DIVISION II : Trabuco Hills Ends Up in Strongest Field

Back in December, Trabuco Hills boys’ basketball Coach Rainer Wulf could have petitioned the Southern Section to move from the Division II-A playoffs to Division I-AA.

Moving to a larger-school division usually isn’t on the minds of most coaches when the section’s Dec. 16 petition deadline rolls around.

It certainly wasn’t a priority for Wulf, who was busy getting the Mustangs ready to defend their Division II-A title.

“Looking back, it might have been a good move,” he said of switching to I-AA. “I didn’t consider it at the time, but looking back now, I would have done it.”

Why? Division II-A is the toughest of the section’s 10 playoff divisions, and much more competitive than Division I-AA.

And the II-A is full of Division I college prospects from schools outside Orange County.

Top-seeded Lakewood Artesia (21-3) features two top college recruits in Avondre Jones and Charles O’Bannon, the younger brother of UCLA’s Ed O’Bannon. Charles O’Bannon and Jones are uncommitted.

Third-seeded Pasadena Muir (22-5) has Jacque Vaughn, considered the top point guard in the Southern Section. He has committed to Kansas.

College scouts have ranked Jelani Gardner of second-seeded St. John Bosco, a 6-foot-5 guard, among the top five juniors nationally. James Cotton, St. John Bosco’s other top player, has committed to Cal State Long Beach.

“From top to bottom, this is the toughest of the 10 divisions,” Wulf said.

So tough, in fact, that neither team from last year’s II-A championship game--Trabuco Hills and Kennedy--is among the top-seeded teams this season despite having great records.

After starting 1-3, Kennedy has won 22 consecutive games entering Friday night’s first-round game against Rosemead Bosco Tech. The Irish are led by Jeff Cummins and Patrick Kunz, both of whom started during last year’s playoffs.

Trabuco Hills (20-6) is seeded seventh and will play host to San Bernardino Pacific in the first round Friday night. Trabuco Hills had been competing for one of the top-four seeded spots before losing to Laguna Beach and Century in late January.

“After we lost those games, I figured we would be seeded fifth, sixth or seventh,” Wulf said. “It’s the playoffs now, we just hope to be peaking.”

Although Trabuco Hills isn’t one of the top-seeded teams, the Mustangs do have the talent to make some serious waves in the division.

The Mustangs have an experienced point guard in Brett Poulos, a three-year starter who led them to the title last season.

They also have strong rebounders in center Matt Moore and forwards Pat Barnes and Derrek Uhl. Sophomore Rob Warnick, who started in the last four games and averaged 18 points, is emerging as a future star.

The strong playoff field has left some teams with tough first-round games.

Magnolia finished 16-7, won the Orange League and drew a home game against Katella in the first round. Katella (17-7) beat Magnolia, 78-43, in nonleague game in December. Magnolia was without starting guard Frank Henderson, who sat out with an injured toe.

“We were worried that we might get Katella in the first round,” Wulf said. “We didn’t want to play them. (The Knights’) Brian Carlson is one of the best players in the county.”

Although unhappy about the first-round draw, Magnolia Coach Al Walin said he suspected the Sentinels might play the Knights in the first round. And he also found a bright spot.

“I don’t know how they come up with this,” Walin said. “But from what I gather, the winner of our game won’t have to play a seeded team in the second round.”

Best bet for championship game: Artesia against St. John Bosco.

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Unseeded Ocean View (15-8) and Tustin (19-7) are the top Orange County teams in Division II-AA. But both teams have tough draws in the 32-team bracket.

Tustin plays host to Mission Viejo (11-13) in the first round, but will likely play Inglewood (16-9) in the second round.

Ocean View (15-8) plays host to Riverside Poly (19-6) in the first round. Fourth-seeded Cajon (22-4) would likely be Ocean View’s second-round opponent if the Seahawks survive.

The strength of the division lies outside the county, with top-seeded Riverside J.W. North and second-seeded Compton Dominguez.

