Prep Basketball Teams Are Ready to Play for Keeps : Mira Costa Draws Tough Crespi

Glenn Marx, the Mira Costa High boys’ basketball coach, knows this much about Crespi of Encino, his team’s first-round opponent Friday night in the CIF-Southern Section playoffs:

The Celts are coached by Chris Nikchevich, a former Crespi standout who played against Marx when he coached at Notre Dame in Sherman Oaks.

They play a fast-paced style similar to that of Loyola Marymount, where Nikchevich was a starting point guard under Paul Westhead.

They pose a legitimate threat to upset fourth-seeded Mira Costa.

“I’m not excited,” Marx said of his team’s draw. “For a seeded team, I think we got an awfully tough at-large team. I think we got the best at-large team in our division.”

A check of the Division III-AA pairings supports Marx’s claim. Crespi, with a 9-15 record, has as many victories as any at-large team in the division. The Southern Section, using its third playoff format in as many seasons, opened postseason play this season to any team that wanted to compete.

This has made for some rather dubious playoff qualifiers, such as 4-19 Dos Pueblos of Goleta, which faces Rolling Hills on Friday. Rolling Hills (14-12) finished third behind Mira Costa (19-7) in the Ocean League, but the Titans seemingly wound up with an easier first-round draw.

“Next year we’ll try to finish a little below 19 wins,” Marx said, sarcastically. “I guess we should look at it with the philosophy, ‘If you want to win CIF, you have to beat everyone in your division.’ My only question is, ‘Why that team?’ ”

Ready or not, Crespi brings its run-and-gun show to Mira Costa at 7:30 Friday night. The Celts have scored more than 90 points in eight games and have broken the 100-point barrier three times.

Despite its prolific scoring, though, Crespi has struggled because of erratic shooting and injuries to key players. But reportedly things are looking up. Randy Coleman, a 6-foot-6 center who missed most of the Mission League season with a knee injury, is expected back in the lineup Friday.

In Coleman’s absense, the bulk of Crespi’s scoring responsibilities belonged to forwards Rasaan Hall (23 points, 12 rebounds) and John Curtin (20.3 ppg), who has more than 100 three-point baskets.

“Crespi is the type of team that can hit three or four (three-point shots) in a row and jam the ball down your throat,” Marx said. “But we’ve played against teams that can run and have been successful against those teams.”

Mira Costa proved it last week with a 63-61 victory over Morningside, the CIF’s top-ranked Division III team.

Chris Davis, a 6-8, 240-pound center, heads a formidable front line for the Mustangs. Davis averages 17 points and an area-leading 14.3 rebounds, followed by 6-0 small forward Simi Fonua (14.5 points) and 6-5 power forward Kenny Simonds (11.6 rebounds).

“I think our front line will be the best front line that Crespi has played against,” Marx said.

At guard, Mira Costa rotates a talented group of underclassmen--sophomore Josh Branca, juniors Chris Kresser and Tyrone Burks and freshman Shane Willis.

Following are other Southern Section first-round games involving South Bay teams. All games start at 7:30 p.m. Friday: DIVISION I-AA

Santa Ana (14-11) at Hawthorne (13-11)--This is a rematch of last season’s playoff opener won by Hawthorne, 71-55. Santa Ana needed a free throw with eight seconds left Tuesday to pull out a 62-61 qualifying-round victory over Saddleback. The Saints are led by 6-5 center Chauncey Woolridge, who had 28 points and 17 rebounds Tuesday. Hawthorne’s balanced lineup is led by Shanta Cotwright and Donminic Ellison, each averaging 17 points.

Leuzinger (14-6) at Palmdale (15-9)--This one could come down to Leuzinger’s quickness against Palmdale’s size. The Falcons rely on the inside play of 6-7 center Jason Grimes and 6-5 forward Chris DeGlopper. Leuzinger has bounced back after losing 6-8 center Frank Willis (broken leg) midway through the Bay League season. The Olympians, led by guard Troy Matthews’ 29 points, handed Bay champion Inglewood its only league loss Friday, 80-75. DIVISION I-A

Victor Valley (13-11) at Inglewood (16-9)--The Sentinels, who had won nine consecutive Bay League games until losing to Leuzinger in their regular-season finale, rely on a balanced lineup that features the steady guard play of Codi Evans, Jason Bowman and Michael Stith. Victor Valley qualified for the first round with a 94-84 victory Tuesday over Temecula Valley. DIVISION II-AA

Beverly Hills (12-11) at Torrance (16-7)--This shapes up as an attractive first-round matchup. Beverly Hills finished fourth in the competitive Bay League, while Torrance won the title in the not-so-competitive Pioneer League. Forward Joe Zaletel (21 points, 11 rebounds) and sophomore guard Mike Dean are the Tartars’ standouts. Forward Jonah Naulls leads Beverly Hills. DIVISION II-A

Redondo (13-13) at Garden Grove (13-11)--Redondo opened the season with several impressive victories, but has slumped in recent weeks and finished 2-6 in the tough Ocean League. The Sea Hawks must contend with Garden Grove guard Mark Perry, one of the top scorers in Orange County with a 25-point average.

