BIG GAMES : Pomona vs. Bonita

With its major-college-size front line, top-rated Pomona has not had to look up to any opponents. The Red Devils will have a size advantage once again--but not as much as usual-- when they face Hacienda League champion Bonita of La Verne in the CIF 3-A Division quarterfinals at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Diamond Bar High. With its front line of 6-8 center Greg Trygstad, 6-4 forward Robert Morthel and 6-5 forward Brian Banker, the Bearcats (23-4) can almost look Pomona in the eye. Pomona (24-3) has 6-8 Ron Draper, 6-7 Lamont Carruthers, 6-4 Tyrone Greer and 6-4 Derwin Collins. Draper, a heavily recruited senior, is averaging 20 points and 11.5 rebounds to lead the Red Devils in both categories. Besides outstanding size, Bonita’s ball-control offense, directed by 5-11 guard Clark Moses, could cause problems for Pomona, which prefers to play at a fast tempo.

Ganesha vs. Morningside

This is starting to look like a repeat of two years ago, when Hacienda League teams reached the CIF 2-A semifinals. The league’s three playoff teams have reached the 3-A quarterfinals this time: Bonita, Ganesha and Montclair. Ganesha (19-6), the No. 2 team in the league, could have its hands full in its quarterfinal game against third-seeded Morningside at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Inglewood High. Morningside (20-4) has one of the best guard combinations in 3-A in Levord Jenkins (6-0), who has led the team in scoring in the playoffs, and Darrell Gordon (6-1). More troublesome for Ganesha, however, could be Morningside 6-8 junior center Elden Campbell. Ganesha, which does not start a player taller than 6-5, has had problems against taller teams. Ganesha is not lacking for talent, though. Balance has been the key, as its 72-66 victory over El Dorado in the second round will attest. Five Giants scored between 10 and 18 points, led by an 18-point performance by 6-2 junior guard Ronald English. Several other key players for Ganesha are Ronald’s twin, Donald; junior center Kevin Cutler (6-5) and senior forward Eugene Haynes (6-3).

Nogales vs. Montclair

Judging by the match-ups, Nogales of La Puente would appear to hold an edge in this 3-A quarterfinal game at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Ontario High. With the possible exception of Pomona, the Nogales Nobles may have the tallest team in the San Gabriel Valley. The Nobles (22-6), a perennial playoff participant, also may have a stronger basketball tradition. But that doesn’t mean things will be easy against Montclair (16-9), which plays in the Hacienda League--maybe the best league in 3-A. Montclair has upset fourth-seeded Brea-Olinda and Garden Grove League champion Rancho Alamitos, so Nogales had best beware of the Cavaliers. Montclair has an outstanding shooter in all-league guard Gary West, who averaged 21.9 points in the regular season. Montclair’s front line is led by Desmond Scieneaux, who averaged 13.2 rebounds. The Cavaliers will need solid rebounding to stay with the big, physical Nobles, who are led by 6-9, 240-pound center Bruce Wheatley. Two other key players for Nogales are 6-4 forwards John Nichols and Paul Seeley.

Temple City vs. Agoura

Agoura may be the surprise team in the 2-A Division after upsetting two teams in the playoffs. The Golden Chargers, who finished third in the Frontier League, have beaten Glenn (55-48) and fourth-seeded Cabrillo (54-53) in the first two rounds. Agoura (13-11) will be an underdog again when it faces Temple City (18-9) in a quarterfinal game at 7:30 p.m. Friday at San Marino High. The big factor in Temple City’s favor is 6-11 center Erik Rogers, a dominating senior who is being recruited by Syracuse, Kansas and Maryland. Rogers, who averages 22.6 points and 11 rebounds, will pose problems for the much smaller Golden Chargers, who do not start a player taller than 6-3. The leaders for Agoura are guards Steve Armstrong and Mike Corridori. Besides Rogers, Temple City is led by 6-0 guard Mark Mooney and 6-1 forward Song Hong, who scored 20 points in his team’s second-round win over Apple Valley (63-56).