Will Mack make it two in a row or will Westchester go to 5-0 in this week's CIF Division I title game? Others with a chance to win for at least the second time include Sacred Heart Cathedral, Bishop Montgomery and St. Joseph of Alameda.

 

Editor's Note: Senior editor Ronnie Flores wrote the Division I preview, executive editor Mark Tennis wrote Division II and Division III, correspondent Steve Brand wrote Division IV and correspondent Harold Abend wrote Division V.

 

Division I Boys

McClymonds (Oakland) 29-1 vs. Westchester (Los Angeles) 34-2, Saturday, 8 p.m.

 There are many subplots in this inner-city showdown for the Div. I title. In one corner, you have the most dominant Los Angeles team this decade, one that has won seven L.A. City Section titles since 2000 and is looking to capture state team of the year honors for the fourth time in 10 years. In the other corner, you have the boys from West Oakland that are making their third consecutive appearance in the Div. I title game and gunning for their second consecutive title.

One of the keys to the game will be the the point guard matchup between Westchester's Dominique O'Connor and McClymonds' Will Cherry. O'Connor is a 5-foot-9 sparkplug who can shoot, penetrate and dish or finish among the trees down low. His play has been so spectacular this season that he was named section player of the year without many dissenters in the media. We've only seen O'Connor play one bad game, in the L.A. City Section finals, but he bounced back with a 14-point, five-rebound, four-assist, two-steal performance in the SoCal regional final victory over Riverside King.

Cherry is about three inches taller and has many of the same attributes of O'Connor, including leadership ability. Cherry didn't play his best game in the NorCal regional final, but he was spectacular in last year's title game victory. He frustrated Compton Dominguez by dictating tempo while also scoring 19 points. We look for Cherry to bounce back from his mediocre performance against Monte Vista and whichever team gets the stronger play in this battle will have the upper hand.

When Mack's Damon Powell throws down one of his vicious dunks, he often intimidates opponents but that won't be the case against Westchester. The Comets have a high-flyer of their own in 6-foot-7 junior forward Dwayne Polee Jr.. The son of 1981 Mr. Basketball Dwayne Polee of L.A. Manual Arts, Polee might be the best stand-still leaper we've seen in the L.A. City ranks since Gerald Lacy Jr. of Crenshaw in the early 1990s or even "Jumpin" Joey Johnson of Wilmington Banning in the mid 1980s.

More than his dunks, Powell's overall play will be a key factor in the outcome of this game. Mack is 61-1 the past two seasons and in the game it lost against De La Salle, he was in quick foul trouble and didn't score. He has to control his emotions and stay out of foul trouble because McClymonds can't count on 6-foot-9, 250-pound freshman Jamaree Strickland to do the bulk of the scoring down low. If Strickland has a big game, that would be big positive for first-year coach Brandon Brooks. Even without graduated bruiser Frank Otis, the Warriors can get it done inside if Powell stays on the floor.

Although perimeter-oriented, the Comets have been getting solid contributions from 6-foot-9 junior Reggie Murphy down the stretch. Westchester usually starts a small lineup, but is used to dealing with teams with size (such as league foe Renardo Sidney of Fairfax) because there are so many interchangeable players with length and athleticism. With the Comets so strong on the wings, it will be important for Pleasanton Amador Valley transfer Justin Standley (6-3) to have a solid game for Mack

Mack controlled last year's title game after the first quarter, but this game should be a lot closer, so a few key plays down the stretch should be the difference. Both teams are battle-tested and each feels is tougher than the opponent, so the difference will be experience.

Final score: Westchester 63, McClymonds 59 (because Comets' coach Ed Azzam is 4-0 in state finals so far in his career)

 

Division II Boys

Rocklin 32-2 vs. Eisenhower (Rialto) 29-3, Friday, 8 p.m.

 

Neither team has been to the state finals before, but Rocklin has played at Arco Arena the last two weekends in the Sac-Joaquin Section D2 title game and then in the NorCal championship.

 

That is an advantage for the Thunder, plus they should get a large crowd driving down I-80, almost making it feel like it will be a home game for them.

 

All of that, however, may just even up the game's score. The Eagles have actually played and beaten Rocklin before. It was by a 77-67 score at the MaxPreps Holiday Classic in San Diego. Rocklin hasn't lost since while Eisenhower stubbed its toe against Redlands in a league game. We admit it still looks odd to have Rocklin ahead of Eisenhower in this week's Div. II state rankings, but the two are playing each other for the state title so it doesn't make that much of a difference.

