Compton Dominguez Rushes Past Sonora

COMPTON —  Sonora stayed with Compton Dominguez, the top-ranked team in the state, and actually took the lead . . . for about 20 seconds.

After Sonora’s Jeffrey Berokoff banked in a three-pointer on the Raiders’ first possession, the Dons answered with 14 consecutive points before cruising to an 80-55 victory in a Southern Section Division II-A boys’ basketball quarterfinal at Compton College Friday.

It could have been an even bigger blowout, but Dominguez Coach Russell Otis only played his starters about 2 1/2 quarters as the Dons advanced to the semifinals to play Goleta Dos Pueblos.

Six-foot-nine senior Tayshaun Prince, who will play at Kentucky next season, scored 19 points for Dominguez (23-4), which shot 64% (33 of 52) from the field.

Prince got plenty of help.

Point guard Willie Hurst provided the spark.

He had six assists in about eight minutes of playing time in the first half as Dominguez built a 48-27 lead at halftime.

And 7-foot freshman center Tyson Chandler clogged the middle, blocking five shots.

The tallest starter for Sonora (24-5) is 6-4 forward Marqui Worthy, who scored eight points, 7 1/2 below his average.

Sonora struggled, making only 29% (12 of 42) from the field through three quarters.

“We needed a miracle,” Sonora Coach Mike Murphy said. “But when you have your 5-9 guy guarding their 6-9 guy and a 6-foot guy guarding their 7-foot guy, I guess the result is a 30-point loss.”

Berokoff, who has signed with San Diego State, scored 10 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter. He made five of 10 three-pointers. Berokoff left the game with 3 minutes 37 seconds remaining in the second quarter after he sustained a cut behind his left ear when Prince collided with him after driving for a layup.

Berokoff returned three minutes into the third quarter, but he couldn’t stop the Dons’ 12-2 run to close out the quarter.

Prince’s flying tomahawk jam followed by Chandler’s two-handed dunk to finish a fast break highlighted the run, which extended the Dominguez lead to 67-32.