CIF bosses approved a fifth division for playoffs.

“Those who worried that five playoff divisions would take some of the glitter off league races needed to be in the stands at Christian and San Diego High this past weekend,” wrote Steve Brand before the start of the postseason.

“When Christian beat Our Lady of Peace there was genuine exhilaration from the Christian girls,” continued Brand.  “You’d have thought they won the state title again.”

Same at a boys game featuring the Cavers and St. Augustine, pointed out Brand, endorsing the added playoff grouping and contending that league titles were as important as ever.

The Palomar League produced all 4 Division1 playoff semifinalists. Power  was in the North County.

Come the Southern California regionals, only Lincoln enjoyed an extended stay.  Area teams were 1-8 in first-round games.

With apologies to the Surfaris and their early-1960’s hit, the playoffs were a collective “wipeout” for San Diego’s best.

BOYS PLAYOFFS

FIRST ROUND

D-I

Mt. Carmel 63, @San Diego (13-8) 42.

Morse (7-16) 65, @Poway 86.

Montgomery (9-18) 41, @Rancho Bernardo 82.

Mira Mesa (12-13) 60, @Rancho Buena Vista 79.

San Dieguito 54, @Fallbrook (15-13) 51.

Granite Hills (4-18) 76, @Chula Vista 93.

The Spartans bettered their season average of 80.9 points a game.

Bonita Vista (4-21) 57, @Vista 138. 

The No. 1-seed Panthers reached 100 points with a minute left in the third quarter and won their 21^st straight.  Shane Jager (30) and Kyle Duport (28) led the carnage.

Vista came close to the one-game record set in 1991-92 by La Jolla Country day in a 143-60 romp over Mountain Empire.

Southwest (9-16) 72, @San Marcos 81.

D-II

Patrick Henry (14-11) 69, @Carlsbad 79.

Grossmont (13-11) 58, @Kearny 64.

El Capitan (17-10) 45, @Monte Vista 76.

Hilltop (8-16) 48, @Valhalla 78.

Castle Park (12-12) 47, @Serra 72.

Point Loma (8-15) 49, @Helix 67.

Mount Miguel (8-18) 52 @Torrey Pines 58.

Mar Vista (9-15) 50, @El Camino 97.

D-V

Lutheran (13-10) 66, @Marian 86.

Calvin Christian (7-14) 57, @Santa Fe Christian 88.

La Jolla Country Day (7-17) 49, @Tri-City 72.

Army-Navy (9-10) 46, @Francis Parker 50.

Horizon 35, @The Bishop’s 90.

Calexico Vincent Memorial 74, Julian (16-8) 71.

QUARTERFINALS

D-I

San Dieguito (12-15) 59, @Poway 66.

Rancho Buena Vista 58, @Rancho Bernardo (16-11) 54.

San Marcos (15-13) 76, @Vista 99.

Mt. Carmel 64, @Chula Vista (26-2) 61.

D-II

Carlsbad 66, @Valhalla (21-8) 53.

Torrey Pines (18-13) 65, @El Camino 78.

Helix (17-7) 50, @Serra 56, OT.

Kearny (20-5) 43, @Monte Vista 49.

D-III

Crawford (3-19) 54, @University 74.

Madison (9-14) 63, @St. Augustine 84.

La Jolla (13-11) 50, @Santana 53.

Ramona (10-12) 43, @Oceanside 64.

D-IV

Eastlake 75, @Coronado (10-16) 74.

D-V

Marian (9-14) 65, @Calipatria 75.

Tri-City (13-11) 47, @Santa Fe Christian 66.

Francis Parker 40, @Christian (19-6) 34.

Calexico Vincent Memorial (10-10) 50, @The Bishop’s 54.

SEMIFINALS

D-I

3 Poway 74, Mt. Carmel (12-15) 50.

The Titans virtually were playing at home before 2,400 persons at neighboring Ranch Bernardo

The game was the second half a doubleheader and a capacity turnout was guaranteed when the opponent also was close-by Mt. Carmel.

Andy Davis scored 23 points and had 11 rebounds as Poway moved out to a 40-21 halftime lead.

1 Vista 60, 4 Rancho Buena Vista (19-11) 57.

Carlsbad 79, 2 Serra (23-3) 53.

The loss ended a 14-game winning streak for the Conquistadors.

D-II

1 El Camino 69, 4 Monte Vista 62 (20-7). 

The Wildcats trailed by 11 points late in the third quarter, when Chris Dade, sitting with 4 personal fouls, was called on by coach Ray Johnson and scored 13 points in the final 8:30, finishing with 19.

“We just needed to survive the third quarter (a 25-11 Monte Vista run) without him,” said Johnson.

D-III

Santana (13-11) 50, @St. Augustine 53.

Oceanside (14-14) 38, @University 39.

D-IV

Holtville (12-10) 52, @Clairemont 58.

John Brady and Will Gray each scored 21 points and the Chieftains drained 11 three-point shots.  “Good thing we were nailing those threes,” said coach Greg Lee.

Lincoln 129, Eastlake 38, @Hoover.

Lincoln, which averaged 78.8 points during the regular season, got started with a 33-7, first-quarter run and closed with 40 points in the fourth as Eastlake committed 15 of its 41 turnovers. Twelve Hornets scored, six in double figures, led by Chester Mangum’s 27.

The 129 total was sixth highest in County history.

Eastlake, which opened months before, played a junior varsity schedule during the regular season.

D-V

3 Santa Fe Christian 39, the Bishop’s (23-4) 37.

4 Calipatria 44, Francis Parker (14-13) 43.

CHAMPIONSHIP

D-I

1 Vista 64, 3 Poway 52.

The Panthers’ championship was their first since defeating Fallbrook for the small-schools title in the 1962.

Poway had won the last two D-I championships and trailed only 49-48 before Vista closed with a 13-4 push.

1 El Camino 77, Carlsbad 62 (24-4).

Football Parade Magazine all-America Bryant Westbrook had 12 points and 11 rebounds and the Wildcats blew open the game with a 16-0 run in the first quarter.

Carlsbad rallied with a 14-2 streak in the third quarter to close to 48-39, but Westbrook halted the Lancers with a basket that returned the double-digit lead.

D-III

St. Augustine 62, University 46.

The somnolent Saints, trailing, 39-36, awakened and blitzed the Dons with a 26-7 fourth quarter.  Jelani McCoy scored 20 points and added 10 rebounds and seven blocked shots.

D-IV 

Lincoln 88, Clairemont 58.

Lincoln won its sixth consecutive championship and third straight division title over Clairemont, which led the Hornets, 28-25, midway through the second quarter.

“Sometimes it’s hard to get our kids up for these games,” said Hornets coach Ron Loneski, whose team had beaten the Chieftains, 96-49, in the regular season.

The Hornets’ five starters scored from 12 to 14 points each.

D-V

4 Calipatria 49, 3 Santa Fe Christian 41.

The Hornets won their second straight title in their eighth consecutive visit to the Sports Arena, despite missing Referral Simpson, a 20-point scorer as a sophomore who transferred to Hemet West Valley.

Guillermo Zendejas paced the Hornets with 20 points.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REGIONAL

QUARTERFINALS

D-I

Poway (25-5) 65, @Santa Ana Mater Dei (32-1) 88.

Huntington Beach (29-4) 81, @Vista 55 (28-3).

Future NFL All-Pro tight end Tony Gonzalez led the Oilers with 18 points and 17 rebounds. 

Vista, which averaged 83 points a game in the regular season, had one run of 13-4 in the third quarter that provided temporary relief and some hope for the standing-room home crowd.

D-II

Lakewood Artesia (26-4) 67, @El Camino 64 (25-5).   

“We put everyone on him,” said El Camino coach Ray Johnson to Ed Graney of The San Diego Union.  “A great player.  We’re tired of seeing him.”

The object of Johnson’s praise was 6-foot 7-inch Charles O’Bannon, who scored 28 points and had nine rebounds, dished five assists, and slammed four dunks.

The highlight and the definitive O’Bannon contribution was a three-point play with one second left in the game.

