HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS : Final Scene for Buena, Mater Dei

It’s a prime-time show that seems to improve each season.

Some of the characters change, but ratings are sure to be high once again when the Buena girls face Mater Dei Friday night at 8 in the Southern Section Division I-A final at the Pyramid in Long Beach.

Mater Dei defeated Buena, 57-53, in last season’s final, snapping a five-game losing streak against the Bulldogs. Buena defeated Mater Dei, 55-48, in a nonleague regular-season game last season that served as the Bulldogs’ annual fund-raiser game.

In 1994, Buena beat Mater Dei, 50-41, in the Division I final.

This season, Mater Dei (25-2) is ranked No. 1 in The Times’ poll and Buena (27-1) is No. 3.

Buena Coach Joe Vaughan believes this year’s game should live up to its billing, even though the Bulldogs are without senior Eboni Conley, an All-Southern Section guard who has been out the past month because of a knee injury.

“The other kids have made good adjustments, how they’ve stepped up,” Vaughan said. “A lot of teams losing someone of that caliber would be out by now.”

A look at this weekend’s championship games:

CITY SECTION

BOYS’ 3-A DIVISION

* VAN NUYS (16-9) vs. CANOGA PARK (22-4)

Friday at Cal State Los Angeles, 8 p.m.

Fans from the Valley region could not ask for a better matchup. These teams split two Mid-Valley League games this year and finished as co-champions. Van Nuys shocked Canoga Park in the first meeting, 79-77, but the Hunters got revenge 10 days later with an 84-78 victory. Canoga Park’s widespread talent makes it the favorite even though Van Nuys is the top-seeded team in the division. The teams have two similar traits: foul trouble and rebounding lapses. Canoga Park likes to push the tempo and if Van Nuys lets that happen Coach Kevin Kanemura predicts trouble for his team. “If the score is up in the 80s, it could be a situation that’s not good for us,” he said. Van Nuys will try to slow the Hunters’ transition game with senior point guard Jon Okui, who is averaging 11.8 points, senior forward Kris Hurdle (13.5) and senior forward Onaje Longmire (19.5). Canoga Park’s big three are junior forward Carloes Harper (23.6), junior forward Anthony Ellison (18.1) and senior center Aaron Lasley (13). Those three are each averaging more than 11 rebounds a game.

CITY SECTION

GIRLS’ 3-A DIVISION

* CHATSWORTH (20-6) vs. DORSEY (19-8)

Friday at Cal State Los Angeles, 6 p.m.

The second-seeded Chancellors face a Southern Pacific Conference power in the final for the second year in a row. Chatsworth lost to Narbonne in last year’s title game but expectations are higher after handily winning three playoff games by an average of 20 points. Senior post players Tynitra Wilson and Nancy Vincent are keys for Chatsworth along with senior guard Jodi Borenstein. The top-seeded Dons didn’t even make the playoffs last season but second-year Coach Ken Turner has led quite a transformation. Six-foot junior forward Janice Thomas averages 18 points and 13 rebounds. Senior point guard MurRae Glenn averages 12 points. Thomas scored 22 points and had 17 rebounds as Dorsey defeated Chatsworth by 16 points in the Fairfax tournament in December.

SOUTHERN SECTION

GIRLS’ DIVISION I-A

* BUENA (27-1) vs. MATER DEI (25-2)

Friday at the Pyramid in Long Beach, 8 p.m.

Buena’s only loss came at the hands of Woodbridge in a nonleague game, and Mater Dei has won 23 in a row since two early losses in prestigious tournaments. Experience is Mater Dei’s strength, in particular seniors Melody Peterson and Rhonda Gondringer. Peterson, a Street and Smith All-American who has signed with Stanford, has scored more than 2,000 points in her four-year career and is averaging 18.2 this season. Gondringer, a forward averaging 16.7 points, was a key in last season’s 57-53 victory in the final. Lori Hurlbut provides a three-point threat and forward Margaret Hollis is the Lady Monarchs’ strongest inside player. Center Nicole Greathouse (17.2 points, 12.1 rebounds), forward Stephanie Kinnear (11.3 points, 7.2 rebounds) and guard Kori Sebek (10.2 points, 5.4 assists) give Buena a balanced attack. This is the seventh year in a row Buena has advanced to the final.

SOUTHERN SECTION

BOYS’ DIVISION III-A

* HARVARD-WESTLAKE (25-2) vs. MORNINGSIDE (20-8)

Saturday at the Pond in Anaheim, 9:30 a.m.

Harvard-Westlake is poised to claim a second consecutive championship, while Morningside is vying for its first title since 1992. Twins Jason and Jarron Collins of Harvard will have an opportunity to turn it up a notch after the Wolverines breezed through an undefeated Mission League schedule. Jason (6-11), last season’s Times All-Valley player of the year as a sophomore, averages 18.4 points and 12 rebounds, both team highs. Jarron (6-11) averages 13.4 points and a team-high 3.4 assists. Forward Alex Gelbard (6-4), who averages 8.3 points and 5.7 rebounds, is the only senior among the starting five. Morningside, which tied Compton Centennial for second in the Ocean League, must offset a collective size disadvantage. Senior center Brian Williams (11 points) is the team’s tallest starter at 6-4. Backup center Ronald Dow (6-6), the team’s tallest player, has not played during the playoffs because of a knee injury and is listed as doubtful. Junior guard Lee Denmon (6-2) averages a team-high 15 points.

