SoCalHoops High School News

CIF Southern Section Playoffs: Division II-AA
Game Previews--(March 2, 1999)

When we said yesterday that there were only 6 games being played in the semifinals tonight in the various divisions, we completely overlooked D-II-AA. How could we overlook Dominguez' bracket?  We don't know.   But we're here to make it right again. We've put together some small previews for tonight's games in Division II-A. If you want specific information on a player, or on a particular game played earlier this year by any team, use the "Search SoCalHoops" link on the lower-left hand side of the navigation bar. Otherwise, below is as good as it gets.  

Division IIAA Upper Bracket Semifinal

Dominguez v. Rancho Verde
At Compton College 7:30 p.m.

When Moreno Valley Rancho Verde takes on Compton Dominguez tonight in the Division IIAA boys' basketball playoffs, the Mustangs will be facing more than just another semifinalist. They will be going up against an institution.  Top-seeded Dominguez (26-3) has made it to division finals six consecutive years and has won the past four division titles.  The Dons are ranked ninth in this week's USA Today Super 25 poll which came out today (March 2, 1999). Their only losses came to Mouth of Wilson (Va.) Oak Hill, the poll's top-ranked team, San Francisco St. Ignatius and Santa Ana Mater Dei, which are ranked 8th and 15th, respectively in the same USA Today poll. Last week, Dominguez Defeated Sonora 74-59 in the Southern Section
Division II AA quarterfinals, a game in which Marcus Moore had 19 points and nine assists, and Tyson Chandler had 16 points.  Keith Kincade had 25 points in a 95-71 win over Pomona Garey High in the second round, and Marcus Moore had 19 points, 10 assists and 10 steals. In the first round of the playoffs, Dominguez hammered Westlake 98-46.  The Dons' starting lineup has a double-figure scoring average and an average height of 6'6".   Center Tyson Chandler, a 7-foot sophomore, averages 14 points, eight rebounds and five blocks per game. Forward Keith Brooks (6'-7", 235 lbs.) is averaging 15 points and 11 rebounds. The team can go big, or they can go small and fast with point guards Ronald Jackson, Keilon Fortune and several others.

We don't know a lot about Rancho Verde, except that the Mustangs (26-4) finished third in Sunbelt League competition, and   have seen good performances from Preston Norman (6'-5" Sr. SG) who averages 20 points per game. Rancho Verde was the No. 4 seed in the bracket. The Mustangs also feature Justin Pinnix, another high scorer in Brandon Shaw who has had several games of 20+,   J.S. Nash (6'-0" So. SG) who averaged nearly 18 points per game this season, and Marc Peters (5'-9" Sr. G).  They've beaten some tough teams during the course of the season, including Brian Wethers' Murrietta Valley team, a game in which they held Wethers to his season low, so we know they are capable of playing tough defense.   But candidly, there's no team in SoCal, and we mean in any division, which has the overall depth of talent and strength at every single position that Dominguez has.   Really, it's almost obscene.  And a comparison of the two rosters would lead to one inevitable conclusion:  Unless Rancho Verde is going to run a lot faster than the Dons, and shoot out the lights in the gym, we'd expect to see Dominguez in the finals against either Gahr or Pasadena this Saturday.  But then with high school basketball, you never know.

Division IIAA Lower Bracket Semifinal

Gahr v. Pasadena
At Occidental College 7:30 p.m.

We did a pre-season preview of Pasadena.   We knew they would be good, we just really didn't have any idea they'd be here in the Semifinals of Southern Section.  We didn't give a thought to doing a preview of Gahr, because in the crowded and talented San Gabriel Valley League, they were not one of the favorites going in, especially since they got the pleasure of getting pounded twice in a season by Dominguez.  In short, neither one of these teams was "supposed" to get this far. Last Friday, Pasadena pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the CIF playoffs this year, defeating No. 2 seed Redondo 60-50. Prior to that they had beaten Agoura 82-69 in the first round, Paso Robles 56-51 in the second round, and then Redondo. Gahr beat La Serra 49-45 in the first round, then beat Tustin 53-50 in the second round, and last Friday night, beat No. 3 seed Brea-Olinda 63-61.  The Gladiators are truly the Cinderella team of this year's playoffs. That is unless you consider Pasadena a fairy-tale team, having beaten Redondo on Friday night. 

Pasadena's semifinal opponent Gahr doesn't resemble Redohdo at all.  Gahr, a team which went 14-10 overall in the regular season, 4-4 in San Gabriel Valley League, finishing third behind Dominguez and Lynwood, is a team with no one bigger than 6'-3";  in fact they only have one player who is 6'-3", two at 6'-2" and the rest 6'-0" or well under.  There are no "big-name" stars on Gahr, just a bunch of guys who've worked hard, played well, and gotten the job done. They are really an outside scoring team, which is pretty evident when you look at their roster below. Their highest season scoring leader, Anthony Davis (5'-11" Sr. G) was only averaging 13.3 ppg this season; Michael Williams (6'-1" Sr. G) was averaging 12.1, and Darrell Handey (6'-2" Sr. C) was popping in 10.3 per game, and grabbing 6.4 rebounds. 

Pasadena really has the size advantage, and if they can play an inside, half-court game, they should win.  Of course, they don't need to depend on a slow-down game, because this is one of the best teams in transition that we've seen this year.  Reggie Harmon (55'-8" Jr. PG) is a capable ball handler, and he and David Ball (6'-0" Sr. PG) will share duties there.  Geolrge DeJohnette (6'-1" Sr. SG) is a big-time scoring threat, and he plays great defense too, when he's motivated.  For their part, a number of other Bulldogs have stepped up at various times during their 8 game winning streak. Josh Duncan (6'-4" Jr. F) has come off the bench to average 18 points and 10 rebounds during the stretch and leading scorers Jasun Ridley (6'-3" Sr. SG/SF) and Kevin Richard (6'-5" Sr. F) have been consistent sources when Pasadena needs a big shot or defensive stop.

We really don't have a clue who's going to win this one, but we'd bet on Pasadena if we were inclined to bet given the little information we have on Gahr; but then with an unknown quantity, sometimes it's just better to go and watch, and forget the prognostications. For either team though, this will be their chance to not only make a run at a title against the winner of the Dominguez v. Rancho Verde game, but also a chance to get into the first round of the State Championship Playoffs. Regardless of the outcome though, for both teams, it's been one heck of a ride.  

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