PREP BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS / TODAY’S GAMES : Fairfax Could Prove Tough for Crenshaw

For the last 14 years, Harvey Kitani has watched the Crenshaw High boys’ basketball team stockpile City Section titles.

The veteran Fairfax coach has had his share of success, winning two section titles and sending many of his players to the college ranks. But in the city, Crenshaw sets the standard. The Cougars have won 13 section and six state titles since 1971.

“It’s not that you’re scared of them, because there is a lot of talent in the city,” Kitani said. “But they seem to have the most talent year in and year out, and you have to admire their results.”

Kitani said his admiration will not get in the way tonight when Fairfax plays Crenshaw in the Division 4-A championship game at Cal State Dominguez Hills. Tip-off is at 8, after the 4-A girls’ game between Crenshaw and Washington at 6.

Because Cal State Dominguez Hills’ capacity is 4,500, fans are urged to arrive early.

Unlike the last two seasons when Crenshaw was not strongly challenged in the 4-A final, the top-seeded Cougars are expected to have their hands full with second-seeded Fairfax.

Crenshaw (23-5), starting an almost entirely new lineup this season, lost three games in December. It regrouped for Southern Pacific Conference play but still dropped two games to rival Dorsey. Nonetheless, the Cougars were considered the favorites heading into the playoffs three weeks ago.

Fairfax (23-5), which has not won a section title since 1987, also struggled early with a difficult tournament schedule. But it lost only once in the rugged Coastal Conference, which included playoff qualifiers Westchester, Palisades and Hamilton, and has won 12 of its last 13 games.

Although Kitani has coached such notable players as Sean Higgins, who played at Michigan, and Chris Mills, who attended Arizona, he said this year’s team has been his most enjoyable. He credits that to the leadership of guard Duane Davis, a 5-foot-9 senior who signed with Arizona State in November. Davis is a two-year starter averaging 19 points.

“It’s not just what Duane does on the court, but all the guidance he provides the team off the court as well,” Kitani said. “I’ve never enjoyed a team as much as this one.”

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Tournament Notes

The Crenshaw girls’ team (27-0) is going for its third consecutive 4-A title. . . . For the second year in a row, the Southern Section will showcase its top boys’ game at The Pond in Anaheim. The six-game extravaganza begins this morning at 9:30 with the Division III-A final between North Hollywood Harvard-Westlake and Goleta Dos Pueblos and concludes tonight with the I-A final between Santa Ana Mater Dei and La Puente Nogales at 8:30. The best game of the day could be the II-A final between Tustin and Compton Dominguez at 1 p.m. . . . The Brea-Olinda girls go for their seventh consecutive section title when they play Pasadena Muir in the II-A final today at 3:15 p.m. at Long Beach State’s Pyramid. . . . All of the Southern Section finalists are assured berths in the State Southern Regional tournament, which begins play Tuesday. Pairings will be released Sunday.