El Camino came the closest in this third Regional matchup in the last four seasons against Artesia.  The Wildcats did it after trailing by 15 points with 3:57 left in the third quarter.

WILDCATS TAKE LEAD

Artesia’s lead was down to one entering the fourth quarter and El Camino held a 64-62 advantage inside two minutes.

Artesia’s Shawn Caracoza tied the score and then, back on defense, O’Bannon forced a change of direction of an El Camino shot and blocked a second attempt, giving Artesia the ball with 37 seconds left.

The Pioneers dribbled and passed until there were seven seconds remaining, then gave the ball to O’Bannon, who scored on a 10-foot, baseline jumper and was fouled and converted a free throw.

“We never went away from what we do best,” Johnson said to Graney of his team’s man-to-man defense and up-tempo offense.

The coach shrugged.  “They beat us, but we gave them hell,” he said.

Carlsbad (24-5) 55, @Riverside North (31-0) 65.

Kewan Shariff kept the Lancers in the game with 26 points.

D-III

University (16-9) 56, @South Torrance (27-3) 72.

Sherman Oaks Notre Dame (25-6) 70, @St. Augustine (20-8) 58.

The Saints cut a 15-point halftime deficit to three points but faded. Jelani McCoy led them with 20 points.

D-IV

Clairemont (10-18) 45, @Gardena Serra (23-7) 112.

The top-seeded Cavaliers fattened their lead with a 22-0 run in the first half.

Playa del Rey Sr. Bernard (13-16) 76, @Lincoln 90.

The Hornets were breezing, 53-28, at the half, but the visitors were pressing, 79-71, with 2:01 left.

We got very complacent,” claimed Lincoln coach Ron Loneski.

D-V

L.A. Bel Air Prep (18-9) 61, @Calipatria 65.

The Hornets never trailed, buzzing with Guillermo Zendejas’ 15 points, including four from deep.

@Palos Verdes Chadwick 64, Santa Fe Christian (20-10) 50.

SEMIFINALS

D-V

Bakersfield Garces Memorial (21-9) 58, @Lincoln 70.

Joe Evans scored 33 points and told Ed Graney of the Union, “I felt it.  I was at home (before the game) and began meditating….”

D-V

Palos Verdes Chadwick (24-9) 68, Calipatria (17-9) 48, @Imperial Valley Community College.

REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

Gardena Serra (25-7) 69, Lincoln (29-5) 67, @Cal State-Dominguez Hills.

A beef behind the Lincoln bench as the game ended resulted in both teams not being present to accept postgame rewards.

Lincoln botched an inbound play with 18 seconds left and the score tied at 67.  Serra promptly turned the ball over.  Lincoln then turned the ball over again.

Serra got the ball inside, where it accumulated 46 of its 69 points and the Cavaliers’ Akeli Jackson scored with three seconds to go.

Lincoln was 6×16 from the free-throw line, missing the front ends of five 1-and-1 opportunities, and committed 30 turnovers.

“We’re a better team than Serra,” said coach Ron Loneski.  “They didn’t beat us; we beat ourselves.”

GIRLS PLAYOFFS

FIRST ROUND

DIVISION I

Sweetwater (5-12) 18, @Rancho Bernardo 114.

Mt. Carmel 66, @San Diego (14-9) 61, 3 OT.

Granite Hills (6-20) 26, @Morse 53.                                                        

San Dieguito (8-18) 45, @Chula Vista 49.

Allison Hines’ 3×4 free throws in the final 1:30 to go with 22 points, seven assists, and five steals got the Spartans to the finish line.                                                                                                             

Orange Glen (11-15) 39, @Bonita Vista 52.

San Marcos (7-16) 28, @Poway 77.

Fallbrook 39, @Mira Mesa (17-8) 29.

D-II

Torrey Pines (12-13) 48, @Kearny 56.

Hilltop (12-12) 30, @El Capitan 52.

Mount Miguel (13-10) 41, @Escondido 59.

Castle Park (13-13) 61, @Grossmont 79.

San Pasqual 54, @El Cajon Valley (16-7) 47.

Patrick Henry (8-14) 27, @Carlsbad 67.

Valhalla (9-19) 47, @University City 62.                                                                                       

Mission Bay 55, @El Camino (15-9) 47.

Adia Barnes led the way for the Buccaneers with 22 points, 16 rebounds, and five steals.

D-III

Crawford 40 (3-19), @Ramona 46.

D-V

Calexico Vincent Memorial 45, @Marian (4-18) 38.

Tri-City (4-12) 17, @Francis Parker 69.

QUARTERFINALS

D-I

Mt. Carmel (11-15) 45, @Rancho Bernardo 63.

Vista (16-10) 50, @Morse 63.

Fallbrook (10-17) 44, @Chula Vista 47.

Bonita Vista (14-10) 49, @Poway 77.

D-II

San Pasqual (12-12) 36, @University City 61.

Mission Bay (11-12) 47, @Carlsbad 66.

Kearny 61, @El Capitan 36 (19-7).

Grossmont 48 (20-6), @Escondido 69.

D-III

Madison (6-16) 29, @University 53.

Ramona (4-18) 51, @Santana 80.

West Hills (3-19) 17, @Our Lady of Peace 67.

Oceanside 47, La Jolla (5-16) 40.

D-IV

Eastlake (17-7), 29, @Clairemont 45.

D-V

Calvin Christian (8-11) 53, @La Jolla Country Day 63.

Calipatria (5-15) 33, @Julian 74.

Calexico Vincent Memorial (12-9) 26, @The Bishop’s 47.

Francis Parker (15-6) 17, @Christian 79.

SEMFINALS

D-I

2 Poway 66, 3 Morse (23-6) 36.

1 Rancho Bernardo 71, 4 Chula Vista (20-7) 40.

D-II

1 Carlsbad 73, Kearny (22-6) 42.

Vanessa Nygaard, sidelined with a broken right ankle in a seven-point December loss to the Komets, led the Lancers with 29 points.

2 University City 60, 3 Escondido (20-6) 59, OT.

Alicia Weihi’s two successful jump shots in overtime were the difference for the Centurions.

D-III

Oceanside (8-17) 34, @Santana 61.

Our Lady of Peace (19-5) 35, @University 39.

D-IV

3 Lincoln 67, vs. 2 Holtville 16-5) 58, @West Hills

4 Clairemont (4-16) 20, @1 Coronado 49

D-V

La Jolla Country Day (10-10) 37, vs. Christian 78, @West Hills.

Alisha Nater pulled down 26 rebounds and Stephanie Shadwell scored 18 points for the Patriots.

2 The Bishop’s (22-3) 68, 3 Julian (19-8) 39.

CHAMPIONSHIP

D-I

Rancho Bernardo 48, Poway 38.

Ratings mean something.  The Cal-Hi Sports 10^th-ranked Broncos topped the No. 20 Lady Titans after losing two of three to Poway during the regular season.

D-II

2 University City 46, 1 Carlsbad 37.

The Centurions hounded Vanessa Nygaard with a 1-1-3 defense and U. City’s 11-0 shutout of the Lancers in the second quarter led to a 20-10 halftime lead.

Nygaard scored 10 points and had seven rebounds but the pressure applied by her defensive escorts resulted in teammates becoming reluctance to pass her the ball.

D-III

University 52, Santana 44.

The Dons stunned No. 1 seed and 26-1 Santana after getting to the finals with a victory over the second seed Our Lady of Peace.

Kathleen Murphy scored 18 points, including 13 in the second half and five in the final 3:30.

DI-V

Coronado 55, Lincoln (11-11) 50.

The sixth consecutive D-IV trip to the finals had the makings of a sixth consecutive defeat for the Islanders, who trailed by 11 points in the first half.

Lincoln’s Shondel Robinson scored 38 points, but Coronado offset Robinson’s performance with a 49-24 advantage in rebounds.

“The happiest I’ve ever been,” rejoiced the Islanders’ Michelle Stevens, who hit a game-clinching free throw in the final seconds after the Hornets took a one-point lead into the final quarter.

