The featured matchup of the night clearly came when Tyson Chandler went up against Ousmane Cisse, but what followed was a showdown of arguably the nation's two top backcourts.

But it wasn't a guard who ended up being the difference in No. 2 Willowridge High's (Texas) 74-64 win over No. 8 Southern High (Md.). It was Willowridge forward Andre Watson, an unheralded senior who poured in 19 points and grabbed seven boards.

Southern's guard tandem of Melvin Scott and Darshan Luckey combined for 31 points, but shot just 9-of-32 from the floor. The North Carolina-bound Scott was 4-of-17, including just 2-of-10 from three-point range and 4-of-8 from the charity stripe.

The Willowridge backcourt, which is comprised of floor general T.J. Ford (Texas) and sharpshooter Daniel Ewing (Duke), wasn't much better. Ford was 3-of-8 for 11 points, but he added five rebounds and six assists. Ewing finished with 10 points on 2-of-11 shooting and missed all five of his three-point attempts. But he hauled down 11 boards and dished out four assists.

"We were flat," said Southern coach Meredith Smith. "We have never shot that poorly before. They're a good team, but we're a lot better than we played tonight. Our guys were pumped up - maybe too pumped up."

Midwest edges Rice
Rice High (N.Y.) used its quickness and almost knocked off Midwest City High (Okla.) and its highly touted junior tandem of Shelden Williams and DeAngelo Alexander. But Rice could have used its 7-foot-2 sophomore center Shagari Alleyne to help keep Williams out of the paint.

Williams finished with 19 points and 15 boards in Midwest's 69-67 win as Alleyne could only watch on the bench after being forced to sit by coach Maurice Hicks because of disciplinary reasons.

"He could have played, but didn't," said Hicks. "It was a coaches decision. He definitely would have helped us because he blocks so many shots. He'll play tomorrow (Friday)."

The game was a coming-out party of sorts for junior guard Steven Burtt, Jr., who pumped in 27 points by slashing through the Midwest City defense. Burtt played on junior varsity last season and should see the college interest pick up soon. He has been receiving letters from Marist, Hofstra and Fairfield, but should get some looks from major Division I colleges in the near future.

Burtt's father was a former star guard at Iona who went on to play a few seasons in the NBA with Golden State and Phoenix.

Childress lifts Mayfair High in final seconds
Mayfair High (Calif.) shooting guard Josh Childress will have bragging rights next year when he teams with Paul VI (Va.) 6-foot-10 center Robert Little at Stanford.

The silky-smooth Childress hit the game-winner on a layup with five seconds left for a 51-50 victory just moments after Little airballed a free throw that could have given Paul VI a three-point lead.

Childress scored 26 points one night after a disappointing performance (10 points on 5-of-18 shooting) in a loss to Jawad Williams' St. Edward's (Ohio) squad.

Little finished with 14 points and 15 rebounds, but was just 3-of-8 from the foul line.

Other Notes
Coatesville High (Pa.) forward John Allen showed why Seton Hall's Tommy Amaker went after him so hard, scoring 30 points and grabbing 13 rebounds in an 87-53 win over Murrah High (Miss.). But it was Allen's teammate, Maurice Bryant, an undersized 5-foot-7 senior point guard who has gained little interest from colleges, who stole the show with his intensity. Bryant was all over the floor, finishing with 18 points and forcing numerous turnovers. ... Sterling High (N.J.) and UNLV-bound guard Ernest Turner showed why he is one of the most prolific scorers in the country, pumping in 36 points in a 61-57 victory over the host school, Cape Henlopen High (Del.).

On Tap: Friday night's premiere matchups include the size up front of Dominguez and Tyson Chandler against the cat-quick guard play of Willowridge. The nightcap will feature Shelden Williams and Midwest City against St. Patrick's (N.J.), which will have its work cut out without its two top big men in senior Marcus Austin (mononucleosis) and Grant Billmeier (transfer).