The “3” game arrived in San Diego Section gymnasiums this season.
The three-point basket, which revolutionized basketball, was first used on an experimental basis at colleges in the East as far back as 1945 and was adopted by the fledgling American Basketball Association in 1967-68.
The NBA got with the program in 1979-80, followed by international ruling bodies in 1984, by all NCAA members in 1986-87, and by CIF schools this season.
The new scoring dimension was met with overwhelming approval by paying customers and mostly by coaches and referees.
Results of an informal poll by Steve Brand of The San Diego Union late in the season:
Fans: 73 for, 0 against.
Officials: 28 for, 2 against.
Coaches: 30 for, 6 against.
“It’s great, totally revolutionizes the game,” said Valhalla coach Manny Silva.
“I don’t like kids going up for the three-point shot when we’ve got other kids standing underneath the basket,” said Mount Miguel’s Art Edge.
“Can neutralize size and bring the smaller player into the game,” said Al Schaffer of Ramona.
“The defense used to dictate what happened at the end (of a game), but not with the three-pointer,” said La Jolla’s Rick Eveleth.
“I hate it because I don’t have anyone who can make it,” said San Pasqual’s Tom Buck.
MORE OFFICIALS NEEDED?
“It is a hardship when you have just two officials,” said veteran whistle blower Steve Tayson.
“We’ve been told, ‘Do not miss the three-point attempt,'” said Tayson. “So while you’re concentrating on whether someone is inside or outside the line (which was an arc 19 feet, 9 inches, from the basket), a foul might be committed somewhere else.”
Perhaps a player summed it up best:
“I’m so short (5 feet, 4 inches) it makes it hard to drive or do anything else,” said Calexico’s Kathy Lizarraga, who stunned area coaches when she made 12 of 15 three-point attempts in one game.
Coincidentally scoring was up as 14 different teams combined for a record 19 games of at least 100 points and there were 11, 20-points-or-better scorers, compared to 7 last season and 4 in 1985-86.
12/2/87
Greg Edwards of Patrick Henry delivered perhaps the first, winning three-point basket when he scored at the end of a second overtime to give the Patriots a 52-50 win over El Capitan.
12/4/87
Coronado came close to its school scoring record when it defeated Santa Fe Christian, 101-54, as 15 players got into the scoring column at the Foothillers’ Tournament.
The Islanders reportedly topped Rancho del Campo, 103-31, in the 1953-54 season.
—University City set a school scoring record in a 99-55 win over El Cajon Valley.
—Grossmont, without one player taller than 6 feet, relied on the speed and quickness of Lance Williams (34 points) and coach’s son Jason Foggiano (26), and was an unaccommodating host to Christian, 85-55, in its Foothillers tournament.
12/6/87
El Cajon Valley was on the short end of another school record when it was routed by Mira Mesa, 104-62. Fourteen Marauders scored.
Not to be outdone, tournament host Torrey Pines ran past Imperial, 104-53.
12/11/87
Terri Mann had graduated and was at Western Kentucky University but the Point Loma girls rolled on, winning their 64th game in a row, breaking the section record that they held.
Monica Filer scored 29 points in the 83-27 win over Mount Miguel that clinched the Point Loma/7-Up tournament and was the Pointers’ 116th straight at home.
12/16/87
El Cajon Valley again was party to another team’s school record. Santana whipped the Braves, 105-53.
12/18/87
Phoenix Arcadia hit six, three-point baskets and topped Kearny, 66-51, in the Chaparral Tournament in the Arizona city.
“I really think it will take at least a year to get used to the three-pointer,” said Kearny coach Bill Peterson. “We played good but got too far behind.”
BE LATE, BE OUT
Dec. 19, 1987
The Las Vegas Wildcats arrived 15 minutes late and game referees ruled a forfeit victory to Vista in the 28th Lt. James Mitchell Tournament at Torrey Pines.
Wildcats coach Mel Washington said his team was stuck in traffic and then couldn’t find the gymnasium.
“We come from Las Vegas and we can’t even get a game?” Washington wondered. “We will not be back here.”
The Wildcats were pushed into the loser’s bracket, annoying Glendale Hoover coach Ken Kohlmeyer, whose team was defeated in the first round by Orange Glen, 82-75.
“Now we have to play the top-seeded team in the tournament, said Kohlmeyer. “If we’re going to get treated this way, we’re not coming back.”
San Dieguito athletic director and tournament chairman David LaBorde weighed in. “I wasn’t there but I think the officials should have been a little more flexible. We’re trying to operate in the spirit of sportsmanship.”
—The annoyed Glendale Hoover coach was correct. Las Vegas won the loser’s bracket game, 98-81.
—Lance Williams’ baseline jump shot with three seconds remaining was the difference as Grossmont won a three-overtime battle with Helix, 64-62. Williams’ three-point basket a minute earlier had drawn the Foothillers even at 62.
—A hay burner in Buckman Springs: Desert toughie Calipatria outscored Mountain Empire, 64-63, in the host Redskins’ tournament.