D-V

Christian 53, The Bishop’s 48.                                                 

The Patriots’ third straight championship saw them trail until the final six minutes after shooting 29 per cent from the field in the first half and lagging, 34-22.

“Coach (Kenny) Grainger yelled at us, then he left the room and let us think,” said Stephanie Shadwell, who scored 15 of her game-high 22 points in the second half.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REGIONAL

QUARTERFINALS

Thousand Oaks (30-1) 54, @Rancho Bernardo (25-4) 47. 

Track star Marion Jones also had hoop game. The 5-foot 11-inch senior had 30 points, 18 rebounds, nine blocked shots, and four three-point baskets.

Poway (25-5) 42, @Lynwood (28-0) 58.

D-II

Cerritos Gahr (23-9) 42, @University City 46.

Jenny Gross scored 10 points and had 12 steals and Shannon Colton led with 21 points.

Carlsbad 74, @South Bakersfield (22-4) 58.

Vanessa Nygaard had 24 points and 11 rebounds and the Lancers forced 23 turnovers.

D-III

Lemoore (23-5) 52, @University 61.

The Dons wiped out a 30-21 halftime deficit with an 18-3 sprint starting the third quarter. Leslie Falante held sway with 16 points.

Santana 63, @Fresno Edison (17-8) 44.

Cathy Bass scored 33 points and her sister Michelle posted nine rebounds and seven assists.

“We limited them to one shot in the (21-7) second quarter and took advantage of some fast break opportunities,” said Sultans coach Wade Vickery.

D-IV

Santa Ynez (27-2) 71, @Coronado (18-8) 40.

Lincoln (11-12) 46, @Playa del Rey St. Bernard (26-4) 90.

D-V

Lone Pine (24-5) 40, @Christian 61.

The Bishop’s 38, Lancaster Bethel (19-6) 32.

SEMIFINALS

D-II

3 University City 45, @2 Hacienda Heights Wilson (27-1) 34.

For the third consecutive game U.C. players wore blue, stick-on tattoos of a blue Centurion on their arms and ended Wildcats streaks of 25 wins in a row at home and 17 in the season.

Jennie Gross scored 15 points and added 10 rebounds and six assists and the favored Southern Section team shot only 23 per cent from the field, 12×51.

Carlsbad (23-4) 55, @1 Brea-Olinda 64, OT.

The Lancers led, 51-45, with 3:23 left in regulation time.  Vanessa Nygaard (20 points) and Holly Gerdes (16, plus 8 rebounds) fouled out in overtime.

Brea-Olinda made six, three-point baskets, Carlsbad one.

D-III

Santana (27-2) 59, @Inglewood Morningside (27-2) 68.

The Sultans made it respectable with a 30-13 fourth quarter, but they were outscored in every other period, 17-7, 20-13, and 18-9.

University (17-10), 45, @Costa Mesa (28-4) 67.

 D-V

Pasadena Poly 32 (26-5), @Christian 37.

Stephanie Shadwell scored 10 of her 18 points in the fourth quarter.

“I don’t feel I have to do everything,” said 5-foot, 10-inch freshman Shadwell to writer Steve Brand, “but I don’t mind having the ball at the end of the game.”

Shadwell’s two free throws with 17 seconds left iced it for the Patriots.

The Bishop’s (24-5) 41, @San Luis Obispo Mission Prep (23-6) 56.

REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

D-II

Brea-Olinda (31-2) 45, University City (18-10) 39.

“I never dreamed we’d get this far,” said Centurion coach Steve Vukojevich.  “I was just along for the ride; these girls let me come with them.”

Vukojevich took over the program this season after coaching the football team for the school’s first 11 seasons.

D-V

Christian 48, San Luis Obispo (22-7) 46, @Cal State Dominguez Hills.

The Patriots advanced after Stephanie Shadwell drained an eight-foot jump shot with 37 seconds remaining.

STATE CHAMPIONSHIP                                                         Atherton Sacred Heart (37-0) 59, Christian (24-4) 39.

The Lady Gators led, 11-0, after their first five possessions and concluded a two-year run with a 59-1 record.

 GIRLS SCORING LEADERS

NAME	TEAM	GAMES	POINTS	AVERAGE
Cindy Bass	Santana	29	713	24.6 (3)
Odom	Castle Park	26	668	25.69 (2)
Shondel Robinson	Lincoln	23	602	26.17 (1)
Allison Hines	Chula Vista	27	542	20.08
M. Krause	Kearny	28	541	19.32
Burnside	Oceanside	23	540	23.47 (5)
Reco Edwards	El Cajon Valley	22	521	23.68 (4)
Stacie Terry	El Capitan	25	517	20.68
Adia Barnes	Mission Bay	23	449	19.52
Diamond	Patrick Henry	22	395	17.95

BOYS SCORING LEADERS

Jerome Green	Chula Vista	28	825	29.46 (1)
David Demien	San Dieguito	27	732	25.24 (3)
Shane Jager	Vista	30	705	23.5 (5)
Marty Ellis	Monte Vista	27	691	25.59 (2)
John Brady	Madison	28	654	23.35 (6)
Smalley	Fallbrook	26	633	24.34 (4)
Brian Baum	San Marcos	27	569	21.07 (9)
Kewan Shariff	Carlsbad	28	561	20.03
Jelani McCoy	St. Augustine	27	557	20.63 (10)
Shane Lantz	Madison	25	549	21.96 (7)
Scott Schoenwald	Mt. Carmel	27	546	20.22
Charles	Morse	22	482	21.91 (8)
Silva	San Pasqual	22	429	19.5

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                   

 

 

 

The basketball community lost a legend in August when Lee Trepanier, the retired, 56-year-old Point Loma coach, died in his sleep August 2, 1991.

Trepanier, 56, had been battling stomach and esophagus cancer for two years.

Trepanier learned of his cancer in August, 1989, but coached and taught math through the school year and retired as coach after the 1989-90 season.

Trepanier’s  girls teams at Point Loma won state championships an unprecedented four consecutive years, 1984-87.  He compiled an all-time record of 331 wins against 51 defeats and a .866 winning percentage.

12/4/91

Robbie Sandoval, the future girls’ coach at Mount Miguel, scored 18 points and hit a three-point basket that sent a game with Patrick Henry into overtime.

Three extra sessions later the Matadors pulled out a 52-51 victory, helped in no small part by a Sandoval basket with 20 seconds to go that narrowed a Matadors deficit to one point. Damion Willis tipped in a basket at the buzzer for the win.

12/5/91

San Dieguito and Corona del Mar battled through three overtimes before the Mustangs outlasted their hosts, 49-44,  at the Newport Harbor tournament.

12/11/91

Donnie Collins’ fall-away, three-point basket as the buzzer sounded sent the Madison Warhawks into overtime against St. Augustine.  John Gergurich, who led the Saints with 28 points, and Eric Ott each had two free throws in the extra period. The Saints won, 74-72.

12/12/91

Poway transfer Kirk Hipple scored 34 points and was 15×15 from the free throw line and Bill McMahon’s three-point basket with three seconds remaining lifted Rancho Bernardo (4-19 in 1990-91, its first year) to a surprise win over Morse, 73-72.

12/18/91

Rancho Buena Vista led Fallbrook for a grand total of six seconds but it forged a 49-48 victory in the Vista Tournament.  Tori Anderson’s 12-foot looper brought the Longhorns from behind.

12/20/91

Tony Maxwell authored one of the highest single-game totals in Hoover history, 43 points, in a 84-81 victory over Chula Vista in the opening round of the 45^th annual Kiwanis Tournament.

12/21/91

“I feel like a fool,” said Lincoln coach Ron Loneski, who added, “I feel stupid,” to Buster Olney of The San Diego Union.

Loneski was not happy with his team’s play in an 80-71, Kiwanis tournament win over Vista.  “People sitting up in the stands must see this and say, ‘Doesn’t Loneski teach them anything?'”