 

Rocklin should have the edge inside with 6-11 Brendan Lane. The UCLA signer has averaged 21.9 points and 11.9 rebounds per game. Bulky 6-5 Pat Stover also can mix it up inside while head coach Steve Taylor can count on versatility from second-leading scorer (9.4 ppg) and leading assist maker Cody Kale (3.8 apg). Taylor also can go to 6-8 Mads Frandsen to spell Lane or add even more size up front.

 

Eisenhower, meanwhile, should have the edge on the perimeter. Point guard Andrew Bock has had an outstanding senior season and is averaging 21 ppg. Bock, who is going to Creighton, also has a solid backcourt mate in 6-1 junior Alex Varner. The entire Eagle roster, in fact, is seemingly comprised of 6-1, 6-2 guys who are quick, can defend and get out on the break. The team's tallest player is 6-4 sophomore Bernard Ireland.

 

If Ike isn't scrappy enough on the interior and Rocklin's role players come through to go with Lane's expected edge inside, then the Thunder should get it done and win their first CIF state title.

 

But the same is true for the Thunder trying to slow down Bock and his buddies on the outside. If their guards have too much of an advantage and if they can get out on the break, then the Eagles will probably win and also would win their first CIF state crown.

 

Prediction: Eisenhower 69, Rocklin 67 (because Ike proved last week against Loyola that it can beat a good team twice and beat a team with a height advantage)

 

Division III Boys

Sacred Heart Cathedral (San Francisco) 27-4 vs. Ocean View (Huntington Beach) 27-7, Saturday, 2:45 p.m.

 

The slogan of UPS -- What can Brown do for you? – should be kept in mind while watching this game.

 

Both Jerry Brown of SHC, the 6-6 senior headed to Fresno State, and Anthony Brown of Ocean View, a 6-6 junior who should receive multiple college offers next year, probably will be crucial to their team's success. Not only that, but the pair might be going mano-a-mano quite a bit as well, given their size, versatility and position they play.

 

The older Brown and bruising 6-4 center Kevin Greene gained valuable state title game experience as freshmen when the Irish played in the D4 final and lost, 60-52, to Horizon of San Diego. Greene isn't that tall, but he's powerful and gets more than his share of offensive rebounds, putbacks and easy shots on the interior. In the NorCal title game win over Sacramento, the 235-pound USC defensive end recruit cemented his status as one of the top grid-hoopers anywhere with 22 points and 15 rebounds.

 

Brown led Sacred Heart with averages of 16 points and eight rebounds per game. The team also has balance with the guard tandem of Nate Gartrell and Daryl Cooper. Gartrell crashes the glass hard and had 13 points and six rebounds against Sacramento. Cooper added 12 points in the same game and will put up a three from time to time.

 

Mason Jones, a 6-2 senior guard, netted 13.1 points per game for the top total for Ocean View. Anthony Brown scored at a 12.1 per game clip, while 6-4 senior Avery Johnson has averaged 12.1 points and 6.9 rebounds per game. The key for the Seahawks may be 6-8 senior Ryan Okwudibonye. He is not a big-time scorer, but he can get rebounds and it figures to be huge for his team if he can out-rebound the muscular Greene.

 

Sacred Heart Cathedral has not won a boys state basketball title, but has won four state championships on the girls side. A third straight and fifth overall for the girls won't happen due to a loss last week to St. Mary's of Stockton, so the Irish boys will be pumped up to keep the school's streak going.

 

Ocean View doesn't have similar historic motivation. The Seahawks' is more from a personal nature. Their long-time head coach, Jim Harris, has never been this far before and it would be a sweet title indeed for him, especially if it comes against a private Catholic school.

 

Prediction: Sacred Heart Cathedral 73, Ocean View 70 (because the Seahawks aren't likely to make 10-of-18 three-pointers like they did in the SoCal final)

 

Division IV Boys

Salesian (Richmond) 30-4 vs. Bishop Montgomery (Torrance) 28-4, Saturday, 11:15 a.m.

 

There's a major contrast in styles here, so it would seem if it's a low-scoring game, No. 1-ranked Salesian would get the nod. High-scoring: Go with Bishop Montgomery.

 

It's not that easy, though, because Salesian has the ability to score a lot and Bishop Montgomery can play defense.

 

Salesian has won 14 straight games and managed to rally from 12 points down to edge St. Mary's (Berkeley) for the fourth time this season to advance to the title game.

 

It's a well-balanced Pride team that relies on high-jumping 6-6 junior Desmond Simmons, 6-3 soph Jabari Brown and precocious freshman Artis Dominic (how many times do you guess those names will be reversed before he graduates?)

