DIII313.htm

SoCal High School & Prep Report

CIF State Playoffs: Southern Region
Division III Semifinal Details & Results--(March 13, 1998)

Washington Union 66, Ocean View 44

Washington Union won the game,66-44, but it may have lost more than it bargained for as the Panthers' star 6'-8" guard/forward/center Chris Jeffries may be out for the rest of the season after sustaining an injury to his left foot early in the fourth quarter. He was taken to a hospital after the game for X-rays to determine the extent of the damage. There is no word yet on whether he will be able to play on Saturday in the Final at the Long Beach Pyramid against University of San Diego High, which defeated Chaminade by a single point last night as well. The Seahawks, who won the CIF Southern Section Division III-AA championship last week, finish the season at 26-5. Washington Union was the Champion of the CIF Central Section Division III, and were also 1996 Division IV state champions.

Fourth-seeded Ocean View hung with the top-seeded Panthers, ranked No. 6 in the state, for more than a half before Washington pulled away to a 66-44 victory in the Division III regional semifinal. And fortunately for the Panthers, they have more, a whole lot more than just Jeffries. For one, they've got sophomore guard DeShawn Stevenson who scored 17 points, and Samell Stallworth, who had 16. And before Jeffries was injured, he managed to collect a game high 22 points.

Washington Union started out with a lead, 17-13 at the end of one, and then outscoring OV 15-9 in the second to lead 32- 22 at the half. "We could have played better defense" said Stevenson, who was also injured in the game, bruising his right hip, but he continued to play. The Panthers (27-3), who have won 20 straight, are accustomed to winning by lopsided scores, but the Seahawks stayed close, trailing, 28-22, before Stevenson closed the half with two free throws and an inside basket. Ocean View scored its first three points of the second half to close to 32-25 and was within 10 midway through the third quarter. But Jefferies made a three-pointer with 2 minutes 8 seconds left in the quarter to open a 12-0 run by Washington, and the Seahawks never got back in it. "It seemed like they were always right there," Webb said. "We couldn't put them away, until late in the game." Jefferies had a dunk and another three-pointer during the spurt. "Obviously, they are extremely talented," Ocean View Coach Jim Harris said. "[But] I think we backed off a little because of it. I think we were in awe of their talent."

That awe, probably because Washington has scored more than 100 points nine times this season, was best shown by the fact that high scoring Tony Dow only had two points on the night; Garid Beeler only had 6 also. Washington didn't really play as fast as they usually do and instead played to Ocean View's tempo, keeping the game closer than it might otherwise have been. Kevin Hanson led Ocean View with 12 points, and Matt Kiemle added 11. Ocean View had 3 threes all from Matt Kiemle, while Washington had 4 threes, 3 from Jeffries before he was injured, and one from Stevenson.

"They're a good team, well-disciplined, intelligent kids, and they know how to play basketball," Webb said. "You don't get this far without being a good team."

The complete scoring for Ocean View was Dow with 2, Hatch 4, Martini 2, McAfee 6, Beeler, 6, Kiemle 11, and Hanson with 12 points. For Washington Union Taylor had 5, Milsap 6, Stallworth 16, Stevenson 17, and Jefferies 22.

And we also heard about this game from our Fresno friend Marty Hartwig who was at the game. Here's what he had to say, in particular about Jeffries' injury:

Jeffries was fouled hard and went down on a drive about midway thru the fourth quarter, I couldn't really see it because it was at the opposite end of the court. He was gimpy but took the free throws. He was very gimpy coming down the court after the free throws, and collapsed on the court in obvious pain. The way it came on, and from his reaction I thought he was cramping up. He was assisted off the court to the locker room and we didn't see him anymore except when he was watching the game through the door. After the game he was put in a car (he walked with minimal assistance) and reportedly was taken for x-rays. Can Union survive without him if necessary? Probably/maybe; the "supporting cast" is pretty good too. But I would hate to see his season end this way his senior year, and the Southern CA fans are going to be cheated, because I think he's pretty special to see.

Other observations: Ocean View was well coached and play with intelligence, pretty much what I expected. Overall, we just don't have that many teams up here that can play at this level (obviously).

Well, thanks again for the site, and have fun at games Saturday, I won't be at Long Beach, I farm weekends and have stuff to do. Hope to make it to Sac. if Union makes it Saturday.

Thanks Marty; farm some for us too. We'll be thinking of you at the game on Saturday. See the rest of you there.

****************************

USDHS 64, Chaminade 63

University ended Chaminade's 25-game winning streak in the Division III semifinal at the University of San Diego. University will play Washington Union in the championship game Saturday at the Pyramid. Chaminade, which outrebounded University, 24-18, had a few chances to tie it in the final minute, but none more dramatic than forward Scott Long's three-point shot from the wing with his team trailing, 64-61, with two seconds left. Long missed, but Justin Beach tipped in the miss at the buzzer. See the full story here.