IIAA227.htm

SoCal High School & Prep Report

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

Only two games in this division, which is already at the semifinal stage. Both of these games 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 leave now, because they'll be crowded and SRO:start driving: It's Friday, and rush hour is on.

Division II-AA Semifinals

Game 1: Compton v. Brea Olinda at Dominguez High

Compton hasn't visited the CIF final since losing to Glendora in the 1990 4-AA championship game. The Tarbabes can do something about that tonight. Compton hasn't won a CIF title since back-to-back championships in 1968-69. Without a win tonight, though, the Tarbabes (25-5) won't get a chance to hang another CIF banner. Point guard Chris McMillian, a University of Wyoming signee, leads a Brea Olinda team that narrowly missed making the II-A championship game a year ago, losing to Artesia, 66-65. McMillian averages 24 points per game and has 49 in playoff wins over Hemet (85-76) and San Marcos (82-78 in overtime). Six-foot-4 Reid Carlson averages 15 points for the Wildcats (24-4). Top-seeded Compton, which lost, 45-44, in overtime to Villa Park in last year's II-AA semifinals, blitzed Anaheim Canyon (62-40) and California (77-52) to reach this point.

Game 2: Santa Margarita v. Inglewood at Dana Hills

Santa Margarita is now 26-2 going into this game, coming off a tough win against Katella on Tuesday in a nail-biter which they won 62-60, despite a 33 point performance by Katella's Robert Abercrombie, and so if there's one thing to say it's that Santa Margarita may have a few holes in it's defense. But they are generally balanced overall, featuring T.J. Williams at point, Dekker McKeever, a 6'-7" forward, and Ryan Forehan-Kelly. Inglewood, on the other hand, has talented and CSUN bound Bradley Jackson, one of the best point guards in all of SoCal. Inglewood also features some other tough, quick and strong players including Skip Esene, Jerrod Jenkins, Noel Felix, Stanley Fletcher, and Kevin Bradley. Inglewood is a team which has come a long way from their opening game at the Compton Tip-Off Classic, and if any team is capable of knocking off Orange County's top team, it's Inglewood.