Basketball’s Top Teams Emerging : Watts Games: The ‘95-96 season is still months away, but the Washington High girls and Fremont boys impressed many at tournament.

Despite different outcomes in the L.A. Watts Summer Games basketball finals, the Fremont High boys and Washington girls proved that they will be the teams to beat in the Central City next season.

In the Pathfinders’ 81-75 loss to state Division II runner-up Dominguez of Compton, point guard Dony Wilcher had 23 points and five assists.

Fremont also had strong performances from forward Jermel Jones, who had 23 points and five rebounds, and guard Leon Jones, no relation, (15 points, four rebounds).

Fremont led by six, 56-50, when Wilcher picked up his fourth foul with 1:34 remaining in the third quarter.

Wilcher returned at the 5:04 mark in the fourth quarter with Fremont down, 64-61, but the Pathfinders would get no closer.

“We played in spurts and that hurt us at the end,” said the 5-foot-10 Wilcher. “I don’t think this proves to us how good we are because we already felt we could play with anybody.”

In addition to Wilcher, the game featured another of the state’s top playmakers, Kenny Brunner of Dominguez.

Brunner finished with 18 points, eight assists and eight rebounds.

“I usually try to stay out of personal matchups because it takes away from the team aspect,” Wilcher said. “But we had a couple of exchanges where he would do something great, then I would do something. It’s good for the crowd.”

Pathfinder Coach Sam Sullivan believes his team will be even better with the expected addition of Westchester transfer Danny Walker.

“Right now we’re in the mix with Dominguez, Crenshaw and Mater Dei,” Sullivan said. “I think Danny would be perfect for us.”

Crenshaw, winners of the City Section 4-A Division championship for three consecutive seasons, has had a stranglehold on the City in girls’ basketball.

But after Washington easily disposed of Chino, 75-53, in the championship game, the Generals appear ready to break Crenshaw’s grip.

Washington was led by Tina Greer, who was named tournament most valuable player.

Greer, a 5-3 point guard, scored 21 points and had four assists and four steals.

“This gives us the respect that we didn’t get last year,” Greer said. “This lets Southern Section teams know that the City is no joke.”

And neither is Washington, one of the deepest teams in the area.

It’s Greer’s job to make sure that talent is maximized on the court.

“I’ve given this team to Tina,” said Washington Coach Julie Rousseau. “I think this win is a small indication of where we are as a team. It’s a step in the right direction. But this team has to stay focused and hungry.”