The San Diego Section’s Big Four, listed numerically in the weekly The San Diego Union-Tribune poll below, has beaten some very good intersectional teams but not gained traction with ratings experts.

Wins like Foothills Christian’s  83-74 over Sacramento Sheldon, the state’s No. 9 team according to Cal-Hi Sports and St. Augustine’s 64-49 victory over No. 12 Orange Lutheran have been sandwiched around missed opportunuties against other formidable opposition.

Make no mistake, San Diego’s best annually take on the best.  Winning league championships and section titles are foremost but coaches also have an eye on the state playoffs and try to steel their squads for the challenges in March.

Mission Bay got most of the votes for No. 1 this week, although I voted for St. Augustine after having hung with Foothills Christian through most of December.

St. Augustine handled Mission Bay, 64-55, in in a physical, clean game in the first Western League showdown last night at St. Augustine.

The Buccaneers’ Boogie Ellis scored 14 points but did not shoot well.  Ellis looked for open teammates and played his usual solid floor game, but was escorted everywhere by Saints defenders.

St. Augustine fell from its No. 18 position in Cal -Hi‘s weekly top 20 and now is a “bubble team”, along with Mission Bay, Torrey Pines, and Foothills Christian.

Max  Preps ranks the Saints 16th in California, Foothills Christian 27th, Torrey Pines 37th, and Mission Bay 64th.

Union-Tribune poll through Monday, Jan. 7:

Rank	Team	Record	Points	Last Poll
1	Mission Bay (10)	8-6	131	1
2.	Torrey Pines (2)	13-5	125	3
3	St. Augustine (2)	13-4	109	4
4	Foothills Christian	10-4	98	2
5	Francis Parker	11-3	80	5
6	La Jolla Country Day	10-6	65	6
7	Santa Fe Christian	13-4	52	NR
8	San Marcos	10-6	43	7
9	Poway	15-5	29	8
10	Montgomery	12-2	10	9

Others receiving votes: Rancho Buena Vista (16-2, 8 points),Cathedral (11-7, 6).  Vista (11-7, 4), Westview (15-4, 2), Valhalla (12-2, 1).

Voters: John Maffei, San Diego Union-Tribune; Terry Monahan, freelance; Steve Brand, San Diego Sports Association;  Carlton Hoggard (CIF San Diego Section), Adam Paul,  Ramon Scott, EastCountySports.com; John Kentera, Braden Suprenant, 97.3 FM, The Fan; Rick Smith, partletonsports.com; Bodie DeSilva, sandiegopreps.com; Steve Dolan, Mountain Country 107.9 FM; Christian Pedersen, S.D. Preps Insider; Aaron Burgin, Fulltime Hoops; Brad Enright, L.A. Court Report.

Torrey Pines’ John Olive and St. Augustine’s Mike Haupt each is bearing down on career victory No. 500.

Olive leads with 488 victories to Haupt’s 487.

Whenever they reach 500, Oliver and Haupt will join a club that has a membersship of three in the San Diego area.

El Camino’s retired Ray Johnson won 763 games. Helix’ John Singer is the leader among active coaches with 674 followed by El Camino’s Tom Tarentino with 582, according to figures provided by the Union-Tribune‘s John Maffei, partletonsports.com, and Max Preps.

Others active with at least 400 wins are Francis Parker’s Jim Tomey (456) and La Costa Canyon’s Dave Cassaw (429).  Foothills Christian’s Brad Leaf has 384.

Corrections, additions, even complaints, are welcomed.

Union-Tribune poll through Monday, Jan. 31:

Rank	Team	Record	Points	Last Poll
1	Mission Bay (7)	7-5	133	3
2	Foothills Christian (6)	10-3	132	2
3	Torrey Pines	12-5	109	4
4	St. Augustine (1)	11-4	104	1
5	Francis Parker	10-3	68	7
6	La Jolla Country Day	10-6	60	5
7	San Macos	10-6	38	6
8	Poway	14-4	30	9
9	Montgomery	11-1	29	10
10	Vista	11-6	23	10

Others receiving votes: Santa Fe Christian (12-4, 18 points), Cathedral (10-6, 8). Ranmcho Buena Vista (16-2, 6), Carlsbad (13-2, 6), Rancho Bernardo (8-5, 5).

Voters: John Maffei, San Diego Union-Tribune; Terry Monahan, freelance; Steve Brand, San Diego Sports Association;  Carlton Hoggard (CIF San Diego Section), Adam Paul,  Ramon Scott, EastCountySports.com; John Kentera, Braden Suprenant, 97.3 FM, The Fan; Rick Smith, partletonsports.com; Bodie DeSilva, sandiegopreps.com; Steve Dolan, Mountain Country 107.9 FM; Christian Pedersen, S.D. Preps Insider; Aaron Burgin, Fulltime Hoops; Brad Enright, L.A. Court Report.

No team could match, or come close to, the withering pace of Bill Walton and the Helix Highlanders, but individual play was at an all-time high.

Eleven players, meeting a minimum of 15 games, averaged at least 23 points.  Eleven also scored more than 600 points.

By comparison, just 10 players averaged 23 points or more from 1960-69.  The table below includes annual leaders in points and averages from the inaugural San Diego Section season in 1960-61 through 1960-69.

Second table will show how scoring in 1969-70 was dramatically higher than in any of the first nine seasons of the decade.

More teams, more games and more players contributed to the increased level of points, but scoring average comes from better shooting, which continued to evolve, dating from the vintage, “running set shot” to today’s pure jump shot.

SEASON	NAME	TEAM	POINTS	AVERAGE
60-61	John Fairchild	San Dieguito	428
	Brian Ross	El Capitan		18.7
61-62	Dick Baker	Grossmont	490	19.6
62-63	Larry Blum	Crawford	737	23.8
	Elburt Miller	San Diego	688	25.5
63-64	Rip Barrett	Castle Park	537
	Paul Landis	Monte Vista		20.7
64-65	Mike Kinkki	Mission Bay	601	21.5
65-66	Von Jacobsen	Crawford	712	24.6
66-67	Blaine Bundy	El Capitan	656	25.2
	Oscar Foster	San Diego	642
	Russ (Whimpy) Northcutt	Kearny	622	23.9
	Steve Rostoker	Madison	602	23.2
67-68	Ron Dahms	Madison	712
	Mike Ela	Mount Miguel	685
	John Tschogl	Hilltop	649
	Monroe Nash	Morse	608	24.3
68-69	Wilburn Strong	Kearny	774	25.8
	Phil Edwards	Madison	766	23.9
	Paul Halupa	Bonita Vista	718*	28.7

*Next highest scorer had 553.