 

Anyone expecting a Bill Mellis-coached team to panic will be out of luck.

 

Looking at Bishop Montgomery's season record, some would question what the Knights are doing playing in this game. Didn't they lose to Inglewood in the Southern Section semifinals? The answer is yes, indeed, Bishop Montgomery was defeated by Inglewood, 97-93, and in most other sections, the players would have handed in their uniforms.

 

But the Southern Section gives teams a second chance even if they lose in a semifinal provided those teams have the correct enrollment, they are deserving and there is room in the regionals. Bishop Montgomery is certainly deserving.

 

A team that has wins over Taft (Woodland Hills), Windward (Los Angeles) and Price twice, and which has lost only to teams like Dominguez (Compton) is deserving.

 

It won't take long to notice the most obvious difference in the two teams.

 

Center Richard Soloman, at 6-foot-9 and mobile, is a dominant post player. Guard Justin Cobbs, who went off for 31 points in the 85-82 double Southern California Regional championship double overtime win over Price, was 6-of-10 on threes as five players finished in double-figures.

 

Cal State Fullerton was nothing short of a shooting range for the Knights,  who hit 13 of 27 from long, long range, including the winner at the buzzer from Michael Panaggio off a perfect pass from Cobbs.

 

But Price didn't offer a defense like Salesian, so it comes down to a contrast in styles.

 

Bishop Montgomery won back-to-back titles in Division III in 2000 and 2001 while this is Salesian's first trip to the championships.

 

Prediction: Bishop Montgomery 71, Salesian 66 (because SoCal teams have won seven of the last eight titles in this division)

  

Division V Boys

St. Joseph (Alameda) 26-8 vs. Windward (Los Angeles) 28-6, Friday, 1:30 p.m.

 

On the surface, this looks like it should be a big win for Windward. The Wildcats have a better record and it's against a much tougher schedule than St. Joseph Notre Dame has played.

 

Plus, they have two D1 signees in Michigan-bound 6-4 guard Darius Morris and UCLA-bound 6-10 transfer Anthony Stover, who joined the Wildcats after playing in the state title game last year for runner-up Renaissance Academy of La Canada. 

 

All of the Wildcats' losses are to higher enrollment schools and they have some notable wins over bigger schools as well, including a 58-39 thrashing of a Newark Memorial team that defeated De La Salle.

 

They were competitive against Bellevue (Washington), Rocklin and Leuzinger of Lawndale and lost by only a point to D3 finalist Bishop Montgomery. A win in this game and they should be included in the final overall state top 20.

 

The only big losses were to D1 finalist Westchester and the last team to beat them, Campbell Hall of North Hollywood.

 

Since then, Coach Miguel Villegas' boys have won 18 straight, including a 52-40 victory over Pacific Hills (Los Angeles) in the Southern Regional title game.

 

In that game, Morris led the way with 15 points, 10 rebounds and five assists. Stover added 10 points.

 

Windward also has a sophomore, Wesley Saunders, a 6-5 forward whom CalHiSports.com managing editor Ronnie Flores calls "one of the better sophomores in the Southern Section,” that is a major contributor.

 

Point guard Malcolm Washington, son of actor Denzel Washington, has also been a contributor this season.

 

Against Pacific Hills, Saunders had a double-double 12 points and 12 rebounds and Washington chipped in with nine points.

 

St. Joseph Notre Dame has experience at coaching with former D4 state champion Coach Don Lippi, who won the 2004 title game with the Pilots in a 49-47 victory over Verbum Dei of Los Angeles.

 

The Pilots also have a no-quit attitude, something they exhibited when they came back from a 38-19 deficit in the last three minutes to pull out a 42-40 victory against three-time defending state champion Branson of Ross in the NorCal title contest.

 

In order to have any kind of chance against Windward, three sophomores will have to come up with big games.

 

Blazing 5-7 point guard Jacari Whitfield will need to penetrate. The coach's son, Dominic Lippi, a 5-11 guard, will need to hit from the outside, and 6-9 center Brendan Keane will need to have an impact in the block against Stover.

 

Against Branson, Lippi had 18 points, Whitfield 12 and Keane had seven but only two rebounds.

 

"Saunders is capable of a big game,” said Flores.” But the key is Morris. If he stays in control and plays within the framework of the offense, Windward will play very well.”

Prediction: Windward 64, St. Joseph Notre Dame 50 (because the Pilots won't be able to come back from a big deficit two games in a row) 

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