Burroughs, Burbank (11-9) at North Torrance (7-16)--Rick Mulloy, averaging 16.5 points a game, leads a traditionally strong Burroughs team. North is led by forward Sean Roberts (21 points, eight rebounds).

Bishop Montgomery (9-14) at La Mirada (11-13)--The Mission League season didn’t turn out quite the way Bishop Montgomery Coach Doug Mitchell had hoped. The Knights, plagued by injuries, were 5-7. But they finished on a high note, beating rival St. Bernard, 55-47, Saturday behind 23 points from guard Marlon D’Oyen, and would appear to have a good chance against La Mirada, the third-place team from the Suburban League.

West Torrance (7-17) at El Modena (17-7)--West, which had five players score in double figures Tuesday in an 83-64 qualifying-round victory over Compton, will need another balanced effort Friday. Century League champion El Modena of Orange boasts a multi-faceted team featuring the three-point shooting of guard Bob Baytosh, the inside play of 6-5 sophomore Aaron Aguilera and leadership of 6-3 point guard Mike Terry. DIVISION III-AA

Paso Robles (7-15) at South Torrance (9-16)--These two at-large entries can thank the CIF’s new playoff policy for giving them an extra game. It should be a brief postseason, however. The winner will face top-seeded and defending CIF Division III-AA champion Estancia of Costa Mesa in the second round.

Dos Pueblos (4-19) at Rolling Hills (14-12)--Rolling Hills enters the playoffs with a four-game winning streak and high hopes. The Titans are led by 6-6 center Roger Hendrix (24.6 points) and guard Chad Heitzler (18.5 points), the team’s top three-point shooting threat. Dos Pueblos of Goleta has struggled after winning the Division III-A championship last season. If Rolling Hills and third-seeded Western of Anaheim win Friday, they will meet in the second round for the second consecutive season and the third time in four seasons.

Palos Verdes (7-17) at Foothill (12-11)--Palos Verdes, an at-large entry after finishing in last place in the Ocean League, will travel to Santa Ana to meet the Century League runners-up. Foothill is led by the 1-2 scoring punch of 6-4 forward Sean Amos (21.3 points) and 6-7 guard Nick Ronopisos (16.4) DIVISION III-A

Monrovia (9-15) at Morningside (22-3)--The Ocean League champion Monarchs enter the playoffs as the top-seeded team for the second consecutive season. Sophomore swingman Stais Boseman leads Morningside with a 19-point average, while 6-6 senior forward Art Savage contributes 17 points and eight rebounds. Monrovia, an at-large entry, posted a 62-54 qualifying-round victory Tuesday over Covina.

Blair (16-8) at St. Bernard (12-12)--St. Bernard’s formidable front line of 6-7 center Wyking Jones and forwards Chris Keldorf and Rick Famuyima will be tested by a Blair team that placed third in the competitive Rio Hondo League. DIVISION IV-AA

St. Anthony (12-12) at El Segundo (17-8)--The Eagles figure to have their hands full defending St. Anthony’s Chris Morrison, a 6-4 swingman who scored 35 points on 13-for-14 shooting Tuesday in a 90-70 qualifying-round victory over Fillmore. El Segundo relies on the inside-outside scoring combination of 6-4 forwards Travis Showalter (22 points, 10 rebounds) and Chris Hansen (21 points). Hansen is one of the area’s top three-point shooters. DIVISION IV-A

Miraleste (14-10) at Valley Christian (18-5)--The Marauders will be gunning for an upset as they travel to Cerritos to face the division’s No. 2-seeded team. Valley Christian, the Olympic League champion, likes to get the ball inside to 6-8 center Todd Van Otterloo. Junior point guard Frank White runs the show for Miraleste, which got 20 points from reserve forward Victor Glusac Tuesday in a 75-55 qualifying-round victory over Paraclete. DIVISION V-AA

Capistrano Valley Christian (4-20) at Chadwick (16-9)--Coach Tom Maier’s Dolphins must contend with Capistrano Valley Christian forward Nathan Owens, who had 30 points and 11 rebounds Tuesday in a 72-60 victory over Linfield. Fourth-seeded Chadwick, the Prep League champion, features an impressive backcourt in Evan Calbi and freshman Neal Thakur.

South Bay’s Boys’ Basketball Top 10

Selected by Times Sportswriters Final Regular Season

Rank, School, League Record 1 Morningside (Ocean) 22-3 2 Westchester (Metro) 18-7 3 Carson (Pacific) 15-9 4 San Pedro (Pacific) 20-5 5 Mira Costa (Ocean) 19-7 6 Inglewood (Bay) 16-9 7 Hawthorne (Bay) 13-11 8 Leuzinger (Bay) 14-6 9 Rolling Hills (Ocean) 14-12 10 Torrance (Pioneer) 16-7