BAKETBALL BEAT : A CENTER'S GROWING PAINS.

Right now, there are many prep centers better than Burbank High School's Eric Rohwer, but in a year or two, beware. Rohwer is barely 16 years old, stands 6-foot-8, has long arms, big feet and continues to improve.

This season, he's averaging 7.3 points, 6 rebounds and 6.1 blocked shots per game. As usual with inexperienced big men, he's had his ups and downs. There was the 12 points, 12 rebounds and 13 blocks against Burroughs. And there was the game against Hart in which he was just a big body on the court.

``He's a young kid,'' Burbank coach Ron Quarterman said of the sophomore. ``His academics are strong. A lot of coaches like what they see. I'm real proud of him. He's a hard worker. He's improving every game. He has the potential and the tools to dominate this area.''

Rohwer (pictured) has a nice touch from the free-throw line, which should help him increase his offensive production next season when he's pulling down offensive rebounds and getting fouled. Defensively, he could present big problems because he loves to block shots.

``It's awesome, it's fun,'' Rohwer said.

Rohwer could grow to 6-11. With each game, he becomes more coordinated and more confident. He's looking forward to Burbank's home playoff opener Friday against Santa Barbara.But clearly Rohwer's best days are ahead.

``Hopefully, I'll be averaging four dunks a game,'' he said. ``I'm concentrating on getting better for tomorrow. It will come.''

Tough road to the postseason

Paraclete girls' coach Susan Hervey had an arresting story to tell upon arriving at the Southern Section office for Monday's playoff announcements.

On the drive to Cerritos, Hervey was pulled over by six police cars, a motorcycle and a department helicopter.

It seems Hervey's car was mistaken for one similar to a car driven by two auto theft suspects.

``It was a miserable experience,'' said Hervey, who faced several officers with guns drawn before being handcuffed and placed in the back of a squad car during the 45-minute ordeal. ``I was telling them, `I'm only a basketball coach.' They were very polite once they realized it was a mistake. They even gave me directions to the Southern Section office.''

At least Hervey had a good excuse for being late to Cerritos.

``When I got there, I showed everybody my handcuff marks,'' she said.

Family ties

He may be young and he may be a new kid in school, but Chaminade sophomore point guard Cayce Cook has taken firm control of the Eagles offense.

``He is so poised and so level-headed,'' said Eagles coach Jeff Young. ``Sometimes, you forget he's just a sophomore.''

Part of that calm comes from rubbing knee pads with the best players on the planet while bouncing around the basketball world with his dad, Darwin Cook, who spent eight years in the NBA and four more playing in Italy.

Part, too, comes from perpetually being the new kid on the block and having to get comfortable in yet another new city and school.

``He's adjusted to a lot of situations,'' said his dad, who played for the New Jersey Nets, Washington Bullets, San Antonio Spurs and Denver Nuggets of the NBA.

The younger Cook has made those adjustments - and thrived.

``When we lived in Italy, he went to an Italian school,'' said Darwin Cook, now an assistant coach at Pepperdine. ``No English was spoken and he was still at the top of his class.''

He's doing well at Chaminade, too.

``He's a student first,'' Cook's father said. ``That's the thing I'm most proud of.''

Bennett vs. Richardson

If Poly and Birmingham win their first-round City 3-A playoff openers Friday, it would set up an intriguing matchup next Wednesday between the two schools. Poly is led by former Birmingham star Ellis Richardson, who's expected to return from an ankle injury this week.

Richardson and Birmingham coach Al Bennett were not exactly best friends last season. Richardson has been hoping to face the Braves all season.

Bring on Crenshaw 

Usually, when a Valley team faces Crenshaw, it's a slaughter. Nobody is giving Taft much of a chance when it travels to Crenshaw on Friday for its 4-A playoff opener. But at least the players are excited.

``Believe it or not, they called me and said, `Coach, we're gonna win,' '' Toreadors coach Mark Drucker said. ``I said, `Guys, that's what you need.' We're definitely bringing along a couple of oxygen tanks (for Crenshaw's press).''

Wearing out the nets

Three local girls' teams boast very balanced offensive attacks.

Kennedy has five players averaging in double figures: Vanessa Dunn (16.6), Monia Calhoun (11.9), Coyles Scarbrough (10.7), Tamaya Morris (10.4) and Tammy Barber (10.2).

Royal claims four players in double digits: Alicia Weber (11.3), Michelle Berlin (10.5), Sarah Parola (10.4) and Jessica Sanders (10.2).

North Hollywood's foursome of Tashean Thomas (15.5), Claudia Villa (11.5), Markia Derby (11.0) and Lindsay Sotero-Higa (10.7) may get company soon. Teammate Stephanie Wasserman is averaging 9.6 points.

Etc.

Tall order: Chaminade has a tough first-round assignment facing Del Rey League champion Bishop Montgomery and 6-foot-10 center Solomon Hughes on Friday.

But after facing Harvard-Westlake and 6-10 twins Jarron and Jason Collins and Simi Valley with 6-8 Rafael Berumen, Young thinks his Eagles are prepared.

``If we're not ready to play a guy like that, then who is?'' Young said.

Changing of the Guard: Bell-Jeff's hopes of winning a IV-A championship were dealt a serious blow when junior forward Elihu Cobb was dismissed from school before the season.

But with the emergence of 6-6 junior forward Mike West lately, the Santa Fe League champions may have found a dominant post man to complement standout guards Ruben Douglas and Kent Dennis.

In his past three games, West has posted efforts of 22 points and 18 rebounds, 13 points and 13 rebounds and 18 points and 18 rebounds.

``He's come a long way,'' said coach Eli Essa, whose Guards host Mojave in a first-round game Friday. ``And right now, his confidence is sky-high.''

Junior Mounties: Montclair Prep coaches Howard Abrams and Greg Patterson like to observe Senior Night at their school by starting an all-senior lineup.

But with Darin Brock the only 12th-grader this season, the traditional honor was impossible.

``It would have been a one-man team,'' Abrams said.

Future watch: The San Fernando Valley-based California Cavs eighth-grade team recently won a tournament in Santa Barbara. Many of the team's players could be future varsity stars and several are expected to end up at Simi Valley, including guard Sean Michel, younger brother of Pioneers freshman Brett Michel, and 5-11 Brandon Robinson, who's expected to move from Arleta to Simi Valley. But the biggest prize is 6-6 Scott Borchard, who lives in Thousand Oaks but also may end up at Simi Valley.

Also on the team is Cody Pearson, whose brother Rowan played at Campbell Hall and Granada Hills.

Looking ahead: If Marmonte League co-champion Newbury Park is able to win its first two games of the Southern Section Division II-A boys' playoffs, the Panthers would almost surely have to play Dominguez of Compton.

1 - Losses needed to be eliminated from the playoffs

2 - Area teams defending Southern Section titles (Harvard-Westlake, Montclair Prep boys)

3 - Area teams top-seeded in their divisions (Harvard-Westlake boys, Palmdale and Cornerstone Christian girls)

7 - Team buses that will break down short of their destinations Friday night.

40 - Years served as head coach by Kennedy boys' coach Yutaka Shimizu

514 - Southern California coaches who think they got a bad draw in the playoffs (538 teams minus 24 No. 1 seeds)

698 - Points by area scoring leader Carloes Harper of Canoga Park

5,380 - Estimated number of kids playing in City and Southern Section basketball playoffs (538 teams X estimated 10 players per team)

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Photo, Box

Photo: No Caption (Eric Rohwer)

Box: By the numbers (see text)