Compton Dominguez Outruns Woodbridge

Woodbridge Coach John Halagan and center Chris Burgess agreed before Thursday night’s second-round state playoff game at Compton Dominguez that the Dons would come out running.

But was it a mistake to try to run with them?

Dominguez, the defending state Division II champion, got 10 points and six rebounds in the first quarter from forward Tayshaun Prince, took a nine-point lead and had no trouble running by the Warriors, 83-65, inside the packed, noisy gym at Dominguez.

The Dons (27-5), made 10 of 14 first-quarter field-goal attempts, including a pair of three-pointers from Prince over the top of the Warriors’ 2-3 zone defense that lipped off the front of the rim. Even with standout point guard Kenny Brunner in foul trouble--he picked up his second only two minutes, eight seconds into the game--Dominguez was practically infallible. The Dons led, 44-25, at halftime, making 18 of 31 field-goal attempts, while out-rebounding the Warriors, 14-10.

Woodbridge tried to run early, but several of its shots were blocked and under swarming pressure, turned over the ball several times in the first quarter. The Warriors were five for 15 in the first quarter and never controlled the backboards.

“Dominguez is just so tough,” Halagan said. “They’re quick. But what is so doggone tough is that they are also so physical. When the ball went up, we lost the battle.”

Dominguez advanced to the state regional final Saturday at the Pond at 3 p.m. against Oceanside El Camino, a 93-76 winner over Bakersfield Highland.

Woodbridge, which got 23 points from Burgess, finished 28-4.

After opening that 19-point first-half lead, Dominguez made it even worse on Woodbridge. Brunner, who had a quiet two points in the first half on one-for-seven shooting from the floor, made three consecutive baskets to give the Dons a 52-27 lead less than four minutes into in the third quarter. The lead was as high as 25 points and eventually both coaches cleared their benches.

“I told our guys that we can’t run with them,” Burgess said. “Dominguez is so athletic, so talented and so awesome. When they get going they can’t be stopped.”

Brunner finished with 11 points and 12 assists. Prince wound up with 21 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. Jason Thomas scored 21 and Edwin Jones had 15 points.

Burgess was guarded by three different players, all of whom collapsed on the 6-10 center every time the ball came near him. He had some spectacular dunks in the second half, but he wound up with only five rebounds, about a third of his seasonal average.

Guard William Stovall had 14 points and forward Brandon Beeson had 12 for Woodbridge.

The Dons led, 11-3, after Prince’s first three-pointer with 3:30 left in the first quarter and later expanded the lead to 20-8.

“These guys got to this point and there was no way they would let anyone stop us from defending our title,” Dominguez Coach Russell Otis said. “I told them they had to come out hard and press them and they did exactly what I asked of them.”