1969-70:

NAME	TEAM	GAMES	POINTS	AVERAGE
Bill Walton	Helix	33	958	29.0 (1)
Dave Smith	Madison	29	776	26.8 (3)
George Evans	St. Augustine	32	748	23.4 (8)
Cedric (Ric) Reed	Morse	29	711	24.5 (5)
Clarence Brown	Lincoln	29	709	24.4 (6)
Elias Delgadillo	Castle Park	30	689	23.0 (T10)
Paul Halupa	Bonita Vista	25	688	27.5 (2)
Steve Higgins	La Jolla	26	667	25.7 (4)
Mike Dupree	Helix	33	652	19.8
Pete Jackson	Hilltop	28	644	23.0 (T10)
Bob Nelson	Vista	26	605	23.3 (9)
Bob Tagye	Chula Vista	29	592	20.4
Randy Schutjer	Chula Vista	29	548	18.9
Kenny Carlson	Mar Vista	25	528	21.1
Bill Belander	Monte Vista	28	501	17.9
Steve Vickery	El Capitan	24	485	20.3
Gary Monahan	St. Augustine	29	485	16.7
Scott Braly	Francis Parker	20	474	22.7
James Ross	Kearny	25	475	19.0
Tim Doerr	Granite Hills	21	470	22.4
Nate Smith	San Diego	24	449	18.7
Kyle Hypes	Santana	29	444	15.3
Dave Bartholomew	Kearny	26	443	17.0
Jimmy Bristol	Monte Vista	28	440	15.7
Loren Russell	San Diego Military	19	433	22.3
Mark Wilde	Grossmont	24	427	17.8
Jack McMahon	University	29	416	14.3
Gary Kloppenburg	La Jolla	27	413	15.3

Reed, Christian, 16×391, 24.4. Pharr, La Jolla Country Day, 18×361, 20.0.                  Sander, San Miguel, 16×324, 20.3. Western, San Miguel, 10×239, 23.9.

HELIX OR MOUNT MIGUEL?

Bill Center of The San Diego Union posed the question to 10 area coaches.  Which is better, this year’s Helix team, 19-0 at the time of the poll, or the 1967-68 Mount Miguel team that was 32-0?

Five coaches voted for Helix, 2 for Mount Miguel, two abstained, and one didn’t reply.

The consensus was “Mount Miguel was great, but Walton….”

Madison coach John Hannon (18-11): “I used to say that Mount Miguel was the best around in a long time, but (Bill) Walton makes me think twice.  If you stress the word TEAM I like Mount Miguel…but I think Helix would win the game.”

Lincoln’s Bill Peterson (23-6): “Mount Miguel was a five-man effort, while Helix is four men working towards one.  It’s a better year (talent wise in the area) than it was then.  I think Helix is a better club.”

Wayne Colborne, Kearny (11-15):  “Mount Miguel.  (Mike) Ela and (Kenny) Greenman supplied the outside shooting you need to beat a good big man.”

Pal Pruett, Hilltop (19-9):  “Mount Miguel was the more demoralizing of the two and had better personnel.”

Tom Curran, Santana (20-9):  “I don’t think Mount Miguel’s press would have worked.”

Tom Williams, Morse (18-11):  “(Helix) is a fine team without Walton.  It’s a great team with him.”

Tom Snow, Castle Park (23-7):  “This is a sport that a big man can dominate.  Walton dominates.’

BEFOULED

La Jolla Country Day’s 92-78 win over Christian had an interesting angle.  Six of the seven players on the Christian roster fouled out in the fourth quarter.  The game was called with 1:42 remaining when the Patriots had one man on the court.

SPARTANS & RANDY ON FIRE

Randy (Shooter) Schutjer of Chula Vista drained all 10 of his field goal attempts but his 23 points were just a complement to Chula Vista’s 79-69 victory over Hoover (13-14).  Teammate Bob Tagye scored 24 points and the hot Spartans knocked down 32×44 attempts from the field, a fiery 73 per cent.

SHAULES-ERA RECORD FALLS

Tom Shaules, Sammy Owens, Raul Martinez and company set a St. Augustine scoring record in a 105-34 victory over La Jolla in 1957-58.  This season’s squad (28-4) surpassed that once-unapproachable mark in a 109-46 stomping of El Capitan (6-18).  Tom Davis (29), George Evans (19), Ron Wrigley (18), and Gary Monahan (12) led the way.

Francis Parker’s Scott Braly almost outscored San Marino Southwestern Military with 25 points in a 48-25 victory.  Braly scored 28 in a rematch in Municipal Gym as the Lancers prevailed again, 62-36.

TOURNAMENTS

KIWANIS

–Madison’s 6-foot, 4-inch Dave Smith set a school record with 45 points, bettering Phil Edwards’ 43 in 1968-69, with 16 field goals and 13×15 free throw shooting in the Warhawks’ 97-43, first-round romp over Mount Miguel in the 23^rd annual.

–Smith had 15 field goals and 33 points the next night but Madison fell to Helix, 87-65.

–Helix defeated San Diego (13-11), 89-45, for the Unlimited Division title.  Castle Park topped Lincoln, 65-52, for the Limited, and El Centro Central beat Mission Bay(12-12), 59-49, for the Classified.

—La Jolla’s Steve Higgins scored 37 points in the 15-12 Vikings’ 84-64 win over Carlsbad (12-14) for third place in the  Limited Division.  Higgins broke Chet Guthrie’s school record of 35 in 1960-61.

UNIVERSITY

Tenth-grader Steve Seidler had a game he could talk about the rest of his life.

Point Loma, 4-5, upset 7-4 Santana, 59-57, in overtime in the opening round.

Seidler scored 24 points, a notable achievement, but which took a backseat.

–Seidler scored the Pointers’ last 10 points in regulation play.

–With Santana stars Terry Forster and Kyle Hypes out with fouls, Seidler keyed a Pointers zone press that overcame a 12-point Sultans lead in the fourth quarter.

–Seidler rebounded a teammate’s missed shot and scored with three seconds left to tie the game, 55-55, and send it into the extra session.

–Seidler’s 20-foot jump shot with two seconds left in overtime lifted the Pointers to victory.

–Clarence Brown’s 31 points were enough for Lincoln to beat St. Augustine, 72-64, for the championship.

EL CENTRO ELKS

–Clarence Thomas, averaging 34.9 points for 10-0 Blythe Palo Verde scored 41 points and Art Harris, averaging 21.6, added 27 as the Yellowjackets overcame Dave Smith’s 38 to topple Madison, 96-95.

–Cedric (Ric) Reed scored 43 points the following evening as Morse eliminated Palo Verde, 123-72.  Harris scored 38 but Thomas was held to 19.

–The 12-0 El Centro Central Spartans outscored Morse, 19-9, in the fourth quarter to win the championship, 65-53.  Blythe beat Crawford, 84-75, for third place and Madison earned fifth place, 65-51 over Orange Glen.

VILLA PARK

La Crescenta Crescenta Valley topped Oceanside (20-7), 81-48. Oceanside won the consolation championship defeating Redondo Beach Redondo, 76-64, and Palos Verdes Miraleste, 77-72.

JIM MITCHELL (FORMER MUSTANG OPTIMIST)

Mar Vista (12-13)claimed the championship, 68-57, over Carlsbad as Don Wade and Kenny Carlsen each scored 21.

