BOYS’ BASKETBALL / DIVISION II SOUTHERN REGIONAL : Bruin-to-Be Henderson Leads East Bakersfield

The defense changed. The momentum changed. The lead changed.

But the one constant was J.R. Henderson, who led East Bakersfield to its first Southern Regional Division II Championship with an 80-65 victory over top-seeded Inglewood on Saturday at Anaheim Arena.

The second-seeded Blades (28-4) advance to the Division II State final Friday night at the Oakland Coliseum Arena against Roseville Oakmont (31-3).

Henderson, a 6-foot-9 senior who has signed with UCLA, scored a game-high 32 points on 11-of-18 shooting and also had 13 rebounds and four blocked shots. His quickness and strength inside were too much for Inglewood, which double- and triple-teamed him.

“We tried to push him out,” said Inglewood Coach Patrick Roy.

But even outside, Henderson frustrated the Sentinels by making two of three three-point shots. He also made all eight of his free throws, including six in the final two minutes.

“I knew I had to score, get some respect, and then get the ball to my teammates,” Henderson said. “If they hit them, we win.”

Five Blades scored in double figures, including Chris Clayton, who scored 17 points.

Yet in the first half, not even Henderson could control the hot shooting and speedy pace of the Sentinels, who led at halftime, 38-31, after leading by as many as 11 points in the second quarter.

Inglewood senior point guard Sam Turks scored 14 of his team-high 23 points in the first half.

But beginning the third quarter, the Blades switched from a man-to-man defense to a 1-2-2 zone that stymied the Sentinels.

“If I tried to penetrate, they’d have a lot of help and it forced me to pass,” Turks said.

After Turks’ dunk gave the Sentinels a 47-43 lead with 2:45 left in the third quarter, Inglewood went six minutes without a basket. Finally, Turks made a jumper with 4:45 to play, but East Bakersfield had gone on a 17-5 run.

Inglewood pulled to within 69-62 with 1:53 to play, but got no closer.

“The key was to get back on their fast break,” said Blade Coach Joe Dominguez. “We stopped their transition and we controlled their tempo.”

The defense also managed to slow Inglewood junior Paul Pierce, who scored only five of his 21 points in the last 11 minutes.