Dominguez Dominates Shasta

There’s one question the Compton Dominguez team and its Coach Russell Otis didn’t have a good answer for after the Dons’ 85-52 victory over Redding Shasta on Friday night in the Division II championship before 7,262 at the Pond of Anaheim.

Why doesn’t Dominguez move up to Division I where it belongs?

“We were going to move up before the season started, but we figured we’d stay in Division II so both Crenshaw and us would have a chance to win a state championship,” said Otis, whose team outscored Southern Section playoff opponents, 400-196, and state playoff opponents, 387-249, in winning its second straight Division II state title.

“We played everybody in the preseason anyway,” said Otis, whose team recorded victories over defending Division I state champion Crenshaw and Santa Monica Crossroads, among others. “We have one of the toughest schedules in the state. I don’t know what else we can do.”

But wouldn’t potential postseason matchups with such perennial Division I powers like Crenshaw be more appealing to Dominguez?

“Hopefully we’ll move up next year,” said junior center Tayshaun Prince, who scored 13 points. “I hope we get a shot at Crenshaw and Mater Dei. They wouldn’t be any problem for us. We’re going to be even deeper next year.”

The Dons are returning three starters and many talented subs next season from a team that went at least 12 deep this year.

Dominguez (29-5) had all the answers against undermanned Shasta (22-8).

Shasta, which reached the finals despite finishing third in the Eastern Athletic League of the Northern Section, had to endure hours of traveling for each state playoff game.

Dominguez, taking full advantage of its superior size and quickness, took charge of the game early by forcing 16 turnovers en route to a 47-27 lead at the half.

Shasta guard Wayman King committed seven first-half turnovers against Dominguez’s relentless full-court pressure. The miscues led to numerous transition layups for the Dons.

“They were tenacious defensively,” said King. “They’re real quick and run a lot of bodies at you and they never seem tired.”

Junior forwards Jason Thomas and Michael Carson led Dominguez with 10 first-half points.

The Dons built a 20-point lead despite limited playing time from star guard Kenny Brunner, who committed four fouls in the first half.

Thomas, who finished with a game-high 20 points, had a unique answer to the question of moving up, saying “I feel like we’re already the Division I and II champions because we already beat Crenshaw, who is the best Division I team.”

Brunner finished with 16 points, eight rebounds and six assists. Chris Wardall led Shasta with 18 points.