NEWPORT HARBOR

La Jolla’s Steve Higgins was injured in pregame warmup and didn’t play but the Vikings defeated Yuma KOFA, 64-63.  Lancaster Antelope Valley defeated La Jolla, 81-58, in the semifinals and Monte Vista (21-7) advanced, 73-65 over Newport Beach Newport Harbor after trailing, 50-49, entering the final quarter.

CHINO

Chula Vista won its opening game, 68-65, in overtime against Pomona and then lost to Pomona, 94-85.  Ganesha ousted Chula Vista from the consolation bracket, 73-70.

LA PUENTE NOGALES

Bonita defeated Marian, 70-50, Rowland Heights Rowland sent the Crusaders home, 67-50.

COVINA

While Helix was dominating, Poway advanced in the consolation bracket, 69-65, over Los Angeles Cathedral after an 83-73 loss to Pasadena La Salle.

BULLDOGS BITE

Ramona (18-7) won the Class A championship by defeating 10-8 La Jolla Country Day, 103-55, and Army-Navy (13-8), 84-55.  Army-Navy had knocked out 9-12 Mountain Empire, which practices outside and does not have a gym, 64-50 and ‘Day topped ‘Empire, 70-57, for third place.

QUICK KICKS

St. Augustine, with  12-0 record, became the first Eastern League team to run the table since Hoover was 10-0 in 1959-60…the Saints had clinched with two games to remaining, knocking down Morse, 78-69, behind George Evans’ 30 points…Patrick Henry(12-15) clinched a more successful second season when it won an early December game against Santana, 59-55, to improve to 3-0…the Patriots were  2-23 in 1968-69…coaches’ sons included La Jolla’s Gary Kloppenburg and University’s Jack McMahon…Bob Kloppenburg coached Cal Western University and Jack McMahon, Sr., mentored the San Diego Rockets of the NBA…all 11 Santana players scored in the Sultans’ 91-63 victory over Point Loma….future major league pitcher Terry Forster led the Santee club with 11 points…Chula Vista’s Bob Tagye converted a free throw and scored on a follow shot to give Chula Vista a 68-65, overtime win against Montclair in the Chino Tournament…future football coach Gene Alim on Mar Vista also could hoop…Alim scored 26 in an 86-82 loss to Bonita Vista…Granite Hills (5-19) dropped an 88-61 decision to Grossmont (8-16) despite 40 points from Tim Doerr…Mount Miguel, destined for a 2-22 finish won its first game of the season in the University event by overcoming a 40-point effort by Randy Larson and defeating Clairemont (5-20), 71-68…Roy Garcia converted 15×16 free throw attempts and Hoover upended Morse, 62-53…La Jolla converted 35×44 free throws in an 81-68 win over University (19-9)…James Ross, a transfer from Denver, Colorado, sank two free throws with 15 seconds left in regulation and drained a 22-foot shot at the buzzer in overtime to give Kearny a 57-55 win over Point Loma (8-16)….

Helix won its third championship in the last six seasons, but the Highlanders were just breaking ground. The best was yet to come, thanks to Bill Walton, a once-in-a-lifetime player.

Meanwhile, the ball continued to swish through the net.

A record twenty-three players scored at least 400 points and junior Paul Halupa of Bonita Vista averaged 28.7, bettering the record of St. Augustine’s Tom Shaules, who averaged 28.3 in 1957-58. Halupa set a Bonita Vista record with 46 points in a 99-65 loss to Chula Vista.

Not to be outdone, Granite Hills’ Tim Doerr knocked down 47 points on the final night of the regular season, but the Eagles sustained a 99-88 loss to Monte Vista, the reverse exclamation point in a 1-21 season.

Julian’s Rob Petrie tied Shaules’ single-game record of 60 in a 115-76 win over Mountain Empire.

There were more teams and more players and the number of games had increased since early-decade, but the high schoolers continued to refine their shooting skills. In 1960-61, the first year of the CIF San Diego Section, two players scored at least 400, led by the 428 of San Dieguito’s John Fairchild, and 13 scored at least 300.

At least 30 players touched 300 this season, the total no longer notable.

Leaders:

NAME	TEAM	GAMES	POINTS	AVERAGE
Strong	Kearny	30	774	25.8 (3)
Edwards	Madison	32	766	23.9 (5)
Halupa	Bonita Vista	25	718	28.7 (1)
Delgadillo	Castle Park	31	553	17.8
Chaffin	Orange Glen	30	550	18.3
McCargo	Oceanside	27	546	20.2 (T8)
Higgins	La Jolla	27	545	20.2 (T8)
Doerr	Granite Hills	22	508	23.1 (6)
Millar	Coronado	24	505	21.0 (7)
Gibbs	Lincoln	25	504	20.2 (T8)
Skelley	Hoover	25	500	20.0
Boone	Crawford	28	483	17.3
Schutier	Chula Vista	24	465	19.4
Menzies	Grossmont	28	459	16.4
Petrie	Julian	17	446	26.2 (2)
Bojorquez	Fallbrook	24	442	18.4
Bill Walton	Helix	26	434	16.7
Gerding	Point Loma	25	428	17.1
Mushovic	Coronado	24	411	17.1
Jackson	Hilltop	23	418	18.2
Hays	Carlsbad	21	413	19.7
Barstow	Mount Miguel	25	412	17.5
Carlson	Mar Vista	24	407	17.0
Carr	Poway	24	399	16.6
Russell	San Diego Military	16	392	24.5 (4)

Rascon, Mountain Empire, scored 221 points in 11 games, a 20.1 average.

FLASHED AS SOPHOMORE

Walton had come up from the junior varsity during the 1967-68 playoffs and impacted a semifinal victory over Hilltop with two blocked shots and three rebounds at important junctures in a 69-57 victory.

Listed then by writer Bill Center as a “spindly, 6-foot, 6-inch sophomore,” Walton had grown over the summer to variously cited heights of 6-7, 6-8 ½, and 6-9 1/2.

Walton missed the season’s first three games, nursing a fractured metatarsal bone in his right foot, two days after receiving permission to play on a strained ligament in the same foot, according to a report in The San Diego Union.

Despite winning CIF and national collegiate championships at UCLA and NBA titles with the Portland Trail Blazers and Boston Celtics, Walton’s career often was interrupted and shortened by painful, crippling foot injuries.

SURPRISING SETBACKS

Helix won 29 games and had two unlikely losses, 58-52 to  Monte Vista, with a 2-10 record, and 63-60 to Santa Paula, a small Ventura County school, in the annual Fillmore tournament.

Helix came into the Monte Vista game with a 13-1 record but never led.  Bill Belander (19) and Ernie Arroyo (16) kept the Highlanders at a distance and the Monarchs’ 1-3-1 and 1-2-2 zone defenses slowed the Scots, whose repeated attempts to fast break were short circuited by defender Jim Krattli’s intercepted passes.

The Scots righted the ship the following game, running past El Cajon Valley, 105-53, as Bruce Menser scored 29 points, Dave Unroe 19, Race Paddock and Mike Dupree 11 each, and Bill Walton, 9.

