Boys’ Basketball Finals

BOYS’ BASKETBALL FINALS

City Championship

Tonight at the Forum

Fairfax (29-3) vs. Westchester (27-2), 7

The league rivals have already played three times, Westchester winning twice, including a surprisingly easy 100-68 victory on Jan. 8. But Fairfax won at Westchester, 66-62, on Jan. 25. Westchester, seeking its third consecutive City Section championship, received double-figure scoring from six players in an 83-63 semifinal victory over Fremont. Arizona-bound guard Hassan Adams has had a superb season and this week became the Comets’ first McDonald’s All-American. Fairfax swingman Evan Burns, who has committed to UCLA, scored 15 points in a 68-59 semifinal victory over Dorsey. Fairfax has not won a City title since 1987. The game will be broadcast by cable Channel 36 on a delayed basis, beginning at 9 p.m.

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Southern Section

Today at Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim

Division I-AA

Rialto Eisenhower (27-2) vs.

Long Beach Poly (27-3), 8:30

Long Beach Poly Coach Ron Palmer is concerned his second-seeded Jackrabbits haven’t played well in big games this season. Their losses were to their toughest competition: Compton Centennial, St. Louis Vashon and Eisenhower. Still, the meltdowns will be forgotten if the Jackrabbits can defeat top-seeded Eisenhower. When the teams met in December, Eisenhower posted a 14-point victory behind strong efforts from Cory McJimson (28 points), Sean Marshall (20) and Johnny Dukes (12). Poly’s front line of Marcedes Lewis, Bobby Jones and Reggie Butler must avoid foul trouble and dominate the interior if the Jackrabbits, who are making their fifth appearance in the finals in six years, are to win their first title since 2000. Eisenhower is playing in its first championship game.

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Division I-A

L.A. Loyola (26-3) vs. Thousand Oaks (27-3), 2:15

Fourth-seeded Loyola and third-seeded Thousand Oaks reached the championship game because of outstanding man-to-man defense. Each applies steady pressure and features exceptional rebounders. The key matchup is at center. Ben Olson of Thousand Oaks, a 6-foot-5 senior who is averaging 14.5 points and seven rebounds, has used his athleticism and mobility to create defensive mismatches. But Loyola has a versatile 6-7 center in junior Chris Rucker, who runs the court and blocks shots. Much focus will be on each team’s top shooter. Loyola has junior Omar Wilkes, who averages 20 points. Thousand Oaks counters with senior Dave Anderson, who averages 17.3 points and is shooting 62.5% from three-point range during the playoffs. Loyola’s only basketball title came in 1953.

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Division II-AA

Santa Ana Mater Dei (26-4) vs. Pasadena (26-4), 6:30

Top-seeded Mater Dei has won 19 consecutive games, while second-seeded Pasadena has won 18 in a row. The Monarchs, who are seeking a fourth consecutive section title, are heavy favorites, but the guard-oriented Bulldogs are scrappy enough to keep things interesting. Guards Dino Wilburn and Duwan Rice are excellent ballhandlers who often drive and pass to center Mackenzie Clark, who neutralized Inglewood’s DeAngelo Collins in Pasadena’s semifinal victory. The Bulldogs, seeking their first section title since 1995, will need to contain Mater Dei guard Wesley Washington and curtail the Monarchs’ transition game to have a chance.

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Division II-A

Riverside King (27-3) vs. Redondo Union (22-6), 12:30

Third-seeded Redondo Union has won 16 of 17 games since Wendell White and Eddie Topps returned from injuries. The Sea Hawks, who seek a second consecutive section title, knocked off second-seeded Santa Margarita in a semifinal and will need to play their best to beat the top-seeded Wolves. King’s Marvin Lea, one of the most dominating players in the Southern Section, is capable of scoring 30 or more points. Redondo’s Keith Ellison is another hard-nosed player who gets the job done.

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Division III-AA

La Puente Bishop Amat (24-6) vs.

Palm Desert (25-4), 10:45 a.m.

Fourth-seeded Bishop Amat has reached the final in Coach Ray Lokar’s first season, while third-seeded Palm Desert is making its first championship-game appearance in the school’s 16-year history. Bishop Amat possesses more size and depth, but Palm Desert features excellent ball movement and defense. Loyola Marymount-bound forward John Haywood averages 18 points and eight rebounds for the Lancers, and Paul Porter averages 15 points. Palm Desert is led by seniors Donald Brady, Chase McQuillen and Josh Zazulia, the school’s all-time leading scorer. Bishop Amat won its only finals appearance in 1988.

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Division III-A

Compton Centennial (28-0) vs.

Torrance Bishop Montgomery (23-6), 9 a.m.