However, don’t rule out defending-champion Glendora. The Tartans (18-8) finished fourth in the Baseline League and are an at-large entry for the playoffs. But they still have one of the section’s best players in Cameron Murray, the younger brother of former UCLA standout Tracy Murray.

Division II-A at a Glance

Defending champion: Trabuco Hills.

Top teams: Lakewood Artesia (21-3), Kennedy (23-3), Pasadena Muir (22-5), Bellflower St. John Bosco (22-2), Trabuco Hills (20-6), Ventura (21-3).

Dark horses: Katella (17-7), Manhattan Beach Mira Costa (18-7).

Top players: Aaron Aguilera (El Modena), Brian Carlson (Katella), James Cotton (St. John Bosco), Jeff Cummins (Kennedy), Kevin Deck (Valencia), Ed Ellis (La Serna), Bill Eubanks (Valencia), Jelani Gardner (St. John Bosco), Brandon Hearvey (Magnolia), Avondre Jones (Artesia), Pat Kunz (Kennedy), Matt Moore (Trabuco Hills), Charles O’Bannon (Artesia), Michael O’Quinn (Muir), Brett Poulos (Trabuco Hills), Darien Roberts (Ventura), Jacque Vaughn (Muir), Aaron Williams (Magnolia), Shane Willis (Mira Costa).

Best draw: Third-seeded Muir would not face an opponent with a record better than 12-11 until the quarterfinals.

Worst draw: Katella (17-7) at Magnolia (16-7) in the first round. Katella beat Magnolia, 78-43, in a nonleague game in December.

Notes: This division is by far the most competitive and is stacked with Division I college prospects. The top-seeded teams: 1. Artesia, 2. St. John Bosco, 3. Muir, 4. Ventura. . . . Poulos, Trabuco Hills’ point guard, is one of the division’s best. He’s averaging 16 points and six assists and is shooting 40% from three-point range and 90% from the free-throw line.. . . Katella Coach Tom Danley will take a 498-201 record into Friday night’s first-round game against Magnolia.. . . Kennedy has double scoring threats in Cummins and Kunz, both of whom are averaging around 17 points. The Irish are riding an 22-game winning streak into the playoffs. . . . Trabuco Hills beat Kennedy, 52-50, in the championship game last season.

Division II-AA at a Glance

Defending champion: Glendora.

Top teams: Cajon (22-4), Compton Dominguez (21-2), Corona (22-2), La Crescenta Crescenta Valley (19-4), Riverside J.W. North (25-0), Tustin (19-7).

Dark horses: Glendora (18-8), Ocean View (15-8).

Top players: Orie Benjamin (J.W. North), Luke Buffum (Beverly Hills), O’Real Cotton (Walnut), Michael Dean (Torrance), Sean Goodgame (Ocean View), Ed Gray (J.W. North), Jim Harris (Ocean View), Adam Jacobsen (Crescenta Valley), Eric Knapp (Corona), Micah Kroeger (Edison), Victor Lesley (La Verne Damien), Jason MacKenzie (Corona), Dejuan Matthews (Tustin), Cameron Murray (Glendora), Teodor Russinov (Santa Barbara), Rod Scheuerman (Tustin), Mack Tarver (Cajon), Jacobi Thompson (Compton), Rodney Wills (Norte Vista).

Best draw: Second-seeded Dominguez plays Beverly Hills, an at-large entry, in the first round and wouldn’t face a league champion until the semifinals.

Worst draw: Ocean View plays host to Riverside Poly (19-6) in the first round and could have to play fourth-seeded Cajon in the second round.

Notes: The top-seeded teams: 1. J.W. North, 2. Dominguez, 3. Corona, 4. Cajon. . . . J.W. North is the heavy favorite with Gray and Benjamin, both Division I college prospects. Crescenta Valley (19-4) is one of the division’s best teams, but finished third in the Pacific League and didn’t get seeded. . . . Glendora beat Artesia, 66-48, in the championship game last season.