Bill’s older brother, Bruce, a 6-foot-5, 250 pounder, also was an effective rebounder and scorer who went on to an outstanding football career, drafted in the fifth round by the Dallas Cowboys in 1973.

COMING ON

Bill Walton’s emerging dominance was never clearer than in a two-game stretch of Grossmont League play in February.  He had 21 points and 33 rebounds in a 70-48 conquest of Mount Miguel and 21 points and 17 rebounds three days later in a 69-52 win over Grossmont.

Walton, in another overwhelming performance, had 34 rebounds and 24 points against El Capitan as Helix, despite 17 first-half turnovers, won, 84-53.

Walton averaged 19 rebounds and had a 16.7 scoring average despite playing only  one quarter in early-season games.

DON’T KICK HORNETS’ NEST

Bill Center’s lead paragraph in The San Diego Union:  “Morse High won the Eastern League basketball title yesterday by downing Lincoln in the closing seconds, 73-72, in a game that ended with both referees having to be escorted from the Hornets’ gym.”

The trouble began, Center reported, when Lincoln’s Stan Cherry was fouled attempting a shot.  Had Cherry scored, Lincoln would have won and tied for the league championship.

But the referees ruled, after conferring with the timer, that the foul on Cherry occurred after the final buzzer and end of game.

As referee Doug Harvey, a future baseball Hall of Fame umpire, and Bob Moss, a local prep coach and former three-sport athlete at Lincoln, discussed what happened at the official scorer’s table, the near capacity crowd flowed onto the court. When the decision was rendered tempers flared.

FAISON TO RESCUE

Led by Lincoln faculty member and former San Diego Chargers star Earl Faison, a cordon of school officials whisked Harvey and Moss out of the gym away from trouble and into the nearby dressing room.

Harvey had worked many tension-filled games at Lincoln, including one with brother Nolan in 1959-60, when the younger brother of a San Diego High player came out of the stands and took a punch at Lincoln’s Al Catlin.

Morse’s hero was Cedric Reed, who scored the winning basket on a follow shot with 14 seconds remaining.  Reed had beaten the Hornets with two late baskets in a 63-61 thriller earlier.

WILLIAMS’ FIRST

For Morse coach Tom Williams, once a junior member of the Lincoln coaching staff, the victory was particularly satisfying, marking Williams’ first league title in the school’s seven years.

Williams opened the program in 1962-63 and gradually got the Tigers to the top from humble beginnings.  His teams went 2-22, 9-16, 4-16, 13-13, 16-11, and 20-9 before this season’s 23-6.

Williams went on to win 443 games in his career, which included starting up the Serra program when that school opened in 1976.

STANDLY STEPS DOWN.

San Diego High coach Bill Standly announced he was retiring from coaching after nine seasons with the Cavemen, preceded by a long run in Minnesota high schools.

The Cavers fell to 12-15 this season but Standly concluded his Cavers tenure with a 170-85 (.667) record, not counting five forfeits because of player ineligibility in 1965-66, and two Eastern League and two San Diego Section titles.

BARNBURNERS 

Kearny’s Wilburn Strong outscored Phil Edwards, 36-24, but Edwards’ teammate Michael Cohen scored 28 as Madison defeated its league rival, 89-87.  Strong had 40 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists as the Komets broke through on the Warhawks, 83-80, in the rematch.

“I’ve been waiting three years for this,” declared Kearny coach Wayne Colborne.  “They beat us twice with (Steve) Rostoker and twice with (Ron) Dahms.  The kids just made up their minds they wouldn’t do it twice again.”

As Bill Center noted, “Tearful Komets cheerleaders sang the school’s alma mater.”

UNI TRAGEDY

Kevin Madden, a three-sport standout for University, was killed on his way to school in a two-car accident on Friar’s Road near the school’s Linda Vista campus.  The school decided to play the scheduled game against Clairemont the following night and the Dons defeated the Chieftains, 66-44.

REPAIRMAN TO RESCUE

Madison’s 70-66 Western League win over University was delayed almost 20 minutes.  Just before the opening tip a Uni player took a final practice shot and the basket came unhinged and fell to the floor.

TOURNAMENTS

SOUTHERN PREP LEAGUE

–Rob Petrie scored 32 and Julian won the league’s December event, 74-49 over San Diego Military.

FALLBROOK

–Coronado defeated host Fallbrook, 65-56, in finals of the eighth annual of eight teams.  San Clemente, Perris, and Laguna Beach came in from outside the county line.

KIWANIS

–Twenty-second annual included 40 teams in Unlimited (Helix 64-57 over Madison), Limited (University 58-53 over Orange Glen), and Classified (San Marcos 55-45 over Bonita Vista) divisions.

–Highlanders coach Gordon Nash probably heard some groans from his team.  Helix led by one point with 1:43 left against John Hannon’s quick, scrappy Warhawks.  “We’ll be practicing tomorrow morning,” said Nash. “Walton has been out practically all season.  He hasn’t been able to practice with the team.”

–Walton, who did not always take the floor with the starting lineup, scored 67 points in four tournament games, including 24 in the championship.

–Bruce Walton made the all-tournament team.

–Hoover’s Tim Skelley came within one point of John Havens’ school-record 38 points in an 86-75, overtime loss to Point Loma.

–University moved to 9-0 but was held below its 77-point average in the 58-53, Limited Division championship against Orange Glen.

–Paul Halupa had 60 per cent of Bonita Vista’s points, 27 of 45, in the Classified loss.

EL CENTRO ELKS

–Madison and Phil Edwards set school records.  The Warhawks stormed past Mexicali CETY’s, 112-45, and Edwards scored 43 points, augmented by 31 from Bob Brady.

–Crawford, destined to finish 4-8 and in sixth place in the Eastern League, with an overall, 17-11 record, stunned Madison, 71-65 in the semifinals, shocking the team that would win the Western League at 11-1 and finish 26-6 overall.

–The Colts then surprised Morse, 49-48, in the finals.  The Tigers would win the Eastern League at 11-1.

FILLMORE

Santa Paula defeated Helix, 63-60, as Bill Walton was on the bench with five fouls and the Highlanders could not overcome a 54-38 deficit after three quarters.  It was the third time in this event since 1959  that Helix had lost to the unheralded Cardinals.

The Scots recovered to outscore Bakersfield, 78-61, for the consolation championship.

UNIVERSITY

The tournament program was 0-4, retaining its record of misspelling the name of the tournament director, Uni coach Hector Macis.

Macis again was identified as “Mr. Marcis” in the publication.

–Kearny’s Wilburn Strong set a school record with 42 points in a school-record 97-53 win over Granite Hills.

–“I saw where Phil Edwards scored 43 in El Centro last night and I figured I could get that many, too,” said Strong.

–Strong was the tournament most-valuable player and set a record with 121 points (ex-teammate Russ [Whimpy] scored 100 in the 1966 tournament), but Hoover won the championship, 80-60, over Castle Park.

