Dominguez Routs Fresno Edison

Compton Dominguez High boys’ basketball coach Russell Otis said he could tell early that it was going to be a good night for his team, and sophomore center Tyson Chandler confirmed it.

Chandler scored 16 of his team-leading 18 points in the first half for the top-seeded Dons in an 85-57 victory over Fresno Edison Saturday night in the Southern California Division II regional final at the Pyramid in Long Beach.

Dominguez will play Sacramento Grant, a 70-51 winner Saturday over Chico, in the state championship game on Friday night at Arco Arena in Sacramento.

Chandler made six of 10 shots and also had a game-high 10 rebounds in 20 minutes.

“Tyson came out and played well from the start,” Otis said. “Once they got that confidence, it was like a ball rolling downhill.”

Keith Kincade finished with 17 points, Ronald Jackson 12 and Bobby Jones 11 for Dominguez (31-3). The Dons opened a 25-11 advantage after one quarter and led by as many as 32 points.

Willie Johnson scored 26 points for Edison, but made only eight of 26 shots. The Tigers made only 20 of 65 shots (30.3%) and were outrebounded, 47-27.