Third Time More Than a Charm for Dominguez

Everyone told Compton Dominguez High Coach Russell Otis that it was hard to defeat the same school three times in one season, but that’s exactly what his team did Saturday, outlasting Inglewood, 84-76, in the Southern Section Division II-A final at the Pond of Anaheim.

This victory was no different then the two others during the regular season. Dominguez got balanced scoring from its starting five--all in double figures--to claim its second title in a row.

Top-seeded Dominguez (30-2) led from its opening basket and was ahead, 32-30, at halftime. It survived a scare when point guard Kenny Brunner picked up his fourth foul midway though the third period.

Inglewood (27-4) got within one, 49-48, in the third but Dominguez rallied behind 6-foot-8 sophomore Tayshaun Prince and senior guard Ricky Sanders, who combined for 17 of the Dons next 25 points as they built a seven-point lead with 5:30 left in the game.

“We had to rely on Tayshaun and Ricky and they stepped it up big time,” Otis said.

Prince and Brunner scored 17 each, forward Jason Thomas added 18 with 12 rebounds and James Jones finished with 10. Sanders scored a team-high 21.

Jason Hart led Inglewood with 27 points.