Kidd Beats South, but West Blames Selection Process

Now that Jason Kidd has played his final high school basketball game for Alameda St. Joseph, maybe Southern California can regain its dominance in the boys’ state Division I final.

Thanks largely to Kidd’s 28 points and nine rebounds, St. Joseph crushed Santa Ana Mater Dei last Saturday, 59-37, for its second consecutive state title. It is Northern California’s first two-year winning streak in the modern history of the division finals.

After the state tournament went to its North vs. South format in 1982, teams from the Southland won the first eight titles. Then came Kidd and St. Joseph in 1991.

A major reason for Southern California’s dominance in the 1980s was Crenshaw High, which won four titles in a seven-year span. Crenshaw Coach Willie West says that the selection process for the teams that qualify for the Southern California Regionals is a reason Northern California now holds the title.

“From the start, the way they decide who makes it and who doesn’t has been wishy-washy,” said West, whose Cougars lost in the City 4-A Division final to Westchester and did not qualify as an at-large team for the state tournament. “And, as long as they continue to do this, they will have problems.”

What has bothered West and other coaches in Southern California has been the apparently inconsistent guidelines for the Southern Regional. From the at-large team selection process, to the home-court advantage, to teams in the first two rounds, complaints have been heard from both losing and winning coaches.

“Every year they seem to change on how they pick the at-large teams,” West said. “In 1983, we won the state title after losing in the City finals, and then they said no more at-large teams can get in. Then in 1988, we beat Manual Arts in the City finals, and all of a sudden they are let back in for the state and they beat us in the Southern Regional final.

“Then, in 1990 and again this year, we lost in the City finals and to good teams, but didn’t get an at-large bid. However, in 1991, Manual Arts lost to Westchester in the City finals and still got in the state playoffs.”

A solution might be to eliminate at-large berths and make the Southern Regional a playoff for teams that won divisional titles. Then, to ensure that no team gets a home-court advantage, schedule all games at neutral sites.

“I think they should just get rid of at-large teams and let only champions play,” West said.

Even though Northern California has won the last two Division I championships, Southern California has sent its best teams--Fremont last season and Mater Dei this time.

In a state known for its quality teams, it might have just been time for Northern California to win. Whatever the case, West is glad that his Crenshaw teams are starting to get recognition for having won four titles.

Next boys’ basketball season should be an outstanding one for Southern California, based on the quality of both the teams and the players returning.

Starting with Southern Regional Division I champion, Mater Dei, the top teams in the area will have the bulk of their teams back.

Mater Dei should be strong again, with only one senior, Reggie Geary, leaving.

Lakewood Artesia, the state Division II champion, also will be good with 6-foot-6 Charles O’Bannon and 6-11 Avondre Jones returning.

Inglewood Morningside, the Division III state champion, which has only one starter graduating, returns will again have standout Stais Boseman.

Prep Notes

Our all-State tournament championship teams: Boys--Jason Kidd of St. Joseph; Charles O’Bannon of Artesia, who scored 26 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in the Pioneers’ 57-50 Division II victory over Danville San Ramon; Stais Boseman of Morningside, who scored 11 of his 24 points in the fourth quarter and had four spectacular dunks in the Monarchs’ 79-72 victory over Monterey Seaside in the Division III final; Tim Schoolland of Ripon Christian, who made 16 of 21 shots from the field and scored 36 points in the Knights’ 80-70 triumph over Faith Baptist in the Division V final; Marmet Williams of Mater Dei, who was the only bright spot for the Monarchs with 13 points and seven rebounds in their defeat by St. Joseph.

Girls--Mimi McKinney of Palos Verdes Peninsula, who scored 27 points and took nine rebounds in the Panthers’ 63-44 win over Cupertino Monta Vista in the Division I final; Kristin Clark, a freshman guard for Monta Vista who scored 19 points against Peninsula; Jody Anton of Brea-Olinda, who scored 19 points and had 16 rebounds in the Ladycats’ 47-44 Division III victory over Healdsburg; Kim Manifesto of Hayward Moreau, who had a triple double of 18 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists in the Mariners’ Division II triumph over Torrance Bishop Montgomery in double overtime; Shannon Crouse of Santa Rosa Ursuline, who scored 28 points and grabbed eight rebounds in the Bears’ 61-59 victory over Santa Ynez in the Division IV final.

Here are our top five teams combining the Southern and City sections: Boys--1. Mater Dei (34-2); 2. Artesia (29-4); 3. Westchester (28-3); 4. Glendora (33-1); 5. Morningside (25-6). Girls--1. Peninsula (34-0); 2. Lynwood (28-3); 3. Brea-Olinda (32-2); 4. Thousand Oaks (29-2); 5. Washington (28-3).

Erin Martin, a junior forward on the Temple City High girls’ soccer team, finished the season with 93 goals, breaking her Southern Section record of 62 set last year and the state record of 63 set by Brenda Patterson of Tracy High in Northern California in 1987.