Regional Playoffs : Lincoln’s Boys Front-Runners as Spots in Finals Are at Stake Tonight

It was Super Tuesday through much of the country, but that spirit did not affect many of San Diego County’s high school basketball teams.

On Manic Monday, 17 county teams hurriedly prepared to play games against opponents they had never seen in the first round of the Southern California Regionals. Coaches and administrators were trying to figure out how to get to sites from the Mojave Desert to Mt. Whitney.

By the time what had become Terrible Tuesday was over, San Diego County teams had won only two more basketball games (three) than Bob Dole had won states . . . and one of those was between two county teams, San Pasqual and Helix.

Surviving were boys’ teams from Madison and Bishop’s and the San Pasqual girls. Three more teams--the front-running Lincoln boys, Lincoln’s girls and Ramona’s boys--will join them tonight in the campaign for spots in Saturday’s regional finals at the Los Angeles Sports Arena.

Ramona’s girls Wednesday became the first county team to reach the championship round, defeating Highland, 54-38, in Division III.

Lincoln (24-2), the top-seeded team in the four-team Division III boys’ tournament, plays host to No. 4 Golden West (16-9) at 7 p.m.

Coach Ron Loneski said his players figure they got their bad game out of their systems in Friday’s San Diego Section final; Lincoln won, 71-63, over Ramona, which was only 14-15 entering the game.

“We played poorly in that game, and the kids think they got that game beyond them,” he said. “That was just one object in the way of winning the state title. That’s what we are concentrating on now.”

Loneski has not received a scouting report on Golden West. All he knows is that it lost to Lemoore, 75-49, in the Central Section final and that his team is taller.

Even if Loneski knew more, it wouldn’t matter. He rarely changes anything.

That means that guard Carl Gaines (19.4 points) will lead Lincoln’s fast break and that 6-foot 6-inch Roger Johnson and 6-6 Aaron Wilhite will be the top inside players. Johnson had 16 points, 12 rebounds and 4 blocks and Wilhite added 12 points against Ramona.

In tonight’s other games: DIVISION II BOYS

Madison (27-2) vs. Irvine Woodbridge (23-6) at Torrey Pines High School, 7:30 p.m.

Madison: The Warhawks, who won the San Diego Section title last week and routed Tustin, 75-50, Tuesday, are the epitome of balance: Any of the starters can lead the scoring on any night. Jeff Alexander, a 6-foot 7-inch center, had 21 points against Tustin. Forward Robby Robinson was the man of the moment in the section final against Kearny with 24 points.

Woodbridge: The defending state champions are led by last season’s player of the year, Adam Keefe. A 6-9 center bound for Stanford, Keefe is averaging 34 points and 17 rebounds per game in the playoffs. He scored 31 and grabbed 20 rebounds in the Warriors’ 59-49 victory Tuesday over Kearny.

DIVISION II GIRLS

San Pasqual (26-2) vs. Fresno Sanger (27-6) at San Pasqual High School, 7:30 p.m.

San Pasqual: The team did not get much help from two stars, Julie Doria and Nicole Rothey, but still managed to beat Helix in the first round, 38-32. Doria, a 5-8 guard who averages 17 points, finished with 9 points. Rothey, a 5-9 forward, was sick and scored just six.

Sanger: Its strength is an inside game with 5-10 forward Kari Vance (11 points and 9 rebounds a game) and 5-10 center Renee Schneider, who scored 20 points on 8-for-10 shooting and grabbed 10 rebounds in Tuesday’s 51-35 victory over Woodbridge.

DIVISION III GIRLS

Lincoln (16-8) vs. Lemoore (19-7) at Lemoore High School, 5:30 p.m.

Lincoln: The Hornets are trying to come back from a 41-23 loss to Ramona in the section finals. Lincoln missed all 25 of its first half shots in that game. Keiba Lewis, a 6-2 center, scored 18 points in that game.

Lemoore: Center Rachel Rossiter missed part of the season with mononucleosis, but she appeared to be back in top form in the Central Section final, scoring 17 points. Lemoore forced Highland to commit 35 turnovers in that game.

DIVISION V BOYS

Bishop’s (23-1) vs. North Hollywood Oakwood (25-2) at Oakwood High School, 7:30 p.m.

Bishop’s: The Knights are strong inside, led by 6-6 center Josh Peterson, and outside, with guard Kamal Assaf. Maurile Tremblay scored 14 points in a 51-48 victory over Immanuel Tuesday.

Oakwood: Bishop’s Coach Ren Marquette said all his team has to worry about is stopping the Gorillas’ Mitch Butler, a 6-4 guard/forward who scored 50 of Oakwood’s 55 points in a Southern Section quarterfinal.