IAA227.htm

SoCal High School & Prep Report

Southern Section Playoffs: Tonight's
Division I-AA Games--(February 27, 1998)

Rather than fool around, let's just get right down to what's on tap for this evening. All of these games, to the best of our knowledge, get started at 7:30 pm, in about an hour and a half from when we're posting this, so if you're going to get to one, you'd better start driving: It's Friday, and rush hour is on. Here's what's up:

Region I-- Artesia v. Eisenhower at Rialto

Artesia's Jason Kapono has 57 points and 25 rebounds in two playoff games. The Pioneers have a pair of blowouts in two playoff games. It's not a coincidence. When Kapono has a good game, so do the Pioneers. And, seeing how top-seeded Artesia is 27-1 and riding a 14-game winning streak, Kapono has, obviously, had plenty of good games. The Pioneers do have plenty of other options, including point guard James Murdock and 6-foot-7 freshman Jack Martinez. Eisenhower (22-4) has advanced by beating Ontario (72-58) and Oxnard (90-76).

Region II--Capistrano Valley v. Long Beach Poly at Long Beach City College

Poly beat Capistrano Valley, 69-54, in the teams' second game of the season. Nearly three months later they meet again and this time the stakes are much higher. Poly's Ricky Anderson is a question mark due to an injured ankle. He played valiantly in Tuesday's come-from-behind, 77-72, win over Leuzinger, but took himself out with 1:52 left in the game. If he can't play tonight - or if he sees limited time - then 6-7 Keyon Cooley, 6-6 Shea Anderson and 6-6 Jaisan Waltower will be left to tangle with 6-9 Capo senior Josh Garrett (12 ppg, 9 rpg). Junior Mike Stowell averages 16 points per game to lead Capo Valley. He scored 22 in a 61-55 victory over Ayala in the second round.

Region III--Etiwanda v. Fontana at A.B. Miller

We wish we had more to say about this game, but we really don't. Etiwanda is an exciting team which got to the semis by beating Redlands 79-50 on Tuesday. Etiwanda featueres sharpshooting guard Gary Colbert who scored 22 points on Tuesday, and who is one of the more exciting players to watch. Etiwanda (22-6), seeded No. 3, also features Rudy Simpson (6'-3" Sr. G), Gary Colbert (6'-3" Sr. G), Corey Landrum (6'-4" Sr. F/G), Matt Donohue (6'-3" Sr. F/G) and Jeff Henry (6'-8" Jr. C) as its usual starters. This is a fast, loose and efficient team. Fontana got to this game by beating up on Rancho Cucamonga 101-85 on Tuesday, and until someone finds an answer for Glen Summerall, Fontana's playoff run isn't going to stop. Summerall, a senior forward, hit for 31 points on Tuesday. Look also for Steeler point guard Baron Baker to make a big impact, like he did on Tuesday when he contributed 17 points and Derrick Benjamin added 15.

Region IV--Simi Valley v. Bellflower at St. John Bosco

Simi Valley Coach Dean Bradshaw told his team all season they must play their best in the playoffs--particularly after two losses to Newbury Park in Marmonte League play--and his players seem to have taken the same view. Simi Valley (24-5), the No. 4-seeded team in the Division I-AA playoffs, defeated Santa Maria, 74-62, and Long Beach Jordan, 77-70, in the first two rounds and will meet No. 5 Bellflower (23-5) in a quarterfinal at Mayfair High in Lakewood at 7:30 tonight. For Bellflower, Isaac Brooks has been the team's postseason star, scoring 27 points and grabbing 13 rebounds in a first-round win over Peninsula and clicking for 29 points and 13 rebounds in an overtime win over Diamond Bar in the second round. The 6-2, 210-pound Brooks will have a big road block in his way - 6-9 Rafael Berumen - when he slices inside against the Pioneers (24-5). Fourth-seeded Simi Valley beat Jordan, 77-70, in the second round as Berumen, sophomore guard Branduinn Fullove and sophomore forward Brett Michel combined for 67 points.