“We were looking for some big guys, but they were all little guys (no Vista starter over 6-1), then they started bombing,” said the Hornets’ Akili Smith, who had 14 points and 10 rebounds, of the Panthers’ 14, three-point baskets.

12/22/91

Vista’s sharpshooters, unable to overcome Lincoln, took it out on Hoover, converting a San Diego Section 18 baskets from behind the 19-foot, 9-inch arc, in a 119-42, Kiwanis victory. The breakdown: Jason Barnes, 5; Dave Dillon, 4; Mike Vendling, 3; Jose Perez, 2; Shawn Jager, 2, and Dave Enger and Nils Michaels, 1 each.

12/24/91

“What do I think?” Kearny coach Bill Peterson shouted to the Union’s Steve Brand, clutching a scorebook. “Try 22-4 on the free-throw line.”

Actually, Poway converted 15×21 on the free-throw line (Kearny was 2×4) and handed Kearny its first defeat, 59-49, in overtime for the Kiwanis Tournament Unlimited Division championship.

–Craig Brown scored 35 points and Torrey Pines topped Trabuco Hills, 83-67, for championship of the 31^st Jim Mitchell Tournament.

12/27/91

After four games, St. Augustine coach Jeff Armstrong resigned to become coach of the Saudi Arabia Olympic team.  Athletics director Rick Stewart became head coach and the Saints responded with 3 straight wins to improve to 7-0, including a 43-19 victory over Montgomery in the Sweetwater Tournament.

12/28/91

The wide gulf between San Diego’s best teams and those from around the country was evident as Oak Hill Academy of Mouth of Wilson, Virginia, defeated Lincoln, 93-57, in the Above the Rim tournament at Torrey Pines.

12/29/91

Poway made eight consecutive free throws in the final three minutes to defeat Bakersfield, defending state Division I champion, 59-56, in the Las Vegas Holiday Classic.

1/11/92

Chula Vista’s Jerome Green made 7×13 three-point shots in the first half and finished with 47 as the Spartans outran Bonita Vista, 85-80.   The 6-foot, 2-inch junior had 26 points at halftime and came within two points of his reported school record.

1/22/92

La Jolla Country Day, leading 56-35, after three quarter was perspiring heavily at game’s end.  Santa Fe Christian outscored the Torreys in the final eight minutes, 24-6, but La Jolla Cpointry Day hung on, 62-58.

“I miss Meek like I miss hemorrhoids,” said El Camino coach Ed Johnson to Ed Graney of The San Diego Union, after Johnson’s team had beaten San Pasqual, 72-36, as star, 6-foot, 10-inch Eagle Erik Meek now was a freshman at Duke.  Meek scored 30 points in the teams’ last meeting, a 73-70 San Pasqual triumph in the 1990-91 Division-II championship.

1/25/92

Five Lincoln players, led by Berry Randle’s 23 points, scored in double figures in a 114-53 victory over Crawford at Lincoln.  The Hornets, leading, 74-29, outscored the Colts, 49-24, in the final eight minutes.

2/3/92

Palomar League No. 2  Vista led No. 1 Torrey Pines, 53-40,in the third quarter, then trailed, 75-68, but fought back to tie the score at 79 before Craig Brown’s two free throws pulled out the victory for the Falcons, 81-79.

Vista made 14 baskets from behind the three-point arc and forced 30 turnovers.  “They were like little vagrants,” Brown said to Buster Olney of The San Diego Union.  “They were all over the place.”

2/6/92

El Camino led at Carlsbad, 73-65, with 44 seconds remaining, but Chad Nelson, who scored 31 points, led a Lancers comeback and 81-79 win in overtime, virtually clinching the Avocado league championship in the battle between the league’s  No 1 and No. 2.

2/8/92

Sweetwater’s Andy Partch had 16 points, 15 assists, six rebounds, and two steals, plus he was 9×10 on free-throw attempts in the fourth quarter of the Red Devils’ rivalry-game, 91-87 win over Chula Vista.

2/13/92

Carlsbad’s 77-56 win over Rancho Bernardo was punctuated with a 31-point first quarter in which the Lancers buried 14×16 field- goal attempts.

2/16/92

Guillermo Sanchez’ “rim-rattling” three-pointer with five seconds remaining lifted visiting Sweetwater to a 48-47 victory over Castle Park.

“I scored 31 points?” Craig Smith said to writer Ed Graney.  “I thought I had 20.”  Brown, who also made 13×14 fee throws, was dominant in Torrey Pines’ 68-56 win over visiting Poway.

The season’s high scorers:

NAME	TEAM	GAMES	POINTS	AVERAGE
Jerome Green	Chula Vista	29	785	27.06 (1)
Miller	Fallbrook	28	650	23.2 (3)
Kyle Milling	Poway	33	632	19.25
Ryan Cunningham	Mira Mesa	26	620	23.8 (2)
Scot Pollard	Torrey Pines	31	584	18.8
Berry Randle	Lincoln	32	583	18.2
Rhoden	Vista	27	560	20.7 (5)
Marty Ellis	Monte Vista	28	552	19.7
Lake	Helix	24*	530	22.08 (4)
Jager	Vista	28	530	18.9
Aaron Elliott	Monte Vista	29	529	18.2
Caphas	Escondido	24	485	20.2 (6)
Kingsley	Grossmont	25	468	18.7
Jason Switzer	Grossmont	26	463	17.8
Watts	University City	22	436	19.8 (7)
Morsch	Orange Glen	21	413	19.7

2/19/92

A brawl Feb. 15 involving Kearny and University City resulted in a double forfeit.

Kearny led, 61-43, with 6:09 left.  U. City’s Vernon Warren and Kearny’s Steve Marshall got into it.  Both benches cleared and fans came out of the stands.

The teams went to separate rooms to cool out. When the game was to resume, U.C. coach Tom Medigovich told a security guard that he had sent his players home after being told by another security guard that the game was over.

San Diego Section commissioner Kendall (Spider) Webb ruled a double forfeit. Unhappy Kearny coach Bill Peterson had to agree.  The CIF green book stated that “if more than 2 people leave bench,” game is forfeited, said Peterson.

Medigovich declared, “It was very ugly.  I’ve never seen anything like this.”

2/20/92

Lincoln forced five turnovers in a 16-0 run and beat Madison, 86-58, for its 55^th straight Central League win and seventh straight league title.

–Theoretically the splurge could have been more than 16-0.  “That was a coaching error,” said coach Ron Loneski.  “I made some changes when I should have kept doing what we were doing.”

 

After restricting  playoff Divisions I and II to 16-team brackets the last two seasons, the San Diego Section board of managers went back to the ”Indiana” model of the 1987-88 and 1988-89 seasons in which all San Diego Section teams playing basketball were eligible for the postseason play.

“I think I was one of the few who didn’t think everyone should get in,” said El Camino coach Ray Johnson.  “Sixteen teams is enough.  If they have a problem with whom the 16^th seed should be, let those teams play it off.  This way, it’s a waste of time.”

PATRIOT LADIES GET IT DONE

The Christian girls won a state championship in the last second.  The Lincoln boys lost one in the last five seconds.

The frenetic finishes in boys Division IV and Girls D-V brought an end to one of the most successful seasons in San Diego County history, for teams in the lower divisions.

Poway, a 3 seed in Boys D-I, was taken out by 6 seed Capistrano Valley, 67-60, in the first round of the Southern California playoffs.  No. 2 Torrey Pines was eliminated in the semifinals, 56-46, by Artesia in  D-II.

Four girls teams, Carlsbad, Poway, Lincoln, and Christian, advanced to the regional semifinal round but only Christian moved on. The Patriots defeated Ripon Christian, 45-43, for the championship of California at Arco Arena in Sacramento.

Lincoln meanwhile also was in Sacramento but lost on a tipped basket in the last five seconds, 56-55, to Salinas Palma.

BOYS PLAYOFFS

DIVISION I

PLAY-IN ROUND

San Marcos 50, @Sweetwater 48 (11-16).

Henry (4-18) 52, @Southwest 54.

Montgomery (4-17) 50, @San Dieguito 81.