–Coach Wayne DeBate’s Cardinals jumped to a 16-2 lead in the first four minutes, shot 69 per cent from the field in the first half, and balanced the scoring among all five starters.  Bob Martinez led with 18 points, followed by Tim Skelley, 17, Bill Conti, 16, Jack Neal, 15, and Gary Browning, 14.

–“I’ve never had a team come so close to playing as well as those kids tonight,” said DeBate.

JIM MITCHELL MEMORIAL

Originally known as the Mustang Optimist, the name was changed to honor former San Dieguito star Lt. Jim Mitchell, who was killed in action in Viet Nam.

–Eight teams participated.

–El Cajon Valley emerged from the eight-team field, defeating Vista, 58-47, for the championship after knocking off Pomona, 82-42.  San Dieguito claimed third place, 69-64 over Bonita Vista, whose Paul Halupa scored 37 points for the second time this season.

SAN BERNARDINO KIWANIS

San Diego defeated Redlands, 59-56, then was sent home after losses to Ontario Chaffey, 84-65, and Anaheim, 60-49.

CHINO

Escondido went further than Mar Vista and Chula Vista but bowed to Pomona, 64-57, in the consolation semifinals.

PLAYOFFS

–The CIF still was jamming the postseason into one week, with 16 teams in one division.  Poor Julian had to play with the big boys.  Two teams each from the Eastern, Western, Grossmont, Metropolitan and Avocado, which had moved from Class A to Class AA this year, plus one each from the Palomar and Southern leagues, and 4 additional at-large clubs, were invited.

FIRST ROUND

–Madison eliminated Vista (16-10), 81-70.  Castle Park (23-9) ousted Mount Miguel (16-9), 56-40.  Helix beat 16-11 Hoover, 76-41.  Oceanside (15-12) topped Coronado (16-9), 73-57.  Kearny (20-10) edged 16-10 Lincoln, 64-58.  Grossmont (18-10) overwhelmed Julian (13-4), 93-36.  Orange Glen (22-8) got past Marian (16-12), 52-49, and Morse topped University (24-4).

–Morse’s first-ever playoff win was a tribute to ironmen and teamwork.  All five starters went the distance, all in double figures, led by Terry Antoine with 23 points and Avery Clark with 20.

SECOND ROUND

Helix eliminated Kearny, 70-57.  Castle Park nudged Orange Glen, 65-53.  Morse whacked Oceanside, 79-63, and Madison beat Grossmont, 83-73.

SEMIFINALS

–There were 4,635 persons at the Sports Arena, hosting the Final 4 for the first time, although CIF honcho Don Clarkson said the Friday night crowd was closer to 3,800.

–Bob Brady’s two free throws with one second left in overtime lifted Madison past Morse, 67-66.  Helix bombed Castle Park, 68-40.

CHAMPIONSHIP

Bill Walton scored 13 points and had 15 rebounds in 19 minutes as Helix repeated a Kiwanis Tournament victory over Madison, 87-72.  Morse edged Castle Park, 69-64, for third place.

A triple header started with the third place game at 5 p.m., followed by the championship at 7 and the San Diego Rockets-L.A. Lakers  NBA contest at 9, witnessed by an announced turnout of 14,380.

Attendance for the Helix-Madison game was estimated at 6,500. No pep bands were in attendance and cheerleaders were closer to the building’s rafters than the floor, according to Bill Center.

JUMP SHOTS

Francis Parker (9-10) dropped its first-ever game, 53-31 to the Marian Freshmen, who were led by George Milke’s 20 points and Dan Prager’s 18…the Lancers got into the win column in the next game, a 67-19 rout of the San Diego Military junior varsity as Scott Braly scored 27 points at Municipal Gym…Parker scored the first 24 points in a 66-13 win over Southwestern Military in San Marino….Patrick Henry (2-23) lost its inaugural, 70-25 to Vista and its first victory was 49-44 over Vista’s Palomar League neighbor, San Marcos, as Bill Hilke scored 22…the new school in San Carlos was coached by Alan (Fritz) Ziegenfuss, who played for Jim Sams at Crawford in 1960-61…mentor beat student twice in Eastern League play, 63-40 and 68-33…Rod Boone scored 22 in each game to lead the Colts…a 103-31 loss to Calipatria was part of Borrego Springs’ introductory, 1-7 season…Brian Standly, the Madison High correspondent for The San Diego Union, is son of San Diego High mentor Bill Standly…Lincoln equaled a school record in an 86-63 win over Hilltop and bettered that mark in a 91-40 rout of  Patrick Henry that set an Eastern League record for most points in one game…6-foot-9 Ken Barstow, Mount Miguel’s lone starter back from the 32-0 1967-68 team, scored 22 points and pulled down 14 rebounds all in the first half of a 70-63 win over Santana…the Matadors’ County record 35 consecutive wins and 53 of 54 came to an end in a 80-65 loss to St Augustine (16-12) despite Barstow’s 35 points…Coronado enjoyed a 33-4 edge in free throws, which was enough to hold off Sweetwater, 71-65…the losing Red Devils were ahead from the field, 62-38, but converted only 4 of 16 free throw attempts…the Islanders were 33×41 from the line…the San Diego High gym had a leaky ceiling from recent rain…Lincoln overcame the moisture, defeating the Cavemen, 55-50…Helix scored 35 points in the first quarter and clinched a tie for the Grossmont League title, 98-48 over Granite Hills…

 

 

The Oscar Foster era was ending and so was the greatest three-year run in San Diego High’s storied basketball history.

The 6-foot, 7-inch forward never was first in scoring among San Diego Section players but set a career scoring record; led the Cavers to two championships in three seasons, established a school record with 41 points in one game, and was on the front end of the score in almost 27 games each season.

The Cavers were 77-17 with Foster in the lineup and their 29-2 record and .935 winning percentage this season was bettered only by the .938 of the 1935-36 team, which was 15-1.

Foster also was a leader off the court, carrying a 3.3 scholastic grade-point average and serving as president of the campus Boys’ Federation, Key Club, and Letterman’s Club.  He also was ranked among the top 40 players in the country, as noted by Scholastic Magazine.

Foster scored 660 points and averaged 20.7 points this season.  His three-season totals were 1,784, an average of 18.97 for 94 games, and he bettered the record, by 250 points, that Von Jacobsen of Crawford had set the season before.

TITLE SQUEAKER

Jumpin’ Johnny Otis’ two free throws with 15 seconds left pushed San Diego’s lead to 54-51 and the Cavers held on to defeat Mount Miguel (25-6) for the San Diego Section 2-A championship, 54-53.

A 28-15 fourth quarter gave the Hillers a 66-53 win over Hilltop in their first playoff.  Foster scored 21 of his 27 points in the second half as an overflow throng of 1,400 roared its approval at San Diego.

Otis scored 24 and Foster 17 in a 75-66 win over Madison (21-6) in the semifinals.

Foster teams were 8-1 in his three post-seasons .

The Cavers’ only two losses this year were to Long Beach Poly, 67-62, in the San Bernardino Kiwanis tournament and to St. Augustine, 55-53,  in a 14-1 Eastern League season.

