This Weekend’s Games at the Pond

TODAY’S GAMES

Division V girls

Santa Rosa Rincon Valley (28-4) vs. El Cajon Christian (29-1), 2:30 p.m.--North Coast Champion Rincon Valley surrendered only 10 second-half points to shut down Modoc in a 58-23 victory in the NorCal title game. The Rabbits are led by 6-2 senior guard Erin Buescher (24 points, 11 rebounds) and 6-2 junior forward Lesley Dubois (14 points). While Rincon Valley is making its first trip to the final, Christian, the San Diego Section runner-up, is making its record-tying sixth appearance, joining Brea Olinda among the state’s elite. Christian won titles in 1992 and 1995. Alyssa Fredrick, a 6-3 senior center, had 30 points and 23 rebounds in the regional final, a 73-55 victory over San Luis Obispo Mission Prep.

*

Division V boys

Modesto Christian (32-0) vs. San Diego Horizon (30-1), 4:15 p.m.--There are a lot of parallels here. Both teams are making their first appearance in a state final, both won 30 or more games and both got here by blasting their opponents in the regional finals. Modesto used a 25-7 run to beat Fremont Christian, 80-56. Horizon pounded Pasadena Poly, 70-49, behind 20 points and 11 rebounds from forward Detrick Watts.

*

Division II boys

Shasta Redding (21-7) vs. Compton Dominguez (28-5), 8 p.m.--Here’s the note that sticks out about this one: Defending state champion Dominguez, making its third consecutive appearance in the Division II final, defeated Division I finalist Los Angeles Crenshaw, 101-90, earlier this season. It was the last time Crenshaw lost. Dominguez has scored 100 or more points six times since then. Redding is the first Northern Section team to make it to the Division II final. The Wolves beat Vacaville, 57-44, in the Northern California final. Dominguez, led by 24 points from swingman Tayshaun Prince, ran away from Oceanside El Camino, 78-63.

SATURDAY’S GAMES

Division IV girls

Moraga Campolindo (32-2) vs. Playa Del Rey St. Bernard (25-6), 10 a.m.--These teams have combined to win the last four Division IV state finals, with Campolindo winning the last two over Cerritos Valley Christian, 77-60 last year and 62-37 in 1995. Campolindo, which also won in 1990, trails only Brea Olinda (five), San Diego Point Loma (four) and Atherton Sacred Heart (four) for most state championships. Forward Courtney Moll (15.2 points, 5.5 rebounds), a 5-8 senior, led North Coast Section champion Campolindo with 26 points in the 59-50 victory over Justin-Siena in the NorCal final. Point guard Allyson Keener (21 points, five assists), a 5-7 junior, is the Cougars’ leading scorer. Southern Section champion St. Bernard defeated Burbank Bellarmine-Jefferson, 58-43, to advance to its third state final. Senior reserve Nicole Monette led St. Bernard in that championship game, scoring 15 points.

*

Division IV boys

Sacramento Encina (15-20) vs. Santa Monica Crossroads (30-3), 11:45 a.m.--About the only thing that could possibly get in the way of Crossroads defending its state title is the hour at which this championship will be played. Expect a wake-up call for Encina, which got to its first state title game despite forfeiting 15 victories for using three players who did not live within school attendance boundaries. Crossroads guard Baron Davis had 30 points and 11 rebounds in a 57-45 victory over Calvary Chapel in the Southern California final and he should prove to be difficult to stop in this one, as he has been throughout the playoffs. Encina closed out its 60-48 victory over San Rafael in the Northern California final with a 16-2 run. Forward Joaquin Pons made nine of 17 field goals and scored 21 points in the game.

*

Division III girls

Lafayette Acalanes (27-6) vs. Torrance Bishop Montgomery (27-3), 1:15 p.m.--Acalanes, the North Coast Section champion, has six freshmen on the team and three are starters. They hardly acted their age in a 55-52 victory over Grass Valley Bear River, a four-time NorCal finalist in the 1990s. The Dons are led by 5-7 junior Danielle Silvani (7.9 points) and 5-7 senior Megan McCosker (9.6 points, 5.3 rebounds), but got 17 points in the final from 5-5 freshman Corrie Mizusawa. Bishop Montgomery is in its third state title game. The Southern Section champion Knights defeated Bear River, 46-42, in last year’s title game; in 1992, they lost to Hayward Moreau, 73-66, in the only double-overtime game in state finals history. Six-foot senior forward Tashara Carter (13 points) and senior guard Danielle Graham (17 points) led Bishop Montgomery’s four double-figure scorers in its 74-42 victory over Chula Vista Eastlake in the regional final. Guard Andree Verhulst played last year for Newport Harbor.

*

Division III boys

San Mateo Hillsdale (30-0) vs. North Hollywood Harvard-Westlake (34-1), 3 p.m.--That unblemished record is going to be severely tested against defending champion Harvard-Westlake, ranked fifth in the nation by USA Today at the end of the regular season. Twins Jason and Jarron Collins are towers of power. Jason averages 19.7 points and 10.8 rebounds; Jarron averages nine points and 13.8 rebounds. Among other big victories, Harvard-Westlake hammered Southern Section Division I champion Mater Dei, 64-39, in a tournament in Las Vegas in December. Hillsdale, making its first appearance in a state final, is trying to become the first Northern California team since 1993 to finish unbeaten. The Knights had four players score in double figures in a 61-42 Northern California final victory over Arcata.

*

Division I girls

Berkeley (28-3) vs. Los Angeles Crenshaw (27-3), 6 p.m. (Fox Sports West 2)--Though its boys’ team has won seven state titles, this is thrip for the Crenshaw girls. The Cougars, City Section champion Cougars have six players averaging in double figures, including 6-0 senior forward Naila Moseley (16 points, 13 rebounds), 6-0 senior center Jovanae St. Cyr (16 points), and senior guard Kisha Shephard (12 points, ). Berkeley, North Coast Section champion, is making its third final appearance (1990, ‘91, ‘97); the Yellowjackets defeated Inglewood Morningside, 76-50, to win the 1991 state title. Six-foot-4 senior center Shavaki Jackson (24 points, 14 rebounds) and 5-9 freshman Aisha Hollins (13 points) lead Berkeley, which defeated Woodbridge in the Santa Barbara Tournament of Champions but lost to Brea Olinda, 65-56.

*

Division I boys

Alameda St. Joseph (31-3) vs. Los Angeles Crenshaw (26-3), 8 p.m.--St. Joseph has returned to its third state title game of the decade, having won the first two in 1991 and 1992 during the Jason Kidd era. Cougar Coach Willie West has never lost a state title game and has won seven state titles overall. Despite having nine new faces when fall practice began, West was still able to upend Mater Dei for the fifth time last week, 71-66, in the Southern California final at the Pond. The Cougars have won 17 in a row. Guard Alastair Faux leads the team in scoring (24.5). St. Joseph’s Blandon Ferguson had 27 points and 10 rebounds and Ray Young had 21 points and 12 rebounds in a 76-65 victory over Oakland Fremont in the Northern California final.