him the last time,” he said. “But hopefully we can play a little better on offense this time. I don’t expect to hold him to eight points. But if we can hold him to 20 or so and do a good job on their other players, I think we’ll be OK.”

Masson said Carson must control the tempo.

“We want to take care of the basketball,” he said. “We don’t want a full-court game.”

Masson also said the Colts will need forward Rudy Washington and guard William Thomas, the team’s top scorers, to have big games. Washington is averaging 21.3 points and Thomas 14.4.

Here is a list of the other quarterfinal games involving South Bay teams. All games are at 7:30 tonight unless noted.

Southern Section boys

III-AA--Morningside vs. Lompoc at Cabrillo High, South Torrance vs. Servite at Redondo High.

III-A--St. Bernard vs. Covina at Walnut High.

IV-A--Serra vs. La Salle at St. Monica High.

V-AA--Chadwick at Faith Baptist.

City Section

4-A--Taft at Westchester.

City Section girls

4-A--El Camino at Banning, Dorsey at Carson, 5:30 p.m.

Southern Section girls (Saturday)

I-AA--Palmdale at Peninsula.

II-A--Westlake at Bishop Montgomery, North Torrance at Savanna.

III-AA--South Torrance at Morningside.

III-A--St. Bernard at Tehachapi.