TOURNAMENTS

The usual Kiwanis Tournament of 16 Unlimited Division and 16 Limited squads returned for a 20^th year.

Thirty-five of the Section’s 43 schools took part in a busy post-Kiwanis and post-Christmas schedule of at least seven events:

FALLBROOK

The earliest of the season saw Orange Glen defeat Laguna Beach, 58-54, for first place.

KIWANIS

What a difference a year makes, especially for Hoover and Crawford, blueblood finalists a year before who were knocked out in the opening round. Rising Mount Miguel beat the Cardinals 59-43, and Oceanside took out Crawford, 62-41.

Junior Roy Gayhart led Helix with 13 points and the Highlanders stunned Mount Miguel, 55-53, in overtime on Bob Kellison’s basket, earning the Highlanders a trip to Unlimited Division finals against San Diego, which outlasted the Scots, 50-44.

Hilltop ran past Coronado, 57-46, for the Limited crown.  The Lancers scored 291 points and averaged 73 points, a record, bettering the 289 by Hilltop in 1965.

Mount Miguel topped second-seeded Madison, 94-76, the teams setting a record for most combined points.

Blaine Bundy of El Capitan raised the single-game scoring record to 46 points in a 70-60 win over San Dieguito.  St. Augustine’s Jacob Crawford had 42 in 1959.

Bundy had games of 20, 33, 46, and 21, tying the 1962 total of 120 by Granite Hills’ Bob Lundgren. The Vaqueros won two games before losing to Santana, 48-43, in the Limited consolation finals.

UNIVERSITY

The 16-team format was the same as for the inaugural event a year before.  All games would be played in the University of San Diego gymnasium, tipoffs ranging from 8 a.m. to 8:15 p.m.

St. Augustine thrived by living dangerously.

Victor Crawford’s follow shot with four seconds left gave the Saints a 54-52, overtime victory against Mount Miguel in the championship game. Gil Evans’ basket with six seconds remaining tied the score at 52 and Evans was fouled.  He missed the free throw attempt but Crawford rebounded.

St. Augustine topped Madison in a quarterfinals game, 61-60, when Evans knocked down two free throws with 12 seconds left. The Saints scored seven points in the final 1:36 after Madison led throughout by 4 to 8 points.

St. Augustine outscored four opponents by a total of 11 points.  They also beat Kearny, 47-42, and Hilltop, 59-56.

Hilltop’s Woody Hamilton scored 34 points in a 71-64 win over Mission Bay to break the individual record of 31 by Clairemont’s Bob Martin in 1965.

EL CENTRO ELKS

Eight of the 16 entries were from San Diego County, including Orange Glen, a 46-43 conqueror of El Centro Central for the title.

Morse’s Monroe Nash was the tournament most-valuable player and his 97 points in four games and high of 31 (El Cajon Valley’s Ray Sutton had 29 in 1965), helped the Tigers claim third place, 61-40 over Marian.

La Jolla won the consolation championship over El Cajon Valley, 55-44.

MUSTANG OPTIMIST

–Four teams, Coronado, San Dieguito, Vista and San Marcos, competed in a round-robin format as the Encinitas optimists downsized their event in competition with the other tournaments involving San Diego teams.

Coronado (24-6) took the measure of host San Dieguito (8-18), 62-46, in the championship.  Vista claimed third, 72-43 over San Marcos.

FILLMORE

Rick Edwards and Roy Gayhart each scored 11 points as the Highlanders topped Santa Monica, 48-32, for third place.

The La Mesans won their opener, 59-51 over Glendale Hoover but lost in the second round, 60-52, to Santa Susanna Simi Valley.

SAN BERNARDINO

San Diego nudged Fontana, 56-52, after Oscar Foster’s basket with five seconds etched a tie at 49 and forced an overtime.

The Cavers’ 11-game winning streak ended in a 67-62 loss to Long Beach Poly, but they claimed fifth place after beating El Monte, 57-56, on Johnny Otis’ basket with five seconds left and San Bernardino, 60-54.

CHINO

Mar Vista outlasted Temple City, 74-72, for third place.  The Mariners were beaten, 62-54, by Pomona in the semifinals of the 26^th annual event, outscored, 24-4, at the free throw line.  The South Bay club had beaten Claremont, 77-54 and Garden Grove Rancho Alamitos, 52-47.

Defending champion Chula Vista won its opener over Upland, 54-50, before bowing out to Temple City, 65-58.  Escondido had been ushered into the consolation bracket by Montclair, 63-51.  The Cougars bounced back to defeat Pomona Garey, 62-61, before losing in the conso’ semifinals to Pomona Ganesha, 83-68.

COVINA

Crawford was eliminated by Covina, 73-58, in the first round.

PLAYOFFS

The Avocado League had moved from Class 1-A to 2-A, so CIF Bosses increased the playoffs from 8 to 12 teams but maintained the 4-day, one-week schedule. Five of the 12, including Orange Glen, Coronado, Oceanside, Morse, and Madison, were making their first appearances in the large school division.

Marian (19-6), behind Steve Bajo, raced past La Jolla Country Day (12-4), 92-60, in the 1-A final and had four games in the regular season in which it scored at least 100 points.

The Crusaders also set the record for most points in one game in a 124-50 romp over San Marcos and defeated Army-Navy, 120-49.

FIRST ROUND

Victor Crawford and Gil Evans scored 38 of St. Augustine’s 39 points as the Saints eliminated Kearny (15-10) and 24-point scoring Russ (Whimpy) Northcutt, 75-60.  Evans made 18 of 19 free throw attempts and the Saints were 27×31 from the line.

Hilltop edged Helix (17-11), 67-61. Clairemont (18-11), outscored, 18-4, in the third quarter, rallied with a 25-10 fourth quarter to oust Oceanside (18-8), 56-51. Orange Glen (25-3) eased past 18-11 Morse, 56-51.

QUARTERFINALS

St. Augustine’s life of living dangerously came to an end in the quarterfinals in a 55-53 loss to Coronado.  Victor Crawford’s running 10-footer missed with 4 seconds left and with Coronado in front, 54-53.  The Saints’ Gil Evans then committed an intentional foul and was ejected.  When the Islanders’ Mike Nienberg missed the second of the ensuing two free throws, the Saints rebounded and had a chance.

Madison’s 80-53 win over Orange Glen set a single-game scoring record..  Steve Rostoker (23) and Ron Dahms (22) led the Warhawks.

Mount Miguel sent Clairemont home, 77-56.

SEMIFINALS

Coach Dick Ridgway’s Mount Miguel Matadors probably were only slight favorites, but they outclassed Coronado, 67-48, behind 24 points from Ken Greenman, one of four starters who would be back in 1968-69,  before 3,700 persons at Cal Western’s Golden Gym.

Madison further diminished Coronado, which had claimed its first league championship since 1955-56, 73-55, for third place as Steve Rostoker scored 22 and Lyneer Nelson 20.

WHY THEY PLAY 

Point Loma (5-21) carried a 1-10 Western League record into the game, but showed toughness and resolve against La Jolla.

