DII312.htm

SoCal High School & Prep Report

CIF State Playoffs: Southern Region
Division II Semifinal Previews--(March 12, 1998)

Game 1:
Redondo Beach Redondo Union (23-3) v. Santa Margarita (29-2)
At Santa Margarita High School, 7:30 p.m.

Game 2:
Compton (26-4) v. Compton Dominguez (26-4)
At Compton Dominguez High School, 7:30 p.m.

Division II Semifinal Previews

Game 1:
Who: Redondo Beach Redondo Union (23-3) v. Santa Margarita (29-2)
Where: Santa Margarita High School, 7:30 p.m.

Look for Redondo to start Brian Morris (6'-0" Sr. G) and Tyler Hoffman (6'-3" Sr. G) in the backcourt, Marcus Moore (6'-4" Jr. SG/F), Andrew Zahn (6-9" So. C) and Levi Stauffer (6'-3" Sr. F) up front, and for Titus Hunt (6'-4" Jr G/F), Ryan Kittel (6'-0" Sr SG), Mike Nazerian (6'-0" Sr G), Walter White (6'-4" So F), Dylan Mathis (6'-5" So F), Jesse Webster (6'-6" Jr F/C), and Justin Ergieger (6'-4" Jr F) to all see some time in this one. Redondo comes into this game at 23-3 overall, and the runner-up in Division II-A Southern Section to Dominguez. Redondo is a talented team, which can be explosive at times, and they feature a fine backcourt in Morris, Hoffman, Kittel Nazerian and Moore, and they also feature swingman Hunt, who can shoot inside or outside. Andrew Zahn is one of the finest big men in SoCal this year and in Redondo's game against Tulare in the first round, he had 25 points. Tyler Hoffman also had contributed 18 points, Moore scored 13, and Stauffer hit for 10.

The key for Redondo however, will be whether they can stop Santa Margarita, the No. 1 rated team in Orange County for most of the season, and a team with one of the deepest benches around. SM features proven performers in Ryan Forehan-Kelly (6'-4" Sr F), T.J. Williams (6'-0" Sr PG), Dekker McKeever (6'-7" Sr F), Carson Palmer (6'-5" Sr F), Jake Rohe (6'-5" Sr F/C), Craig Rice (6'-2" Sr G), Spencer Gloger (6'-3" Jr G/F), Al Jahroumi (5'-9" Sr PG), and Kelly Kramer (6'-4" Jr F). There are some other good players who will come in off the bench and contribute, including Parker McMannes (6'-3" Sr F), Steve Pearce (5-9 Sr PG/SG), Tim Rahall (6'-3", Jr SG), Paul Restelli (6'-2" Sr G/F), Steve Tashjian (5'-10" Sr SG), Jeff Blackburn (6'-3" Jr F), Grant Brown (6'-6" Sr F) and Ryan Dwight (5'-9" Jr PG). SM has some decent size, but they have no one who can really matchup with Zahn with the exception of McKeever who is two inches shorter. SM depends on its speed and trapping defense, and it's perimeter game, and it's got some great outside shooters, especially Forehan Kelly, and Dekker McKeever provides the inside muscle. The key for SM will be to not look past this game, and to build the kind of intensity required to compete with a team like Redondo which they lacked in their first round game against Fresno Edison, where they were in danger of losing because they were far too relaxed.

This should be a great, fairly evenly matched game, with lots of scoring. Don't miss this one if you're in Orange County. And if you're not there already, get moving.

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Game 2:
Who: Compton (26-4) v. Compton Dominguez (26-4)
Where: Compton Dominguez, 7:30 p.m.

These two great teams have met previously. In the first matchup, Compton missed its first 23 shots when the teams played on Jan. 31, and lost badly. In that prior game, Dominguez jumped to 17-0 and 30-5 leads before Compton converted a field goal; Dominguez won 72-47 in the Artesia-Poly Winter Classic. Since that time, a lot has happened.