FIRST ROUND

San Marcos (6-18), 47 @1 Poway 77.

San Dieguito (10-17) 67, @2 Morse 77.

Mira Mesa (16-10) 68, @Chula Vista 69.

The Spartans rallied from six points down with a minute to play, winning on Kevin Brenna’s basket.

San Diego (11-11) 62, @Rancho Bernardo 79.

SECOND ROUND

Southwest (13-13) 51, @3 Mt. Carmel 88.

Rancho Buena Vista 70, @4 Bonita Vista 61, OT (18-9).

Mount Miguel (11-15) 62, @Vista 96.

Granite Hills (13-10) 62, @Fallbrook 65.

QUARTERFINALS

1 Poway 85, 8 Chula Vista (18-11) 70. 

Poway’s Kyle Milling scored 20 of his 30 points in the first half.  The Spartans’ Jerome Green scored 40.

7 Rancho Bernardo 91, @2 Morse 78 (19-6).

5 Fallbrook 72 (19-9), @3 Mt. Carmel 79.

6 Rancho Buena Vista (12-17) 85, @4 Vista 104.

SEMIFINALS

7 Rancho Bernardo 54, 3 Mt. Carmel (18-10) 49, @Serra High.

1 Poway 62, 4 Vista 60 (17-11). 

The Titans’ Mitch Palmer tipped in a basket at the buzzer.

CHAMPIONSHIP

1 Poway 69, 7 Rancho Bernardo (18-11) 48, @Sports Arena.   

A crowd of 7,569 persons saw Titans coach Doug Wealch equal predecessor Neville Saner with a second straight title (Saner won 4 overall).

“We had an emotional game with Rancho Bernardo in fall league and kind of lost our composure,” said Wealch to Ed Graney of The San Diego Union.  “We didn’t want that to happen again.  We just told the kids to keep their heads and go out and play.”

Kyle Milling had 27 points and 16 rebounds.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REGIONAL

6 Capistrano Valley (29-3) 67, @3 Poway 60 (25-9).   

Outscored, 23-9, in the second quarter and guilty of 17 turnovers  the Titans were doomed. Poway’s Kyle Milling had 13 points, 10 rebounds, six blocked shots, and three steals.

D-II

FIRST ROUND

Mar Vista (9-15) 51, @Oceanside 82.

El Cajon Valley (3-18) 59, @San Pasqual 65.

San Pasqual’s David Durst scored 26 points and converted 11×15 shots from the field.

Ramona  55, @El Capitan 46 (11-15).

Escondido 79, @Mission Bay 51 (7-19).

Crawford (3-21) 50, @Grossmont 74.

Santana (7-15) 55, @Castle Park 60.

SECOND ROUND

Oceanside (11-15) 52, @1 Torrey Pines 63.

Six-foot, 11 inch Scot Pollard drilled the Pirates with 32 points, 13 rebounds, and 4 blocked shots.

Castle Park 51, @2 Kearny (26-2) 88.

University City (13-11) 58, @Serra 72.

Point Loma (15-10) 56, @Helix 72.

THIRD ROUND

Escondido (7-13) 57, @3 Monte Vista 87.

Ramona 41, @4 Carlsbad 87.

Valhalla 71, @San Pasqual 65 (20-8).

Grossmont (12-13) 45, @El Camino 87. 

Grossmont scored zip—zero, nada—in a 23-0 El Camino third quarter and the outmanned Foothillers actually came into the game with a passable record.

QUARTERFINALS

Serra 56, @1 Torrey Pines 89 (25-3).

Helix 64, @Kearny (26-3) 61.

Valhalla (20-8) 62, @ Carlsbad 73.

El Camino (20-7) 58, @3 Monte Vista 62 (24-2).

SEMIFINALS

1 Torrey Pines (26-3) 70, 4 Carlsbad 52 (21-7) @Rancho Bernardo High.   

Torrey Pines’ winning streak reached 18 games and Carlsbad’s ended at 16.

The Falcons led only 54-50 after a Carlsbad basket to start the fourth quarter, but the Lancers managed only two points in the final 6:41.

3 Monte Vista 54 (25-2), Helix 44 (19-7), @Santana High.

As an antidote for pregame jitters, Monte Vista coach Zack Peck ordered his team to a full-court press at the start.  The Monarchs forced 18 turnovers for the game that led directly led to eight field goals and 16 points.

CHAMPIONSHIP

1 Torrey Pines (27-3), 74, 3 Monte Vista (25-3) 53, @Sports Arena.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REGIONAL

QUARTERFINALS

7 La Palma Kennedy (23-8) 36, @2 Torrey Pines 48 (28-3).

Monte Vista (25-4), 68, @Trabuco Hills (26-5) 75.

SEMIFINALS

Artesia (27-4) 56, @2 Torrey Pines (28-4) 46. 

More than 2,500 persons packed the Falcons gymnasium and another O’Bannon, younger brother of Ed, who was Torrey Pines’ nemesis in a losing effort four seasons before, scored 27 points.  “Ed reminded me of that loss,” said Charles.

D-III

QUARTERFINALS

West Hills (9-14) 57, @University 85.

SEMIFINALS

University 56, @1 St. Augustine 41 (18-9).

La Jolla 66, @2 Madison 63 (15-12).

CHAMPIONSHIP

University 48, La Jolla (11-13) 40, @Sports Arena.

“I admire the hell out of these guys,” said Dons coach Jim Tomey of his team’s late-season run.  “They stuck with it.  I’d look into their eyes early in the season and wonder, then they’d come back the next day ready to play.”

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REGIONAL

Costa Mesa Estancia (24-7) 59, University (9-18) 41, @University of San Diego.

La Jolla (11-15) 36, @La Canada (27-2) 58.

D-IV

SEMIFINALS

Coronado (4-23) 35, vs. 1 Lincoln 104.

Imperial (10-12) 65, vs. 2 Clairemont 79.

CHAMPIONSHIP

1 Lincoln  92, 2 Clairemont (11-13) 61, @Sports Arena.

Lincoln’s fifth straight championship needed a 10-0 run in the middle of the first quarter, at the end of which the Hornets led, 27-20.

“What we need is a down-to-the-wire game early (in the Southern California Regional), said Berry Randle, who had 29 points and 15 rebounds.

“We need that to put a scare into us,” Randle continued.  “Some of our players don’t know what that’s like yet.”

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REGIONAL.

QUARTERFINALS

7 Tollhouse Sierra (17-7) 70, @2 Lincoln 98.

“Scoring in the nineties is our game,” Lincoln coach Ron Loneski told Steve Brand.  “I couldn’t believe they tried to press us. We’re in great shape. We press.  We run.”

Berry Randle’s line read 21 points, 11 rebounds, and five blocked shots.  Hosa Baker scored 22, Archie Robinson 17.

Clairemont (11-14) 48, @1 Oxnard Santa Clara (26-3) 94.

SEMIFINALS

2 Lincoln (22-9) 76, Downey Pius X 71 (23-7).

In a shooting slump much of the year, Archie Robinson buried five, three-point shots in the first quarter and finished with 22 points.

FINALS

2 Lincoln 62, 1 Oxnard Santa Clara (27-4) 60, @Cal State Dominguez Hills.

Lincoln led by 14 points in the second half.  Archie Robinson’s basket with nine seconds remaining put the Hornets ahead, 62-58, and then Robinson dribbled the clock away after two free throws by the Saints.

STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

Salinas Palma 56 (29-2), Lincoln 55 (23-10) 55, @Arco Arena, Sacramento.

Lincoln fought back after trailing the Central Coast Section champion, 30-13, midway in the second quarter.

The Hornets actually took a 55-54 lead on Berry Randle’s basket with 23 seconds remaining, but the Chieftains’ Brandon Peterson tipped in the winning basket.

“We did not lose in the last five seconds,” said Hornets coach Ron Loneski.  “We lost it in the first sixteen minutes.”

D-V

FIRST ROUND

Calexico Vincent Memorial (6-15) 55, @Marian 81.

