BOYS’ BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES : Pacifica Must Cut Veal Off : Division III-A: However, Mariners don’t plan to use gimmick defenses against San Dimas guard, who averages 30 points.

When the Division III-A boys’ basketball pairings were announced three weeks ago, Pacifica Coach Bob Becker immediately knew there had been a mistake.

“San Dimas might have been given the No. 4 seed, but I knew all along they’d be here in the finals,” Becker said. “San Dimas has been to the finals two years in a row, and until Jeremy Veal leaves San Dimas, they are legitimate.”

Becker and his third-seeded Mariners will find out how legitimate at 9:30 this morning when they meet San Dimas for the section championship.

There seems to be little doubt of Veal’s legitimacy; he already has signed a letter of intent with Arizona State and he averages 30 points, eight rebounds and four assists. So the question will be: Is Veal San Dimas’ whole team?

Becker thinks not.

“They wouldn’t be here with just Veal,” he said. “I have never seen one player take a team into the finals.”

Therefore, Becker said he won’t try to stop Veal with a gimmick defense.

“We won’t do a box-and-one,” he said. “I have too much respect for their other players.”

The Saints’ best other player is 6-4 center Jamar Bailey, who averages 15 points and nine rebounds. Forward Sean Smith also averages in double figures (10 points), but San Dimas Coach Gary Prestesater acknowledges that his team would be nowhere without Veal.

“This year, he’s been a little of everything,” Prestesater said. “He’s been a real team leader. He talks a little more than he used to. For two years, I didn’t know who he was. He’s more confident. I think he knows it’s his team this year.”

Veal showed off his unselfish play in the victory Feb. 25 over North Hollywood Harvard-Westlake. He took only 13 shots but scored 23 points and had seven rebounds and eight assists.

“He seems to do what we need,” Prestesater said. “If everybody’s shooting well, he’s passing the ball and rebounding. If he feels the need to step up his scoring, he’ll do that. It’s been a pleasure to coach him this year.”

And, Prestesater said, a pleasure to watch him.

“He made a move the other night against Harvard-Westlake I haven’t seen all year,” he said. “There have been so many of them. He just keeps getting better because he works so hard. If I could have the gym open till 10 p.m. every night, he’d be out there. But I just can’t stay there that long.”

While Veal has led San Dimas, Pacifica has been led by nearly everyone. Senior guard/forward Chris Vlasic is leading the Mariners in scoring (20 per game) and Ramon Alliman leads them in rebounding (nine per game), but neither starts.

Becker often gets 11 players into the game during the first quarter. That depth and the Mariners’ run-till-you-drop style has worn down most opponents by the fourth quarter. San Dimas, which goes only seven deep, figures to try to slow down the game.

“They try to wear you down,” Prestesater said. “We don’t mind running, but we’re probably not going to use a lot of people. The key is, we have to break their press.”

Another key might be San Dimas’ ability to contain Pacifica forward Jon Surface, who has emerged as a scorer in the playoffs. After averaging only 12 points during the regular season, Surface is scoring at a 22-point clip in the playoffs, including a 38-point effort against Pasadena Blair.

“He carried us against Blair,” Becker said. “The rest of us slept on the bus and never woke up.”

The reason for Surface’s hot streak is simple. He’s finally healthy. Surface sprained his right ankle before the season and missed four games.

“He played hurt this year,” Becker said. “He’d get swelling all the way up his (right calf) and the bottom of his leg would turn purple. Now he’s at full strength and playing great.”

Division III-A

Site--Anaheim Arena

When--9:30 a.m. today

San Dimas (24-4)--Starters: Jeremy Veal, G, 6-3, (30 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists), Jamar Bailey, C, 6-4 (15 points, 9 rebounds), Sean Smith, F, 6-4 (10 points, 7 rebounds), Corey Smith, F, 6-0, (6 points), Jason Koerner, G, 5-7 (4 points, 3 assists).

Pacifica (26-1)--Starters: Dean Vergara, G, 5-9 (3 points, 6 assists, 4.5 steals), Ryan Teague, G, 6-0, (12 points, 60 3-pointers), Jon Surface, F, 6-8 (15 points, 9 rebounds), Eric Maurer, F, 6-3, (6 points, 4 rebounds), Shane Miller, C, 6-6, (7 points, 7 rebounds).