David Hamilton has been shot and apparently recovered, at least enough so both physically and emotionally, that four days after the incident, he contributed 27 points, albeit in a losing effort to Santa Margarita in the Southern Section Division II-AA Championship game, a game which was lost by Compton 71-57. While Compton is looking for a rematch, they'll have to go through Dominguez to get there. And that might not be as difficult tonight as it would have been one week ago.

That's because Tayshuan Prince (6'-8" Sr. G/F/C) will probably be sitting on the bench tonight after tweaking his knee in the Southern Section Championship game last week, in which he sat for most of the fourth quarter and much of the third as well. Prince has played in three state championship games and he's won two of them for Dominguez. The rest of the team will be trying to regroup just enough to get to the finals again, and hopefully by that time, if Dominguez can get past Compton, Prince will be healthy again before he closes out his high school career and moves on to Kentucky.

Both of these teams have the potential for greatness. Compton's starters are likely to include:

DeAndre Moore (5'-8" Sr. PG)
Reggie Howard (6'-2" Sr. SG)
Tito Maddox (6-4" Jr. SG)
Milton Riley (6'-7" Sr. PF)
David Hamilton (6'-9" Sr. C/PF)

Compton's players coming off the bench include, Lanere Anderson (6'-0" Jr. PG), Ray Ross (6'-4" Sr. SF), Ellis Myles (6'-4" So. SF), Terry Hosendove (6'-4" Jr. SF) and Robert Ringer (6'-5" SF). Reserves James Cummings (5'-10" Jr. PG), Dony Legans (6'-0" Jr. SG) and Jeremiah Thompson (6'-4" So. PF) have not seen much action this year, and unless things get really desperate, don't expect to see them much. But do expect a big night from Moore at the point, Howard at shooting guard, and if Maddox is on, he can be deadly; last game out though, he was pretty much shut down by Dominguez, and he'll be trying to redeem himself tonight. Riley is a smooth, powerful player and Hamilton plays with a raw aggression and anger at times, so much so, that he can be downright scary to guard.

Dominguez' starters, in the absence of Tayshaun, will probably include:

Willie Hurst (5'-11" Sr. PG)
Keith Kincaide (6'-4" Jr. G/F)
Tyson Chandler (7'-0" Fr. C)
Walter "Biggie" Small (6'-5" Sr. F)

Look for Russell Otis to try either Michael Carson (6'-5" Sr. G), James Boulton (6'-5" Sr. F), Jason Thomas (6'-5" G/F) or Keith Brooks (6'-5" So. F) in place of Prince, depending upon whether he's looking for power to stop Hamilton or outside shooting with Carson (who is currently the team's best pure shooter), to open up the court. We're guessing that he'll go with Thomas if he plays, as he is the team's most "pure" athlete and one of the toughest around. Also look for the bench to see more action including contributions from some players who haven't seen a lot of time up until the playoffs, including Janal Johnson (5'-8" Sr. PG), Tony Cole (5'-9" Sr. PG), outstanding freshman and AAU buddy of Chandler, Kelion Fortune (5'-10" Fr. PG), and Jaffus Haley (5'-10" Jr. G).

This will be an outstanding game, if you can get to see it. Right now it's scheduled at Dominguez, and there's no way they could ever hold the crowd which is expected to show at this one. Unless you're there and have a seat by, oh, about now (it's 4:30 p.m.) forget it. The Fire Marshal will be pretty strict about this one, so unless you get there early, you'll just have to read about it. Which is really a shame, because this has all the makings of a classic rematch. Why isn't Compton College available??? The men's state JC championship games (which feature Compton College v. West Valley in the quarterfinals) are at UC Irvine's Bren Center. Isn't anyone going to be home at Compton College??? If the CIF can afford to use Long Beach City College, they can afford to either rent Compton College, or make this one a doubleheader with another division's games at a bigger venue.

Anyway, having ranted a bit, now we feel better. Go see this game if you can. It's one you don't want to miss.