Dominguez Uses Defense to Dominate Redondo Union

Compton Dominguez High won its fourth consecutive Southern Section Division II-A championship in slightly different fashion Saturday at the Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim.

The Dons, noted for the offensive firepower provided by Kentucky-bound forward Tayshaun Prince, defended their title with defense. The inspired, high-pressure variety that enabled Dominguez to defeat Redondo Union, 80-69, before a morning session crowd of 7,950.

Dominguez turned a 33-29 halftime deficit into a 55-43 lead at the end of the third quarter with a suffocating defensive scheme that resulted in steals, Redondo turnovers and hurried shots by the Sea Hawks in the first three minutes after the break.

“In the first half, we really weren’t playing hard enough,” said Dominguez guard Keith Kincade, who had 14 points and helped key the Dons’ surge. “In the second half, we tried to come out and just take over.”

Prince opened the second half by scoring on a put-back of his own shot. He also made a free throw before Kincade converted a steal into a layup to give the Dons a lead they would not surrender. After a Redondo turnover and timeout, Kincade made a jump shot. Prince capped an 11-0 run with a four-point play--a three-point shot from the left wing and the ensuing free throw after he was fouled.

“Their defense to start the third quarter picked it up two levels, not one,” Redondo Coach Jim Nielsen said. “That was the difference in the game.”

Though Prince scored 22 points, two-time defending state Division II champion Dominguez pulled away in the fourth quarter with its 6-foot-8 star on the bench.

With 2:37 left in the third quarter, Prince went up for a follow shot. When he came down, his foot landed on the foot of a Redondo player. Prince limped to the Dominguez bench and fell to the floor grasping his knee in pain.

He returned to the game with 7:17 left in the fourth quarter, but left less than a minute later because of discomfort. At the time, the Dons were leading, 57-47.

“It hurts right behind the knee,” said Prince, who was to undergo X-rays today to determine the extent of the injury.

Dominguez (25-4) did not suffer in Prince’s absence. Three minutes after he left the game for good, the Dons had extended their advantage to 73-49 with a 16-2 run keyed by Kincaide’s seven points.

“All year long, we’ve said we have a lot of guys [who can play],” Dominguez Coach Russell Otis said. Dominguez’s second-half play overshadowed an outstanding first half by Redondo Union (27-3).

Junior guard Marcus Moore made several outstanding passes inside for easy baskets and senior guard Tyler Hoffman bombed away from long range, scoring all of his 12 points in the first half. In addition, 6-foot-9 sophomore Andrew Zahn scored eight points while neutralizing Tyson Chandler, Dominguez’s 7-foot freshman.

“All the other teams come in [against Dominguez] scared,” said Moore, who finished with 17 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists. “We knew if we played our game, we had a chance.”

At least until Dominguez’s second-half surge.

Dominguez begins pursuit of its third consecutive state title on Tuesday in the Southern California regional. Pairings for the eight-team regional, which will also include Redondo, will be announced today.