Borrego Springs (9-13) 31, @The Bishop’s 69.

Midway Baptist (7-14) 26, @4 Christian 65.

Lutheran (3-12) 49, @3 Santa Fe Christian 70.

Francis Parker (6-19) 59, @Tri-City 74.

Julian (8-15) 61, @Calvin Christian 67.

QUARTERFINALS

Marian (6-18) 38, @1 Calipatria 89 (21-2) .

Calvin Christian (12-8) 40, @2 La Jolla Country Day 83 (21-3).

The Bishop’s 38, @4 Christian 42 (19-8).

Tri-City (15-8) 52, @3 Santa Fe Christian 53 (22-4).

SEMIFINALS

1 Calipatria 48, 4 Christian (19-9) 36, @El Capitan High.

The Hornets, ranked eighth in the state in their division by Cal-Hi Sports, forced 32 turnovers.  Christian made 3×13 free-throw attempts.

3 Santa Fe Christian 52, 2 La Jolla Country Day 44 (21-4).

FINALS

1 Calipatria 60, 3 Santa Fe Christian (23-5) 58. 

Sophomore Roferrel Simpson’s no-look, put-back basket before the halftime buzzer proved the difference.  Simpson had 19 points and 13 rebounds.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REGIONAL

QUARTERFINALS

L.A. Bel Air (19-10) 51, @Calipatria (24-3) 46.

Santa Fe Christian (23-6) 55, @North Hollywood Campbell Hall (22-7) 78.

GIRLS PLAYOFFS

D-I

FIRST ROUND

San Dieguito 44, @Morse 41 (12-14).

Mount Miguel (1-22) 31, @San Marcos 55.

Patrick Henry (1-20) 35, @Granite Hills 56.

Brande Wray drained five consecutive three-point attempts and the Eagles soared.

Hoover 41, @Montgomery 39 (10-14).

Vista  56, @San Diego 48 (9-14).

SECOND ROUND

San Dieguito (9-16), 18 @1 Poway 81.

Chula Vista (11-13), 58 @Rancho Buena Vista  74.

Hoover (6-15) 30, @3 Rancho Bernardo 81.

Orange Glen 50, @Hilltop 29 (16-7).

Southwest (14-9) 44, @Mira Mesa 42.

Vista (6-19) 45, @2 Mt. Carmel 67.

Kris Grazzini set a Sundevils school record with 34 points with 13×17 shooting  and pulled 13 rebounds.

Granite Hills (11-16) 44, @4 Bonita Vista 54.

San Marcos 46, @Fallbrook 51 (15-9).

QUARTERFINALS

Fallbrook (15-10) 47, @4 Bonita Vista 58.

Southwest (15-10) 45, @2 Mt. Carmel 67.

Rancho Buena Vista (15-13) 45, @1 Poway 71.

Orange Glen (15-11) 46, @3 Rancho Bernardo 48.

Carol Pajarillo scored 6 points but the last two, on a 15-foot jump shot, was the separator.

SEMIFINALS

1 Poway 90, 4 Bonita Vista 24 (22-4).

2 Mt. Carmel 49, 3 Rancho Bernardo (23-4) 36.

The Sundevils’ Kris Grazzini scored 21 points, denying second-year Rancho Bernardo a boys’ and girls’ finalist.

CHAMPIONSHIP

1 Poway 55, 2 Mt. Carmel (19-5) 33, @Sports Arena.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REGIONAL

QUARTERFINALS

Ventura Buena (25-4) 42, @Poway, 46.

Jamie Shadian’s four, three-point baskets fired the Titans.

SEMIFINALS

Palos Verdes Rolling Hills (32-0) 75, Poway (27-4) 41.

D-II

FIRST ROUND

Valhalla (4-19) 38, @Grossmont 61.

Ramona (1-24) 24, @Castle Park 45.

Mar Vista (4-14) 25, @Serra  42.

Oceanside (4-21) 51, @Torrey Pines 54.

El Camino (4-19) 36, @El Capitan  45.

SECOND ROUND

Grossmont (12-14) 38, @1 Carlsbad  60.

San Pasqual (12-14) 30, @Monte Vista 46.

Helix (15-10) 43, @Kearny 45. 

A Kearny rally started when Shelli Krause launched a 23-foot shot with 34 seconds left and the Komets trailing six. Bingo!

El Capitan (12-12) 40, @2 Point Loma 52.

THIRD ROUND

Torrey Pines (10-16) 45, @3 University City 72.

Serra (13-12) 45, @4 El Cajon Valley  69.

Escondido 44, @Santana  (19-7) 42.

Castle Park (15-11) 34, @Mission Bay 47.

QUARTERFINALS

Kearny 34 (20-7), @2 Point Loma 42.

Monte Vista (18-6) 28, @1 Carlsbad 65.

Escondido (11-15) 41, @3 University City 57.

Mission Bay 48, @4 El Cajon Valley 62 (21-4).

Heather Holm (29 points) socked the Buccaneers with back-to-back threes, igniting a 20-2 run by the Braves after they lagged by five in the third quarter.

SEMIFINALS

1 Carlsbad 73, 4 El Cajon Valley 68 (21-5), OT.

3 University City 43, 2 Point Loma (23-4) 41.

CHAMPIONSHIP

1 Carlsbad (23-2) 53, 3 University City (24-4) 43, @Sports Arena.

“This seemed so unattainable, but it’s been a dream of mine to win a section title since I was a little kid,” the Lancers’ Vanessa Nygaard, who scored 16 points, told Jim Trotter of The San Diego Union.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REGIONAL

QUARTERFINALS

8 Tustin (21-9) 47, @1 Carlsbad 60. 

“We were a little rubbery legged…in the first part of the game,” said Dawn Laukes to writer Jim Trotter.  “We were coming off a couple tough games against El Cajon and University City and we weren’t used to that.”

University City (24-5) 61, @Cerritos Gahr (26-4) 69.

SEMIFINALS

L.A. Mission Hills Bishop Alemany 68, @1 Carlsbad (24-3) 42.         

“We’ve put up two Avocado League banners and one CIF banner,” said Lancers coach John Dubreville.  “Next year we’re going to put up a gold (state championship) banner.”

D-III

FIRST ROUND

Madison (1-21) 17, @La Jolla 35.

SEMIFINALS

La Jolla (6-19) 35, @1 Our Lady of Peace 38.

West Hills 45, @2 University (9-16) 38.

CHAMPIONSHIP

1 Our lady of Peace 61, West Hills (8-15) 38.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REGIONAL

West Covina South Hills (25-3) 70, @Our Lady of Peace (17-9) 54.

West Hills (8-16) 16, @Brea-Olinda (29-2) 96.

D-IV

SEMIFINALS

Imperial (2-15) 12, @1 Lincoln 75. 

“If we aren’t .500 or better next year, we won’t play again,” Imperial coach Dan Romero said of a possible future playoff appearance. The Tigers trailed, 24-0, after one quarter.

Holtville (18-7) 43, @2 Coronado 58.

CHAMPIONSHIP

1 Lincoln 64, 2 Coronado 33 (18-7)

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REGIONAL

QUARTERFINALS

Fresno San Joaquin Memorial (21-7) 48, @2 Lincoln 59.

A seven-hour bus ride didn’t help the Panthers, who fell behind, 21-2, to start the game.

The Hornets rode the 29 points from Shondel Robinson and 6-foot-3 Hattie Sanders’ 17 rebounds.

Coronado (18-8) 34, @Woodlake (29-2) 51.

SEMIFINALS

Santa Ynez (25-3) 53, @2 Lincoln (21-4) 52.

D-V

FIRST ROUND

La Jolla Country Day 44, @Borrego Springs  (10-10) 32.

Calexico Vincent Memorial (7-11) 53, @Parker 66.

SECOND ROUND

Tri-City (2-12) 34, @Marian 84.

The Crusaders’ Jennifer Reyes dished 20 assists, third highest total in section history.

Lutheran @Calipatria, no score.

Francis Parker @Calexico Vincent Memorial, no score.