SCORING LEADERS (average instead of points accentuated; not all totals reported)
| NAME | TEAM | GAMES | POINTS | AVERAGE |
| Lamont Grove | Crawford | 23 | 644 (2) | 28.0 |
| Mark Dirksen | Hilltop | 28 | 692 (1) | 24.7 |
| Jay Malott | Coronado | 23 | 557 (3) | 24.2 |
| Lance Williams | Grossmont | 23 | 546 (4) | 23.7 |
| David Jerimiah | Christian | 24 | 529 (8) | 22.0 |
| Dave Delaney | Poway | 22 | 474 | 21.5 |
| Rafid Kiti | Valhalla | 25 | 533 (7) | 21.32 |
| David Lee | Mira Mesa | 25 | 554 (5) | 21.30 |
| Lee Cobb | El Camino | 25 | 532 (8) | 21.28 |
| Doug Carter | St. Augustine | 25 | 526 (9) | 21.04 |
| Erik Meek | San Pasqual | 21 | 434 | 20.66 |
| Scott Oatsvall | El Camino | 24 | 482 | 20.0 |
| Mike West | Fallbrook | 21 | 416 | 19.80 |
| Ray McDavid | Clairemont | 24 | 474 | 19.75 |
| Carl Gaines | Lincoln | 28 | 550 (6) | 19.6 |
| Paul Sscali | Montgomery | 22 | 430 | 19.54 |
| Paul Baldwin | Escondido | 25 | 487 (10) | 19.48 |
12/23/87
Either Kevin Friel didn’t hear or he tuned out coach John Farrell’s shouting for a timeout.
Friel drove across the middle of the free throw line and drained a 10-foot jump shot for the decisive points in a 79-76 win over El Camino in the Mitchell championship game.
Courtie Miller’s 34 points, including 2 free throws in the final second seconds, clinched for the Falcons, who offered a front line of 7-foot Neal Pollard, 6-9 Kevin Flanagan, and the 6-6 Miller.
—Calexico’s Kathy Lizarraga knocked down 12 three-point shots and scored 47 points in a 61-48, Limited Division win over Fallbrook.
12/27/87
“I like the Bobby Knight philosophy,” Lincoln coach Ron Loneski said. “He said the most important part of a basketball game is the first three or four minutes of a half.”
Lincoln led La Jolla, 42-40, at intermission in the 41st Kiwanis tournament Limited Division final. A 10-0 run to start the third quarter propelled the Hornets to an 85-68 victory. Madison topped Mt. Carmel, 70-64, for the Unlimited title.
12/30/87
Roger Johnson, a 6-foot, 6-inch forward who was unexpectedly absent in Lincoln’s Kiwanis victory over La Jolla, scored 22 of his 28 points in the second half as the Hornets erupted for 60 in the final 16 minutes, to defeat Alaska’s Anchorage West, 100-75, in the Santana Tournament.
1/3/88
Lincoln (13-1) handed Santana its first loss after 10 victories, 68-65, in finals of the Sultans’ tournament. Joe Temple’s free throw with 31 seconds left put the Hornets in front.
“We didn’t tire out and I think Santana did,” said Hornets coach Ron Loneski.
1/9/88
Coronado coach Bob Stanton faced off against Castle Park and, for the first time, his son. John Stanton scored 20 points and the Trojans won, 73-46.
—More than 300 persons were locked out of Lincoln’s fire-marshal-approved-but–usually-ignored-999-seat gymnasium capacity and didn’t see Morse’s 78-71 upset of the Hornets.
—Morse’s Willie Davis scored 13 of his 24 points in the fourth quarter as the Tigers held off repeated challenges.
1/13/88
The top-ranked Point Loma girls’ 137-game winning streak against San Diego County teams came to end in ninth-ranked host Fallbrook’s 39-37 victory.
1/16/88
“This is our year; we’re going all the way to the top,” enthused Robby Robinson, who scored 24 points and had 11 rebounds in a Madison 73-68, Eastern League win over Morse.
–Mission Bay (5-10) took Kearny (13-2) to three overtimes and outlasted the Komets, 59-54.
–El Cajon Valley sustained its fifth triple-digit loss as Granite Hills became the 11th different team to score at least 100 in a 111-62 victory.
1/17/88
Top-ranked Torrey Pines (18-0) withstood 44 points from Victor Carstarphen and surprised New Jersey’s nationally prominent Camden Panthers, 90-88, in two overtimes. The Panthers, not as robust as in previous years under coach Herb Wagner, lost again days later at Playa del Rey St. Bernard, 88-78.
1/28/88
Bob Stanton thought his son had misgivings about playing against his father on January 9, but John Stanton must have felt more comfortable in the rematch, leading Castle Park to a 115-56 victory with 24 points, seven assists, and five steals.
1/30/88
Christian was feeling good. It led Lincoln, 14-13, after one quarter. Final score, Lincoln 114, Christian 45. “We have a lot of players who can shoot,” understated Hornets coach Ron Loneski, who had seven in double figures, led by Kenny Hawkins’ 28 points.
2/4/88
Mt. Carmel (11-8) knocked down Torrey Pines, 22-0 going into the game, 64-63, in overtime, on Jason Mann’s short jump shot in the final seconds.
2/6/88
“We got fired up and they got worn out,” exclaimed Lincoln center Aaron Willhite after his 23 points and 22 rebounds led the Hornets to a 100-81 victory over Crawford.
The Colts, who hung with the Hornets in a 42-39 first half, were just 3 for 13 from the field in a disastrous, 32-13 third quarter.
Crawford’s Lamont Grove, a transfer from City High in South Bend, Indiana, battled the Hornets with a season-high 38 points.
2/12/88
Jeff Harper was 5×6 from beyond the three-point arc, scored 22 points overall, and led Madison to a 68-53 victory at Point Loma for its first league championship since the 1974-75 season.
–Montgomery claimed the Metro Conference championship, its first in the 18-season school history, 58-54 over Sweetwater.