The Pointers outlasted the Vikings, 85-83, in overtime after Pete Irwin’s fast-break layin tied the score at 78 in regulation and Phil Northcraft’s two free throws in the final three seconds of the extra session got the peninsula club past La Jolla (14-12).

ROAD WARRIORS

San Diego ran by Morse, 65-56, in the resumption of Eastern League play in January.  The game was the 11^th in a row on the road for the Cavemen and their 10^th victory.  They had not played at home since a 70-40 rout of Clairemont in early December.

THANKS, NEEDEE

Legendary former Coronado coach Hal Niedermeyer came to my rescue when I was refused admittance to Carrothers Gym, where the Islanders would edge Hilltop, 72-71, in a critical Metropolitan League game.

I had shown my press credentials to a retired Admiral type who seem to enjoy telling me that I would have go elsewhere, explaining that the gym was packed beyond capacity.

Niedermeyer pulled me aside and said, “Follow me.”  We went through several back doors and I eventually was able to gain entrance and cover one of the most exciting games of the era.

SCORERS

El Capitan was 5-21 and you could imagine what the Vaqueros would have finished if not for Blaine Bundy, the 6-foot, 7-inch forward who was the CIF’s leading scorer and whose 25.2 average was fourth highest in area history behind Tom Shaules’ 26.3 in 1957-58, Shaules’ 25.5 in 1956-57, and Elburt Miller’s 25.4 in 1962-63.

Marian led in team scoring with a 72.2 average, followed by Madison, 70.7, Mount Miguel, 68.3, Hilltop, 66.7, and San Diego, 63.8.  La Jolla Country Day, despite giving up 92 points in its final game, had the best scoring defense, 43.8.

La Jolla’s Steve Haskett set a school record with 576 points, topping the 447 by Dave Grund in 1962-63.  Haskett scored 32 points in one game, three less than the 35 by Chet Guthrie in 1960-61.

Lincoln’s Leonard Jackson had 36 points in a 62-58 win over Hoover, bettering the 34 by Steve Ojetti in 1960-61. Russ (Whimpy) Northcutt’s 34 in a 68-54 win over Mission Bay set a Kearny record. Steve Rostoker scored 36 for a Madison record in a 72-71, opening-game win over Oceanside.

LEADERS

NAME	TEAM	GAMES	POINTS	AVERAGE
Bundy	El Capitan	26	656	25.2 (1)
Foster	San Diego	31	642	20.7 (6)
Northcutt	Kearny	26	622	23.9 (2)
Rostoker	Madison	26	602	23.2 (3)
Haskett	La Jolla	26	576	22.2 (4)
Crawford	St. Augustine	30	576	19.2 (7)
Nash	Morse	27	567	21.0 (5)
Evans	St. Augustine	30	564	18.8 (8)
Tschogl	Hilltop	30	541	18.0 (10)
Roberts	Clairemont	30	519	17.3
Northcraft	Point Loma	26	473	18.2 (9)
Chavez	Mount Miguel	30	461	15.3
Boone	Mar Vista	27	458	17.0
Jackson	Lincoln	25	440	17.6
Clingan	Marian	25	411	16.4
MacDonald	Hoover	27	411	15.2
Couppee	University	24	407	17.0
Olson	Chula Vista	23	403	17.5
Collins	Granite Hills	24	400	16.7
Maroncelli	Oceanside	26	388	15.0
Heaton	Granite Hills	24	380	15.8

 

JUMP SHOTS

Things looked promising at Crawford after the Colts beat a strong Hilltop team, 75-65, in the season opener…the Colts entered the game with one letterman and graduates of a losing junior varsity…the veteran, Fred Bellinger, scored 18 points but Crawford gained no traction, finishing with a 6-18 record, poorest in the era of coach Jim Sams and the worst since 2-19 and 4-18 seasons after the school opened in 1957-58…Jumpin’ Johnny Otis 23 scored points in his San Diego High varsity debut, a 73-45 win over San Dieguito (8-18)…Oscar Foster had 28 in the same contest and followed with  26 in a 67-61 win over Hilltop, whose home crowd was assessed two technical fouls, leading to five free throw points by Foster in the final minute… Foster had 26 points, 26 rebounds, and 6 assists in a 63-54 win over St. Augustine…brothers Carl and Willie Buchanon combined for 35 in a 92-50 rout of Poway…Russ Northcutt picked up the moniker “Whimpy” in junior high because of his preference for a popular hamburger of that name…Bob Speidel stepped down as Helix coach after 7 seasons, two championships, and a 122-64 record…Dick Eiler was leaving for administration after posting a 83-86 record in seven seasons at Clairermont.

Von Jacobsen set the records and Crawford set the pace, but it was defense, played by the champion Helix Highlanders, which narrated the season.

“I can’t understand why more teams don’t stress defense,” wondered Bob Speidel, coach of the 23-4 Scots, who parlayed playing without the ball to drive opponents into submission, as witnessed by the  51-41 victory over Chula Vista (26-4) in the lowest scoring championship of the San Diego Section AA division’s six seasons.

An overflow crowd of more than 3,000 persons at Cal Western University’s Golden Gym watched as the Spartans were harassed into turnovers, seldom earned an easy shot, and scored 26 points below their season average.

The championship was Helix’ second in three years.  “Scoring baskets may be more exciting to the fans,” Speidel said to Wayne Lockwood of The San Diego Union, “but we feel that playing good defense is just as important or more.”

The La Mesans’ tall, athletic front line of 6-foot, 6-inch Rick Barnes (son of Dick Barnes, Hoover’s Southern Section player of the year in 1944-45), 6-5 John Skalecky, whose brother Al led the 1963-64 championship squad, and 6-5 John Ugrin took turns in the playoffs providing impetus.

Skalecky’s 17 points showed the way in a 60-42, opening-round win over Hilltop.  Barnes scored 25 in a 58-57 escape against Crawford in the semifinals, and Ugrin scored 19 in the championship game.

Guards Don Cihak and Stan Nobienski also hit big baskets to knock down Chula Vista challenges in the second half. Reserve Judd Carson came off the bench in the semifinals when Ugrin got into foul trouble and stepped up against Crawford’s Jacobsen, and then repeated the next night by filling in for Skalecky, who had to sit for 11 minutes in the second half with four fouls.

Helix was 10^th-ranked among AA teams with a 58.4 scoring average, but it was No. 1 with a 47.4 defensive average.  Speidel didn’t want to measure this team against the ’63-64 squad. “You can’t compare the two,” he told Lockwood.  “The first one stressed offense and this one defense.”

EVERYTHING NOT JAKE

Von Jacobsen’s three seasons at Crawford produced an  career scoring record of 1,534 points, including a section-leading 712 this year, and seasons of 25-5, 22-4, and 20-9.  It was the nine-loss season and third unsuccessful attempt at a CIF championship that rankled.

After winning their first nine games, the Colts lost six in a row.  They battled back to 16-6, and finished the regular season 19-7 but were 1-2 in the playoffs.