QUARTERFINALS

La Jolla Country Day (7-13) 35, @1 Christian 68.

Francis Parker (14-9) 40, @2 The Bishop’s 60.

Marian 42, @4 Calvin Christian 31 (14-6).

Calipatria (11-11) 38, @3 Julian 82.

Jennifer Hekel stung the Hornets with 18 points, 18 rebounds.

SEMIFINALS

1 Christian 61, Marian (13-11) 51, @El Capitan High.

3 Julian 57, 2 The Bishop’s (19-6) 48.

CHAMPIONSHIP

1 Christian 75, 3 Julian (18-10) 47, @Sports Arena.

Tiffany Stutz led the Patriots with 35 points, but freshman Stephanie Shadwell stole the show with a triple double, 20 points, 19 rebounds, and 11 steals.

“I wanted to overcome my nervousness,” Shadwell told Steve Brand of the Union.  “On Thursday my coach (Mike Zazvrskey) put a lot of confidence in my head.  He believes in me.”

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REGIONAL

QUARTERFINALS

Julian  69, @San Bernardino Christian (26-1) 61.

The host Knights had been the Southern Section’s only remaining unbeaten team.

1 L.A. Holy Martyrs (24-4) 41, @Christian 65.

SEMIFINALS

Pasadena Poly (18-10) 31, @Christian  64.

Julian (20-11) 52, @Arcadia Rio Hondo (24-1) 58.

FINALS

Christian  57, Arcadia Rio Hondo (24-2) 49.

The Patriots trailed, 32-24, at halftime.  Tiffany Stutz, averaging 25.8 points, was hounded by Kares defenders, denying her the ball but Stutz scored 16 points, teaming with Jenny Culbertson on a 16-2 run in the third quarter.

STATE CHAMPIONSHIP                                                                    

Christian (22-4) 45, Ripon Christian (27-3) 43, @Arco Arena, Sacramento.

Tiffany Stutz stole the ball with eight seconds remaining and passed with three seconds left to Diana DeGrenier, whose layup with .33 hundredths of a second left brought the Patriots home.

La Jolla Country Day and Cathedral are where they’re supposed to be, according to the seeds.  Madison is a welcome surprise.

That’s the state of San Diego Section basketball today as the section’s final three go into tonight’s Southern California regional finals.

The girls saved the day after the boys went out early, with a thud, despite most boys teams having better seeds and playing at home.

The young men did not beat a team in the first round that had a seed poorer than 10 and the 4 boys winners all went out in the next round.

The La Jolla Country Day girls, ranked number one in the state and in the country, according to Max Preps, will be at home to face No. 4 L.A. Windward, after getting past troublesome Rancho Cucamonga Etiwanda, 54-44, in the Open Division semifinals.

IZZY DOES IT

Cathedral’s Izzy Navarro scored seven of her 12 points in the fourth quarter and her steal and basket with 20 seconds left finally put away Studio City Harvard-Westlake, 59-56, in the D-I semifials and send the Dons to another home game against Fullerton Rosary.

The get to the semifinals the No. 1-seed Dons needed a 63-47, quarterfinals victory over Garden Grove Orangewood, which had beaten Cathedral, 65-63 and 64-61, in two earlier encounters.

Madison, which has been upsetting teams since the  D-V regional pairings were announced will try to beat the odds again The 10 seed Warhawks entered the San Diego Section postseason with a 10-16 record, compliments of a mid-season, nine-game losing streak,.

Madison (18-17) will make a 228-mile trek to East Bakersfield (22-9). The Max Preps computer rates the Blades 293^rd in California, 124 places better than the scrappy squad from Northeast Clairemont.

GIRLS WEEK 18
*Southern Section  ^L.A. City  ^^Central

DIVISION	TEAM / RECORD	MAX PREPS STATE RATING	SEMIFINALS	NEXT OPPONENT / RECORD	MAX PREPS STATE RATING
OPEN	1 La Jolla Country Day / 32-1	1	4 Rancho Cucamonga Etiwanda, 54-44*	4 L.A. Windward / 27-5*	4
I	1 Cathedral / 21-11	16	4 Studio City Harvard Westlake, 59-56*	2 Fullerton Rosary / 22-12*	15
V	10 Madison / 18-17	417	6 San Diego, 46-37	4 East Bakersfield / 22-9^^	293
II	6 Marian / 20-10	54	Loss @2 L.A. Pacific Palisades / 60-55^	Season complete
IV	12 Point Loma / 24-3	104	Loss @1 Lancaster, 51-44*	Season complete

 

 

Super Tuesday was essentially a Super Wipeout for San Diego Section boys teams in the first round of the State Tournament’s Southern California regional. The girls did better.

The guys posted a record of 3 wins and 14 losses, the young ladies 7-8, and the overall 10-22 was in grim comparison to the 16-14 record in the 2018-19 first round.

BOYS

Seven visiting teams from the Southern Section with higher (poorer) seeds came South and took out San Diego Section clubs, some with stunning results.

Could the Russians have meddled with Max Preps‘ computer, which spat out the seeds and pairings?

Most jarring was the manner in which host No. 7 St. Augustine, leading 12-4, in the early going, withered in the heat of a rapid, free-wheeling Riverside Poly team, 83-46.

The same Poly Bears, in their distinctive orange and green uniforms, who lost to St. Augustine, 75-59, in December.

Guard D.J. Davis, a UC-Irvine-bound gunner who scored 30 points and drained half of his teams’ staggering, 16 beyond-the-arc baskets, missed most of the December game.

Husky San Diego State commit Lamont Butler added 22 points and was a force at both ends of the court as three Aztecs assistant coaches looked on.

DIVISION I

No. 4 seed Torrey Pines had one of the few enjoyable evenings for the males, defeating 13 West Hills Chaminade from the northern San Fernando Valley, 82-53.

Host and No. 3 Cathedral, rocked by the automobile accident and loss of Abinna Anyanwu over the weekend, faded in the fourth quarter and lost to 14 Altadena Renaissance,  62-54.

D-II

No. 1 La Canada St. Francis, 82, No. 16 Carlsbad 63.

No. 14 L,.A. Salesian 53, No. 3 Foothills Christian 50.

No. 9 Lake Balboa Birmingham 58, No. 8 Poway 49,

No. 15 Riverside Hillcrest 55, @2 Francis Parker 41.

No. 10 Marian 50, @7 L.A. King Drew 62.

No. 11 Christian 67, @6 Eastvale Roosevelt 76.

No. 13 Santa Fe Christian 57, @4Hesperia 70.

D-III

No. 3 El Camino 77, 14 Adelanto 68.

No. 11 Burbank Providence 68, @6 San Marcos 66, OT.

No. 7 San Diego 63, @10 L.A. Price 72.

D-IV

6 University 81, 11 Calexico 65.

7 San Ysidro 69, 10 L.A. View Park 48.

D-V

12 Classical 43, @5 Redlands Arrowhead Christian 59.

GIRLS

D-II

5 The Bishop’s 58, 12 L.A.Granada Hills 50.

6 Mater Dei, 11 L.A. Hamilton 78.

13 Serra 44, @4 Santa Monica 49.

15 Mission Hills 42, @L.A. Pacific Palisades 59.

D-III

8 Mount Miguel 65, 9 West Covina 35.

10 Poway 25, @7 Calabasas Viewpoint 59.

13 Lincoln 52, @4 Menifee Paloma Valley 62.

D-IV

12 Point Loma 45, @5 Sherman Oaks Notre Dame 32.

D-V

6 San Diego 52, @11 L.A. Central City Value 45.

7 Madison 49, 10 Santa Barbara Bishop Diego 26

9 San Bernardino 50, @8 Hoover 46.

QUARTERFINALS TOMORROW.

Action resumes Thursday.

The Cathedral girls, who drew a bye in D-!, know their opponent, Garden Grove Orangewood, but Open Division No. 1 La Jolla Country Day will not play until Saturday, taking on the winner of Thursday’s Corona Centennial-Rancho Cucamonga Etiwanda game.

