Division III-A Boys’ Basketball Final

Where--Arrowhead Pond, 9 a.m. today.

Corona del Mar (18-10)--Coach Paul Orris said he took some heat from his friends for having to win only two games to reach the finals of this eight-team division, but he added, “You still have to work as hard to get to the final. . . . Lots of teams would like to be where we are.” Corona del Mar, which finished fourth in the Sea View League, had won a total of only 10 games in the two seasons before this, so reaching a title game, any title game, is sweet. Alec Hanson has played well at point guard, switching over from shooting guard to replace Brandon Crosby, who was declared academically ineligible before the start of the playoffs. Hanson has scored 37 points in two playoff games. The Sea Kings, whose tallest players are 6-5 Alex Bottom and 6-4 Justin Shea, will be tested on the front line by Chaminade.

Chaminade (23-4)--The defending division champions have a great height advantage with 6-11 J.J. Todd and 6-9 Scott Borchart, whose two free throws with 14 seconds left made the difference in a 60-57 semifinal victory over North Hollywood Harvard-Westlake. Borchart, a sophomore, was a second-team Southern Section Division III selection in 1998. Todd isn’t a prolific scorer, but he’s a good rebounder. Reserve guard Erik Johnson, who led a third-quarter comeback against Harvard-Westlake, may be asked to shut down Hanson if the game is close. The top-seeded Eagles are making their fifth consecutive playoff appearance.

Key to the game--If the Sea Kings can shut down Borchart, they will have a chance. “We’ll have to be patient with our shots,” Orris said. They’ll also need three-point baskets from Dennis Alshuler, Hanson and Kevin Hansen.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

Starting Lineups

CORONA DEL MAR

*--*

P Name Ht. Avg. F Kevin Hansen 6-4 7.3 C Justin Shea 6-0 5.7 G Dennis Alshuler 6-1 13.6 G Geoff Hunt 6-3 3.1 G Alec Hanson 6-0 7.3

*--*

Coach: Paul Orris

CHAMINADE

*--*

P Name Ht. Avg. F Chris Canoles 6-3 6.0 F Scott Borchart 6-9 15.0 C J.J. Todd 6-11 6.0 G Cayce Cook 5-8 10.0 G Ryan Arceo 6-0 10.0

*--*

Coach: Jeff Young