Sports

SPARTAN COMEBACK

In reaching the quarterfinals of the Southern Section Division III-AA playoffs, the South Torrance High boys’ basketball team has had to overcome more than its opponents.

The Spartans also have had to overcome themselves.

Coach Lamont Henry said the team was mired in personality conflicts and turmoil. But when the season entered the stretch run in February, the team’s attitude changed--for the better.

South (13-14) has reeled off five wins in a row, including victories over South El Monte and Rim of the World in the Division III-AA playoffs, to advance into the quarterfinals against third-seeded Redondo (20-6) at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Peninsula High.

Henry said the Spartans could have easily gone in the opposite direction.

“Near the end of the season, my team was at the point where they were ready to give up,” he said. “We lost a game to Morningside due to jealousy. We lost the game by six points, but the team learned a valuable lesson. They learned if they played hard and wanted to win, they could be successful.”

The Spartans have not lost since then.

“It’s like we have a different team,” Henry said. “They’re a lot more confident now and they’re playing with more heart and pride. They play with so much confidence and intensity it’s unbelievable.”

That should make for a pretty good matchup against Ocean League rival Redondo. The Sea Hawks have won two of the three games between the teams this season.

But South defeated Redondo, 73-72, in its next-to-last regular-season game Feb. 8, and Henry said the Spartans are looking forward to Friday’s game.

“We’re not intimidated at all,” he said. “We feel if we play a good game, we can stay with them.”

Henry believes that his team’s depth could give it an edge. The Spartans have been led by senior guard Derek Brown, who averages 14.8 points and is the team’s leader in three-point baskets.

The Spartans also have several other players averaging about 10 points, including forwards Rob Moore, Roger Alcala and Ari Caldevilla, and reserve point guard Melvyn Miller. Starting point guard John Thompson also averages 7.8 assists.

“It’s the deepest team I’ve ever coached,” Henry said. “It’s very balanced and our team is very difficult to defend because of our depth.”

STRIKING A BALANCE

There are distinct differences between the Morningside girls’ basketball team this season and many of its past squads.

Unlike their top teams in the past, the Monarchs do not revolve around a marquee player such as Lisa Leslie or Tina Thompson, former standouts who played major roles in the school’s winning tradition.

This is also the first Morningside team in recent memory that didn’t win its league title.

But that hasn’t stopped the Monarchs (18-6) from advancing to the Division III-A quarterfinals against South Pasadena at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at South Pasadena.

“I would say we have at least six players on our team that maybe would be considered superstars if they were playing for other teams in the area,” Coach Rod Tatum said.

Among the top players for Morningside are senior guard Devyn Johnson and junior forwards Chanel Neal and Antoinette Thompson. Johnson, who averages 13 points, is the team’s leading scorer.

Tatum said a shift in offensive philosophy has worked well for this team.

“The last couple of years, we’ve tried to go for more balanced scoring and I think we’re doing the right thing,” he said.

Tatum said that his team is peaking at the opportune time. “We’re probably playing our best ball of the season.”

PLAYING FOR RESPECT

For a team that has been a perennial power, the Peninsula High girls’ basketball team didn’t receive much respect from Southern Section pollsters during the season.

The Panthers, ranked No. 10 in the state by Cal-Hi Sports, were never ranked higher than No. 9 in the Division I poll and only moved into the top 10 late in the season.

That may explain why the Panthers weren’t seeded for the Division I-AA playoffs. But Peninsula could have the last laugh.

Of the four teams seeded instead of the Panthers, third-seeded Lynwood was upset in the second round.

Peninsula (23-4) will meet fourth-seeded Simi Valley (24-4) in the I-AA quarterfinals at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in a game to be played at Royal High.

Although longtime Peninsula Coach Wendell Yoshida said his team should have been seeded, he isn’t losing sleep over it.

“If we’re the fifth-ranked team, so be it,” he said. “But we’re right there every year and no matter what happens we’ve had a good year.”