Pairings :

BOYS

DIVISION	TEAM	RECORD	FIRST-ROUND WIN	NEXT OPPONENT	RECORD	FIRST-ROUND WIN
I	4 Torrey Pines	27-5	13 West Hills Chaminade, 82-53.*	5 L.A. Windward*.	27-7	12 L.A. Fairfax, 64-62.^
III	3 El Camino	25-6	14 Adelanto 77-68.*	6 Burbank Providence*	26-7	11 San Marcos, 68-66.
IV	6 University City	21-9	11 Calexico, 81-65.	@3 Downey St. Pius X-St. Matthias*.	28-6	14 Yeshiva U. of Los Angeles, 45-39.*
	7 San Ysidro	25-8	10 L.A. View Park, 69-48.^	@2 L.A. Pacific Palisades^.	16-11	15 Bakersfield Independence, 57-52.*

*Southern Section.  ^L.A. City. **Central.

GIRLS

DIVISION	TEAM	RECORD	FIRST-ROUND WIN	OPPONENT	RECORD	FIRST-ROUND WIN
OPEN	1 La Jolla Country Day	30-1	Bye	5 Corona Centennial or 4 Rancho Cucamonga Etiwanda*.
I	1 Cathedral	20-11	Bye	8 Garden Grove Orangewood*.	27-6	9 Bonita Vista, 66-59.
II	5 The Bishop’s	18-10	12 Granada Hills, 58-50 ^.	@4 Santa Monica*.	27-7	13 Serra, 49-44.
	6 Mater Dei	19-9	11 L.A. Hamilton, 81-78 ^.	@3 Bakersfield^^.	30-2	14 L.A. El Camino Real, 46-32^.
III	8 Mount Miguel	22-8	9 West Covina, 65-35*.	@1 Santa Maria Righetti^^,	23-4	Bye
IV	11 Otay Ranch	25-8	6 North Hollywood Campbell Hall, 58-50*.	@3 Pasadena La Salle*.	25-8	6 L.A. Marshall, 51-31^.
	12 Point Loma	23-2	5 Sherman Oaks Notre Dame, 45-32*.	13 Pomona Ganesha *.	25-3	4 Palm Desert Xavier Prep, 47-46.
V	6 San Diego	21-8	11 L.A. Central City Value, 52-45^.	@3 L.A. King/Drew^.	18-13	Moreno Valley Vista del Lago, 45-29*.
	7 Madison	16-17	10 Santa Barbara Bishop Diego, 49-26	@2 Pasadena Marshall*.	25-4	Strathmore, 50-43^^.

No teams in the boys’ Open Division looks like a break for San Diego Section teams, which were assigned some  favorable seeds in other divisions of first-round play that gets under way in the Southern California regional tournament Tuesday night.

Two girls teams are seeded No. 1 and have byes to the quarterfinals. Open Division La Jolla Country Day goes in not only with the top seed but is ranked first in California and in the Country, according to some voting entities.

Thirty-three boys’ and girls’ squads were invited, compared to 31 last season, and with no opposing Central Section squads most travel will be no more than (hopefully) a three-hour bus ride.

DONS FIRST IN GIRLS  D-I

Cathedral, which lost to La Jolla Country Day in the San Diego Section girls Open final, also received a first-round bye in D-I.

Francis Parker, a 2 seed in D-II, is the highest seeded boys squad.  Cathedral,  El Camino, and Foothills Christian have No. 3 rankings, and Torrey Pines got a desired 4.

Based on seeds 1 through 8, San Diego teams are favored in 16 of 30 opening-round games. Game 31 is not counted because it matches two San Diego Sections squads, University City and Calexico, in D-III.

If history holds, some of those lower seeded, visiting Southern Section teams will be more difficult than expected.

San Diego clubs were 16-14 against Southern, Los Angeles City, and Central section clubs in the first round in 2018-19, but not without disaster.  L.A. University, No. 16 in boys D-III, scratched out a 78-74, overtime win at No. 1 Montgomery.  No. 12 Temecula Linfield upset No. 5 Grossmont, 63-55, in girls D-IV.

BOYS

DIVISION	TEAM	RECORD	OPPONENT	RECORD
I	3 Cathedral	24-7	14 Altadena Renaissance	24-9*
	4 Torrey Pines	26-5	13 West Hills Chaminade	26-8*
	7 St. Augustine	24-6	10 Riverside Poly	26-6*
II	2 Francis Parker	22-5	15 Riverside Hillcrest	24-5*
	3 Foothills Christian	20-9	14 L.A. Salesian	28-4*
	8 Poway	24-5	9 Lake Balboa Birmingham	19-9^
	10 Mater Dei	22-6	@7 L.A. King/Drew	23-8^
	11 Christian	21-6	@6 Eastvale Roosevelt	24-8*
	13 Santa Fe Christian	23-9	@4 Hesperia	24-7*
	16 Carlsbad	24-8	@1 La Canada St. Francis	26-8*
III	3 El Camino	24-6	14 Adelanto	27-5*
	6 San Marcos	18-11	11 Burbank Providence	25-7*
	7 San Diego	21-10	10 L.A. Price	24-10*
IV	6 University City	20-9	11 Calexico	27-3
	7 San Ysidro	24-8	10 L.A. View Park	17-8^
	9 Coronado	21-10	@8 Harbor City Narbonne	20-12^
V	12 Classical	24-8	@5 Redlands Arrowhead	17-12*

 

*Southern Section. ^Los Angeles City Section.

GIRLS

DIVISION	TEAM	RECORD	OPPONENT	RECORD
Open	1 La Jolla Country Day	30-1	Bye
I	1 Cathedral	20-11	Bye
	9 Bonita Vista	21-9	@8 Garden Grove Orangewood	26-6*
	14 La Costa Canyon	22-6	@3 Lynwood	21-8*
	15 Westview	26-3	@2 Fullerton Rosary	19-12*
II	5 The Bishop’s	17-10	12 Granada Hills	20-11^
	6 Mater Dei	18-9	11 L.A. Hamilton	21-7^
	13 Serra	20-9	@4 Santa Monica	26-7*
	15 Mission Hills	18-9	@2 L.A. Pacific Palisades	22-9^
III	8 Mount Miguel	21-8	9 West Covina	23-7*
	10 Poway	19-12	@7 Calabasas Viewpoint	18-9*
	13 Lincoln	23-7	@4 Menifee Paloma Valley	30-3*
IV	12 Point Loma	22-2	@5 Sherman Oaks Notre Dame	27-5*
V	6 San Diego	20-8	11 L.A. Central City Value	24-5^
	7 Madison	15-17	10 Santa Barbara Bishop Diego	23-9*
	8 Hoover	28-3	9 San Bernardino	18-12*

SEED PODS

Eastvale Eleanor Roosevelt, the D-II opponent of Christian, is the alma mater of San Diego State star Matt Mitchell…San Diego Section teams open play against 22 Southern Section and 10 Los Angels City Section squads…after posting a 16-14 record in the 2018-19 first round, local clubs were 6-10 in the quarterfinals…Torrey Pines, runner-up in San Diego this season, was the 2018-19 Open Division champion and got in as a No. 8 seed, sentenced to play at No. 1 Chatsworth Sierra Canyon…the result was an 83-38 loss for the Falcons…only Southern Section teams occupy the six-team Open Division bracket this season…seven San Diego teams, almost half of the 16, are in D-III…Cathedral will try to recover from the emotional shock of losing star Obinna Anyanwu, who sustained serious injuries in an automobile accident over the weekend…San Ysidro has won 15 games in a row but a challenging early schedule that left the Cougars 9-8 at the turn of the year worked against them…they’re a 7 seed in the competitive D-III and maybe deserved a better opportunity in D-IV…Francis Parker and Foothills Christian have played three times during the season (Parker won two) and could meet again…they’re 2 and 3 seeds in D-III…St. Augustine is 1-0 against Riverside Poly, the Saints’ D-1 opponent…they defeated the Bears, 75-59, in the Torrey Pines Christmas tournament….