IVA303

SoCal High School & Prep Report

Southern Section Playoffs: Division IV-A
Finals Preview--(March 3, 1998)

Here's our Division IV-A final preview. This one features Verbum Dei against Serra, both teams with strong guard play and one or two big men. Serra though has at least one more dominating player in Aerrick Sanders and we'll see if he can make the difference in this one. Verbum Dei knocked off Crossroads the defending State Champions for the last two years; but without Baron Davis they're a different team, and Verbum Dei is looking to re-establish itself after a three year hiatus from the title ranks. This is an earlybird game, so if you aren't too tired from all the festivities from the night before (Westchester v. Manual Arts in the City side, or the Southern Section games from Friday), you've got no excuses. Be there.

Division IV-A Finals

Verbum Dei (18-5) v. Serra (23-8)

When: Saturday, March 7, 1998; 9:30 A.M.

Where: Bren Events Center, UC Irvine

Game 1: Verbum Dei 82, Crossroads 72

Verbum Dei, the once and forgotten power in Divisional basketball, winners of the title in 1994 and 1995, is suddenly being remembered again. On Friday, they beat Crossroads convincingly by 10 points, 82-72 to resume their place at the table. Mater Dei is led by junior guard Marlon Parmer (6'-1" Jr. PG)--who scored 34 points on Friday, Dalron Johnson (6'-8"Jr F/C), Larry Davenport (6'-4" Jr F), and Washum Dashiell (6'-3" Jr SG/SF). The others who will see time will include Robert Watkins (6'-1" So SG) up from the JV, Eric Moses (5'-8" Sr PG), Rashawd Cobbs (5'-11" Jr PG), Lawrence Diggs(6'-2" Jr SG), Cedric White (6'-3" Jr F), Beck Drummond (6'-4" Jr PF), Earl Shuford (6'-4" Jr F/C), and Ricardo Suazo (6'-5" Jr F).

Serra features: Davon Johnson (5'-10" Sr PG), Deron Geter (5'-11" Sr G/F), Leron Geter (6'-1" Sr G/F), Ryan Odoms (6'-1" Jr PG), Robert Lewis (6'-3" Jr G/F), Doyle Cole (6'-4" So. G/F), Palmer Brown (6'-4" Jr F), Earl Lewis (6'-5" Jr G/F), JaShon Sykes (6'-5" Sr F/C), Corey Rainwater (6'-6" Sr F/C), and Aerick Sanders (6'-7" So.F/C). Serra is led by Johnson, who can hit from inside and outside, and handles the ball. LeRon Gete, is Serra's designated two-guard, but DeRon and Ryan Odoms will also see time from the bench at the guard spot. Earl Lewis and Doyle Cole are at the forward spots usually, and Aerick Sanders, the big man for Serra will be in at the middle. Corey Rainwater, Palmer Brown and Robert Lewis will also see time in from the pine in the regular rotation. On Friday against Bell Jeff, Johnson led Serra with 24 points, and he can be extremely dangerous in the open court. Cole is also a real outside threat and on Friday he hit for four threes and finished with 20 points.