Mater Dei Gets New Challenge

Only two Southern Section champions will be crowned this season in Division I--and one of them won’t be Santa Ana Mater Dei.

The Monarchs, winners of three consecutive Division I-A titles, are playing in Division II-AA, where their toughest competitors are Inglewood, Villa Park, Corona Centennial, Claremont and El Dorado. Mater Dei’s move in the enrollment-based divisions also means it won’t have a chance to defend its Division I state title.

“Winning a state championship at any level is a tremendous thrill for the kids,” said Mater Dei Coach Gary McKnight, who has guided the Monarchs to 15 Section and four state titles. “Personally, I wish we were still in Division I, but the competition will still be strong. Some years I thought Division II was better than Division I.”

Section officials have eliminated Division I-AAA, won by Upland last season. The Highlanders are now in Division I-AA, and defending Division I-AA champion Glendora is in Division I-A.

Three-time defending state Division II champion Compton Dominguez has moved to Division III-A, which does not include a single team ranked by The Times. Still, the Dons appear unlikely to challenge for a fourth straight state title after starting the season 3-6.

North Hollywood Harvard-Westlake and West Hills Chaminade, who have won a combined five Division III-AA championships since 1993, are in Division IV-AA.

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He’s the bomb: When Covina’s Jino La Bomme left the floor Saturday after the Colts won the El Rancho tournament, his coach figured the guard had scored thirty-something points.

Yeah, in the second half . La Bomme finished with 47.

The 5-foot-11 senior converted nine of 17 three-pointers and scored 33 points after halftime as Covina pulled out an 83-81 victory over Paramount.

“He can create his shot and he’s got a fine touch,” Colt Coach Dave Sanderson said.

Sanderson knew he was getting a standout when La Bomme transferred from West Covina, where he averaged 24 points last season to lead the San Gabriel Valley in scoring, but he didn’t realize how good the player could be until he saw La Bomme’s drive in the preseason.

La Bomme is averaging 29 points per game for Covina (4-0), but Sanderson isn’t satisfied. He wants La Bomme to become a complete guard by increasing his four-assist-per-game average. “He’s trying to make his game more well-rounded,” Sanderson said.

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Saturday night fever: On a night when the Lakers and Clippers were off, it appeared that Westchester was the hottest ticket in town Saturday when it played Fairfax for the championship of the Westchester tournament. Among the celebrities in the overflow crowd were Charlotte Hornet guard Baron Davis and the Clippers’ Darius Miles and Quentin Richardson.

Westchester, ranked No. 1 nationally by several publications, won, 86-84. New Mexico-bound guard Ashanti Cook sank two free throws with 10 seconds left.