SOUTHERN SECTION

GIRLS’ DIVISION III-A

* NORDHOFF (20-8) vs. MORNINGSIDE (24-3)

Friday at the Pyramid in Long Beach, 4:30 p.m.

After three consecutive Frontier League championships, Nordhoff finished second to Moorpark this season but has outlasted the Musketeers in the postseason. “I think it reflects how this group has been able to put disappointment behind and go forward,” Nordhoff Coach Jack Smith said. Leading the way is the trio of senior guard Keyana Stanford, sophomore guard Nell Becker and 5-foot-10 sophomore post player Erin Barker. Stanford averages 10.3 points and six rebounds, Becker 10.1 and 5.9 rebounds and Barker 14.1 and 6.4. A team of average height but exceptional quickness, Nordhoff presses on defense and pushes the ball up on offense. An extremely deep bench makes this strategy possible. The Rangers lost to Morningside by seven points earlier this season. Morningside, champion and longtime powerhouse of the Ocean League, is led by the trio of forward Antoinette Thompson (averaging 14 points), forward Chanel Neal (13) and guard Dana Hunter (12). The Monarchs deploy an aggressive, pressing defense.

SOUTHERN SECTION

GIRLS’ DIVISION IV-A

* VILLAGE CHRISTIAN (19-7)

vs. CERRITOS VALLEY CHRISTIAN (25-0)

Saturday at the Pyramid in Long Beach, , 11:15 a.m.

Both are Christian schools with the initials V.C. Both have red and gold uniforms and the nickname Crusaders. Both also have a guard averaging 21 points who has committed to a Division I college for next season--Lindy James of Village Christian who will be going to Portland and Kiyoko Miller of Valley Christian who will attend USC. But what distinguishes the teams is height. Valley Christian center Tandee Taylor (6-2) averages 10 rebounds and figures to cause problems for a Village Christian team that doesn’t have a starter taller than 5-9. Ashley Wornall (5-9) leads Village Christian in rebounding at nine per game. Valley Christian, the 1995 state Division IV runner-up, has won four consecutive Division IV-A championships--including a victory over Village Christian in the 1994 final.

SOUTHERN SECTION

BOYS’ DIVISION V-AA

* MONTCLAIR PREP (25-3) vs. CATE (19-3)

Friday at the Bren Center, UC Irvine, 4:30 p.m.

A Southern Section title is about the only achievement that has eluded the Mounties. Montclair Prep lost to Pasadena Poly, 66-60, in the section final last year but proceeded to claim the Division V state championship. Senior forward Anwawn Jones, the state Division V player of the year, averages 22.6 points and 13.3 rebounds for the Mounties. Senior guards Scott Stark (14 points) and Akil Anderson (11.1) add outside scoring. The third-seeded Rams, who play 10 seniors, are making their first appearance in a section final. Senior guard Olu Evans averages 14.5 points and 6-3 forward Jed Kroncke averages 11.

SOUTHERN SECTION

GIRLS’ DIVISION V-A

* PILGRIM (18-7) vs. CORNERSTONE CHRISTIAN (20-1)

Friday at the Pyramid in Long Beach, 3 p.m.

Cornerstone Christian is hoping that senior forward Karen Breshears can continue her recent playoff tear. The three-sport standout is averaging nearly 22 points in the playoffs, an increase of almost eight points from the regular season. The Warriors are also hopeful that their playoff experience in other sports will help. The trio of Breshears, Julie Siefert and Julia Tamai has appeared in Southern Section finals in basketball and softball and a volleyball semifinal. Pilgrim enters the contest with 16 consecutive victories and hasn’t lost a Heritage League game in more than two years. Patriot Coach Gene Hicks says his preseason strategy of playing in higher-level tournaments has paid off with a berth in the final. Pilgrim is led by 5-7 sophomore forward Gina Nicholson, who is averaging 16.8 points and 11.1 rebounds in the playoffs.

SOUTHERN SECTION

BOYS’ DIVISION V-AA

* ANTELOPE VALLEY CHRISTIAN (25-0)

vs. PACIFIC HILLS (18-9)

At the Bren Center, UC Irvine, 3 p.m.

Antelope Valley Christian is undefeated and has been virtually unchallenged. The Eagles use an aggressive pressure defense and are winning by an average of 46 points. Antelope Valley Christian senior guard Johnny Morales (22 points a game) is the Eagles’ playmaker. An appearance in a final is nothing new for Pacific Hills. The Bruins played for the 1994 state championship, losing to Ripon Christian. Ivan Barahona, a returning All-CIF point guard, averages 16 points.

SOUTHERN SECTION

GIRLS’ DIVISION I-AA

* PALMDALE (28-2) vs. PENINSULA (29-1) Saturday at the Pyramid in Long Beach, 2:45 p.m.

Palmdale has won nine of the past 14 Golden League championships and is seeking its first section title. Tuesday’s 61-60 semifinal victory over Simi Valley might have been the biggest in Falcon history. Junior forward Marje Knott, better known for her rebounding, made a layup with seven seconds left to win it. Palmdale is led by center Kristi Rose, a 6- 6-4 senior bound for Utah who has elevated her game in the playoffs. Rose averaged 14.5 points and 9.6 rebounds during the season, but in four playoff games her numbers have increased to 19.8 and 12.2. Top-seeded Peninsula has had an impressive season with guard Eden Palacio shooting a startling 70.4% (112 for 160) from three-point range. Guard Staeci Morita shoots 38% from long distance. But the Panthers don’t have a scoring threat inside, and Palmdale might win by covering the outside and getting the ball to Rose. Peninsula is hitting 31% of its free throws.