The Panthers have won despite having a starting lineup that has only one senior, guard Allison Fortner. They also don’t have a true center.

Forward Mo-nique Langston, a 5-foot-11 sophomore, jumps center for Peninsula. The Panthers also start juniors Eden Palacio at guard, Erin Ratner at forward and sophomore Anka Dusevic at point guard.

Yoshida said that the Panthers’ depth has helped overcome the loss of the team’s top outside shooter, Karen Hartman, because of a broken ankle she suffered late in the season.

“Our goal every year is to win a CIF championship and we’re on our way to that,” he said. “I think we have a real tough game coming up, but the kids are dedicated this time and we can’t ask for any more than that.”

GOOD KNIGHTS

The Bishop Montgomery boys’ basketball team entered the Division III-AA players having lost three of four Del Rey League games.

But the Knights (17-7) won playoff games over Atascadero and Troy. They will have to be at their best when they play second-seeded Artesia (23-3) at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Gahr High in Cerritos.

The Pioneers, ranked No. 15 in the state by Cal-Hi Sports, are not as dominant many of their past teams, although Bishop Montgomery Coach Doug Mitchell said Artesia is as deep as ever.

“They don’t have the one guy like Ed or Charles O’Bannon, but they have good depth and have very good athletes,” Mitchell said.

The depth of the Knights has improved with the return of 6-5 center Alvin Dunn, a junior who missed much of the season because of a twisted knee. They already have one of the top offensive players in the South Bay in 6-6 junior forward Brandon Price, who averages 18.9 points.

“Having Alvin back gives us little better chance to match up against a team like that,” Mitchell said. “It gives us more flexibility.”

GUNNING FOR A TITLE

The Cal State Dominguez Hills women’s basketball team is on the verge of its first California Collegiate Athletic Assn. regular-season title.

The Toros (18-5, 6-3 in conference), who have a one-game lead in the conference, can win the title with a victory over Cal State Los Angeles at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Los Angeles. It is the CCAA finale for both teams.

A victory will also make Dominguez Hills the host for the semifinals of the CCAA tournament, which begins March 2. The final will be March 4 at the home of the CCAA men’s champion.

The Golden Eagles (16-8, 5-4) are in a three-way tie for second in the conference with UC Riverside and Cal State San Bernardino. Cal State L.A. also defeated Dominguez Hills, 78-70, Jan. 14 at Carson.

Dominguez Hills started last week in a tie for second place in the CCAA. Front-runner Riverside lost two conference games and the Toros won twice on the road, defeating San Bernardino, 64-59, and Grand Canyon, 60-51. Leading the way for Dominguez Hills was junior forward Faye Hagan, who finished with 25 points and 14 rebounds against Grand Canyon.

LIONS ROAR

After pulling off back-to-back upset victories over Cal State Northridge, the Loyola Marymount men’s volleyball team will try to continue its winning ways when it plays host to UC San Diego in a Mountain Pacific Sports Federation match at 7 tonight in Westchester.

Although the Lions (5-6, 2-5) have won four of five matches, the wins over Northridge, which was ranked No. 3 in the nation, were the most impressive.

Loyola, ranked No. 15, defeated the Matadors in three games in the first meeting between the teams in Westchester and won in five games in a rematch Sunday at Northridge. It marked the first time the Lions have swept the Matadors in the season series in eight years and the first time they won at Northridge since 1984.

Loyola was led by middle blocker Paul Severns. The senior was honored as the national and Mountain Pacific player of the week.

HONORS

Loyola Marymount will celebrate the 25th anniversary of its 1969 national club football championship team when the men’s basketball squad plays host to St. Mary’s Saturday night at Gersten Pavilion.

There will be a reception before the game for players who competed in club football from 1967-73. The 1969 team will be honored at halftime of the game.

Information: Dean Jelmini at (310) 822-4644.