HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL / SOUTHERN REGIONAL : Mater Dei, Crenshaw Finally Meet Tonight

Santa Ana Mater Dei High and Crenshaw, two of Southern California’s most successful boys’ basketball programs, meet for the first time in seven years tonight at 8 at the Sports Arena in the final game of the State tournament’s Division I Southern Regional.

Their last meeting, March 15, 1986, was an overtime victory by Crenshaw, 59-57, in the Southern Regional final before 12,400 at the Sports Arena. The loss ended the Monarchs’ 59-game winning streak.

Tonight’s game has parallels. Mater Dei (33-1), ranked No. 1 by The Times all season, has won 21 consecutive games since losing to Carmichael Jesuit, 76-68, in the semifinals of a tournament in Encinitas last December.

Second-ranked Crenshaw (26-2) has won 16 in a row since losing to Washington, 94-85, in a December tournament final.

The winner advances to the Division I State final next Saturday at the Oakland Coliseum.

“I wish I could say the game will be close again,” said Willie West, Crenshaw’s coach. “But I can’t make that kind of guarantee. It’s too hard to predict.”

Each team won section titles last weekend, Mater Dei taking the Southern Section Division I-A crown and Crenshaw the City 4-A title. The top-seeded Monarchs have defeated Poway and Hanford in the regionals. Second-seeded Crenshaw defeated Simi Valley and Huntington Beach.

“I’ve been thinking about this game in the back of my mind all season,” said Kristaan Johnson, Crenshaw’s starting center. “I’ve also talked about the matchup with some of my teammates, so I’m excited that it is finally going to be a reality.”

Under West, Crenshaw has won 12 City titles and four state championships, the last in 1989. Mater Dei has won eight section titles and two state championships under Coach Gary McKnight. The Monarchs lost to Alameda St. Joseph in the state final last season.

Mater Dei features a balanced team that has depth and experience. Five players have signed letters of intent with Division I colleges, and a sixth, center Terrence Wilborn, will sign this spring. The leader, though, is 6-foot-4 junior forward Miles Simon, who is averaging 14 points. Wilborn is averaging 12 points, 6-6 forward Marmet Williams 11.

The Cougars also have balance and depth, but less experience. Eight of their varsity players are new to the school this season, including Johnson, a 6-5 junior transfer from Van Nuys Montclair Prep and son of former UCLA All-American Marques Johnson who is averaging 21 points and 14 rebounds.

Tremaine Fowlkes, a 6-6 junior forward, averages 21 points and 17 rebounds, and 6-5 junior guard Reggie McFerren averages 15 points.

Said McKnight: “It’s a matchup of (quality) athletes. It should be very entertaining.”

Tournament Notes

Gary McKnight will interview for the coaching job at Utah State on Sunday. He was recently approached by Athletic Director Greg Bell about the vacancy. . . . The boys’ and girls’ regional finals for Divisions I, II and III will be held today at the Sports Arena. Action begins at 10 a.m., with the girls’ Division III game between Inglewood Morningside and Costa Mesa. Tickets, which include admission to all six games, range from $5-$10. The boys’ and girls’ Division IV and V finals begin at 2 p.m. today at Cal State Dominguez Hills. Tickets, which include admission to all four games, range from $5-$8.

The boys’ team at Lakewood Artesia might return to the State final by a similar route as last season. The Pioneers lost to Glendora in a Southern Section final last season but came back to win the Division II regional. Artesia, led by 6-6 forward Charles O’Bannon, lost to Pasadena Muir in a Section title game last Friday but has advanced to today’s 4 p.m. Division II final against East Bakersfield.