Bishop Montgomery defeated Centennial the last two seasons in the section final and again in the state playoffs, but this time the top-seeded and undefeated Apaches come in as slight favorites. Centennial has three big-time players: Gabriel Pruitt, who is averaging 20 points during the playoffs, 6-foot-7 Darius Sanders (17 points) and Sterling Byrd (16.7). Centennial Coach Rod Palmer said he is concerned about stopping Bishop Montgomery’s tandem of Fred Washington (22.4) and Gavin Lee (15.1). While the Apaches squeaked past their last two opponents, Bishop Montgomery won its last two games by an average of 37 points.

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GIRLS’ BASKETBALL FINALS

City Championship

Today at the Forum

Harbor City Narbonne (24-3) vs. Chatsworth (22-7), 5

Narbonne has cruised through the playoffs with victories of 43, 51 and 26 points. Chatsworth scrambled in victories over Crenshaw, 48-45, and Chatsworth, 47-44. If the third-seeded Chancellors can keep the score close in the fourth quarter--and they will have to do that by shooting a high percentage-- their recent victories might prove to be an advantage. Top-seeded Narbonne may be too physical for Chatsworth to get many second opportunities to score. The game will be broadcast by cable Channel 36 on at 7 p.m.

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Southern Section Finals

Today at the Pyramid in Long Beach

Division I-A

San Clemente (26-3) vs. Newhall Hart (25-4), 8:15

Top-seeded San Clemente and third-seeded Hart each has a set of fine guards, but there could be a matchup problem with San Clemente’s 6-3 sophomore, Lindsey Pluimer, who is averaging 23.4 points and 11.8 rebounds. She has been too much for nearly all-comers, though she has drawn additional coverage and more physical play lately. Hart is making its first appearance in a title game since winning consecutive championships in 1989-90. San Clemente, defending Division I-AA champion, is in the finals for the fourth time in five years. Hart’s Ashlee Trebilcock averages 16.7 points, Brandi Kimble 14.5 and Amanda Patton 14.

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Division II-AA

Fullerton Troy (27-2) vs. Ventura (27-2), 6:30

This is top-seeded Troy’s fourth title game in five years, and the Warriors hope to beat the Channel League champions for the second year in a row. Last year, Troy beat undefeated Ventura Buena. Each team features competent three-point shooters, Troy’s Alicia Komaki and Meghan McGuire and second-seeded Ventura’s Jenni Dooley and Katy O’Brien. But in an arena setting, inside play could prove pivotal, and the advantage could be swung by Troy’s Amanda Livingston, who averages 19.3 points.

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Division III-AA

Lakewood Artesia (23-5) vs. Apple Valley (24-4), 2:45

Top-seeded Artesia won its other championship game appearances, in 1983 and last season, when it defeated Pasadena Muir, 76-47, for the Division II-A title. Katie McElree averages 21.9 points for Apple Valley, which has never played in a championship game. Though the Sun Devils are taller at the guard position and boast senior Katie McElree, who averages 21.9 points, Artesia will have an advantage in quickness, and that’s something that has given Apple Valley trouble.

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Division IV-AA

Playa del Rey St. Bernard (20-7) vs.

Santa Fe Springs St. Paul (24-7), 1

Top-seeded and defending champion St. Bernard had little trouble with St. Paul in Del Rey League play, winning, 58-30, on Jan. 10 and 62-44 on Jan. 31. Georgia-bound senior Alexis Kendricks leads a St. Bernard team that has outscored four playoff opponents by an average of 35 points and seeks its fifth section title in six seasons. St. Paul, seeded ninth, upset third-seeded Cerritos Valley Christian, 55-51, in the quarterfinals and has set a school record for victories.

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Division IV-A

Montebello Cantwell-Sacred Heart (22-5) vs.

Van Nuys Montclair Prep (20-5), 11:15 a.m.

Third-seeded Montclair Prep is seeking its second consecutive section championship after winning the Division V-AA title last season. The Mounties are paced by junior Eshaya Murphy, the Southland’s leading scorer and rebounder. Murphy, averaging 31.9 points and 22 rebounds, scored three points in the final 31 seconds of the 55-52 semifinal victory over Huntington Beach Brethren Christian. Cantwell-Sacred Heart’s Kathy Suria, who averaged 14.5 points during the regular season, is averaging 21 in the playoffs, including 30 in a 72-57 upset of top-seeded Brentwood in the second round.

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Division V-AA

Rolling Hills Prep (21-6) vs.

Granada Hills Hillcrest Christian (16-9), 9:30 a.m.

Charmaine Jones is averaging 26 points in three playoff games for top-seeded Rolling Hills Prep. Third-seeded Hillcrest Christian, making its first appearance in a final, is led by Kayla Rutherford, who is averaging more than 20 points in the playoffs.

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Staff writers Mike Bresnahan, Ben Bolch, Eric Sondheimer and Martin Henderson, and correspondent Dave Desmond contributed to this report.