High School Playoffs : BOYS’ BASKETBALL

The Southern Section is hoping a change of venue to the new Anaheim Arena will bring needed attention to its boys’ basketball championship games this weekend.

It has been difficult for fans to follow the expanded format of 10 title games in recent years because they have been spread out at a variety of sites and times.

The section will hold six of its games at Anaheim Arena on Saturday, beginning at 9:30 a.m. with the Division III-A final between San Dimas and Garden Grove Pacifica and continuing through with the I-A game between Santa Ana Mater Dei and Huntington Beach Edison at 8:30 p.m.

The section’s major-division title games have been played at the Sports Arena since 1986, but conflicts with the USC men’s basketball team often caused havoc with the schedule. Before Anaheim Arena opened, the Southern Section was one of its first tenants.

There is a catch for fans, however. The section is splitting the games into two sessions. A ticket to the first session will cover the III-A, III-AA, II-A and II-AA championships. The arena will be cleared for the evening portion, which begins at 6:45 p.m. with the I-AA game between Crescenta Valley and Long Beach Poly.

The City Section will continue to showcase its championship games at the Sports Arena. The Division 3-A final between Roosevelt and Wilmington Banning begins tonight at 6:30 and will be followed by the 4-A game featuring Crenshaw and Dorsey at 8:30.

Crenshaw, ranked No. 2 by The Times, defeated Dorsey in the 4-A championship last year, 92-71. It has also defeated the Dons twice this season in league play.

The most attractive matchup this weekend is the Southern Section II-A game between No. 3 Compton Dominguez and No. 6 Bellflower St. John Bosco at 1 p.m. Saturday at Anaheim Arena.

More than divisional titles are at stake this weekend. Winners receive automatic berths in the State Southern Regional tournament, which begins Tuesday.

GIRLS’ BASKETBALL

The twelve City and Southern Section girls’ championships will be played today and Saturday.

Five Southern Section title games will be held Saturday at Cal Poly Pomona, headlined by the Division I-AA final at 8:30 p.m. between No. 2 Lynwood and No. 6 Palos Verdes Peninsula.

The game is a rematch of the 1992 championship game, won by Peninsula. Last season, Lynwood eliminated the Panthers in the quarterfinals. The Knights are the defending Division I state champions and are paced by senior guard/forward Tamicha Kirby. Senior guard Mimi McKinney leads Peninsula.

Fourth-ranked Ventura Buena plays in its fourth consecutive section championship, this time against No. 8 Santa Ana Mater Dei in I-A. The game will be held tonight at 7:30 at Ventura College.

In II-AA, fifth-ranked Irvine Woodbridge plays No. 15 Hemet on Saturday at 2:45 at Cal Poly Pomona.

Third-ranked Mission Hills Alemany faces No. 9 San Bernardino in the II-A final at 1 p.m.

Top-ranked Brea-Olinda will be going after its sixth consecutive section championship. The Wildcats are led by all-state guard Nicole Erickson and face Newport Harbor in the III-AA final at 11:15 a.m.

Two City section championships will be played today at the Sports Arena. The Division 4-A final pits Roosevelt against defending champion Crenshaw at 4:30 p.m. The Rough Riders advanced to three 3-A title games in four years before moving up to 4-A last season.

Pacific League rivals Gardena and Wilmington Banning meet in the 3-A championship at 2:30 p.m. The two split their two regular-season meetings, which were both decided by two points or less.

SOUTHERN SECTION SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIPS

* Today’s pairings (at Cerritos Gahr High): Boys’ Division I--Claremont (19-6-4) vs. Upland (22-4-4), 8 p.m.; Boys’ Division IV--Moorpark (26-2-1) vs. Calabasas (13-3-2), 4 p.m.; Girls’ Division I--Huntington Beach Marina (27-0-1) vs. Palos Verdes Peninsula (23-1-3), 6 p.m.

* Last year’s champions: Boys’ Division I--Redlands; Boys’ Division V--Santa Paula; Girls’ Division I--Claremont and Huntington Beach Marina (co-champions).

* Outlook: Two days of championship games begin with finals in three divisions. There are some familiar faces, with the Calabasas boys and Marina girls making return visits. Calabasas lost to Santa Paula, 2-1, in last year’s championship match. Marina tied Claremont, 1-1. Calabasas will face Moorpark, a team it trailed in the Frontier League this season. Marina takes on Peninsula. The boys’ Division I final features surprising Baseline League foes Claremont and Upland, which finished behind La Verne Damien in league play and were not seeded in the playoffs.

STATE WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPS

* Today’s schedule (at University of Pacific, Stockton)--First round, 9 a.m.; second round, 1 p.m.; third round, 5 p.m. Saturday’s schedule--Semifinals, 10 a.m.; finals, 7 p.m.

* Last year’s team results--1. Santa Ana Calvary Chapel, 79 points; 2. Shingle Springs Ponderosa, 72; 3. Fresno Clovis, 65; 4. College Park, 56; 5. Montebello Schurr, 55.

* Outlook: Calvary Chapel edged Ponderosa to win the team title in an exciting State tournament last year, but it’s not expected to be as close this time. Calvary Chapel should easily retain its title with eight wrestlers competing. Clovis qualified five, and Ponderosa is one of several teams with four. Three of Calvary Chapel’s wrestlers, Shane and Dane Valdez and Ed Mosley, placed in State competition last year. Dane won the 119-pound weight class and will compete at 125 this weekend. Eric Guerrero of Independence (125) and Casey Strand of College Park (171) are two other returning champions. Each has moved up a weight class, with Guerrero wrestling at 130 and Strand at 189.