Crawford’s first loss was 57-56 to Eastern League rival Hoover (19-7) in the Unlimited Division finals of the 19^th annual Kiwanis Tournament.  Jacobsen and his teammates swallowed a bitter pill.

With seconds remaining in the second quarter Crawford’s Ken Neun was fouled and made the first free throw in what was thought to be a 1-and-1, but the official scorer curiously ruled that it was Hoover, not Crawford, that had reached 1-and-1.   The Cardinals got the ball out of bounds and Dave McDonald scored a basket as the first half ended with Crawford ahead, 35-31.

The Colts’ losing streak bottomed out in a home, 75-67 loss to St. Augustine, 1-10 at the time and headed for 4-19, despite Jacobsen’s 28 points, which were offset by 24 by the Saints’ Ron Tuzinsky.

The rematch at St. Augustine was a 93-69 victory as Jacobsen scored 38 (Tuzinsky had 29) in what St. Augustine correspondent Terry Monahan, a future sportswriter in San Diego and Escondido, described as a “near riot”.

Jacobsen and the Saints’ Gil Evans swapped punches.  “A number of blows were exchanged, several other players were involved, and overzealous fans tumbled onto the court in an effort to participate,” said Monahan.

Order was restored in about five minutes.

Neither Jacobsen or Evans was ejected.

The one-point, semifinal loss to Helix was followed by a 61-58 defeat to San Diego (24-7) in the third-place game.  Chula Vista had sent San Diego to the consolation game, 61-53.  “We played lousy,” Jacobsen said of the loss to Helix.  “We didn’t deserve to win.  They’re good.  They’ve got a good defense.”

Rick Barnes’ two free throws with 42 seconds remaining had given Helix a 58-55 lead.  Crawford’s Kemp Ipsen converted two free throws with 22 seconds left and the Colts gained possession again but Lee Felice’s shot bounced off the basket.

CAVERS FOUL…AND FOUL

Chula Vista solved San Diego’s zone defense and freed Ron Matela for 12 points from point blank range. When the Cavers’ fouled Matela he added seven free throws for 19 points.  Matela was normally a member of the Spartans’ supporting cast behind Ken Ohlandorf, who scored 16, and Eric Martensen, 15.

The 61-53 victory reversed the Spartans’ 62-40 loss to the Cavemen in the finals in 1964-65 and was their 23^rd win in the last 24.  San Diego outscored the South Bay club, 42-34, from the field but was outscored, 27-11, from the free throw line.

Oscar Foster was difficult for Chula Vista and his two baskets kept the Cavers in range after a 41-41 deadlock at the end of three quarters.  Foster put the Cavers ahead, 43-41, and 45-43, but the Spartans forced coach Bill Standly’s team into fouls and responded with seven consecutive free throws for a 50-45 lead.

TOURNAMENTS ‘R US

KIWANIS

Two free throws by Jim Nuss with 21 seconds left was the difference in Hoover’s one-point win over Crawford.  The Cardinals (19-7), in the Unlimited Division finals for the sixth time in seven years, won for the fourth time in seven years, and met Crawford for the third time in four years.  Chula Vista defeated La Jolla (20-7), 55-38, for the Limited title.

Thirty-two teams opened the event in 16 area gymnasiums and two divisions.

California gov. Pat Brown spoke at the annual Kiwanis luncheon at El Cortez Hotel on the 75^th anniversary of basketball.

Attendance was 1,800 persons at Point Loma for the finals.

–Chula Vista’s championship was the Spartans’ first in the tournament’s 19-year history.

–Jacobsen scored 40 points in an 83-56 win over Sweetwater (11-14), coming within two points of the record set by St. Augustine’s Jacob Crawford in 1959.

–Jacobsen averaged 28.8 points, including 40 in one game, and scored 115 points, five points less than the record by Granite Hills’ Bob Lundgren in 1962.

Jacobsen and Lundgren are the only players in the event’s 19-year history to score at least 100.

—La Jolla defeated Granite Hills (7-17), 98-47, and came within six points of Newhall Hart’s record in a 104-33 win over Oceanside in 1954.

—Helix’ John Skalecky scored 24 points and pulled down 26 rebounds in 73-48 victory over Clairemont (19-8).

UNIVERSITY

Sixteen teams started play at 8 a.m. and finished at 9:30 p.m. in the first round of the inaugural University of San Diego High event, all games in the University of San Diego gym for the first two rounds.

The Uni go-round led off the post-Christmas schedule that featured 36 local teams in nine events at various locales in Southern California.

–Hoover, Kiwanis Tournament champion, was ambushed by Hilltop (17-11), 62-47, in the quarterfinals.

–Unseeded Morse (13-13) knocked off Hilltop, 60-45, in the semifinals and would meet third-seeded Santana, which defeated top-seeded Kearny, 58-44, in the other semifinal.

–Santana, the County’s newest school, won the newest tournament, 47-38, over Morse.

The Sultans, profiting from the arrival of Gary Schneider from El Capitan, went on to an 18-10 record.  Schneider scored 88 points in the four days and was tournament most-valuable player.

COVINA

Azusa, seeded 29th in the 32-team event, upset fourth-seeded Crawford, 72-71.  The Aztecs scored the last six points on free throws.  “There is a rule in the city schools that you can’t practice during the first week of Christmas vacation and we showed it,” said Crawford coach Jim Sams.

–Covina Northview sent the Colts home the next day, 64-62, scoring the winning points in the last 11 seconds.

SAN BERNARDINO

San Diego won fifth place, defeating Riverside Ramona, 76-45, behind Oscar Foster’s 30 points.

The Cavers opened with a 70-46 win over Ontario Chaffey as Foster scored 25, then played San Bernardino Pacific even in the second half only to lose, 82-60.  Pacific led, 45-23, at halftime.  Foster scored 25 again.

Foster had 21 in a 54-37 win over Redlands.

LA JOLLA COUNTRY DAY

The six-team field included Julian, Mountain Empire, San Miguel School, host ‘Day, Marian, and San Marcos, which drew first round byes.

Marian (13-7) won the championship, 76-62 over San Marcos (7-11) after Marian had eliminated ‘Day, 71-46, and San Marcos dispatched Mountain Empire, 71-30.

EL CENTRO ELKS

La Jolla (20-7) was eliminated in the championship semifinals by Yuma, 48-46.

The Arizona team was led by Ron Jessie’s 27 points, many of which came from 25 feet and further out.  Jessie became an NCAA long jump champion at Kansas and played in the NFL as a wide receiver for 11 years.

La Jolla claimed third place with a 57-55 win over Brawley and Calexico won the consolation championship, 61-55, over El Cajon Valley (6-18).

MUSTANG OPTIMIST

Monte Vista (13-11), trailing by 12 points at halftime, battled back and outlasted Castle Park (16-9), 58-54, in two overtimes for the championship.

The sixth annual joust at Del Mar’s Bing Crosby Hall was shortened to 8 teams because of the emergence of the University tourney.

Host San Dieguito (10-14) dropped an opening -round decision in three overtimes to Fontana, 64-61.

CHINO

Ken Ohlendorf’s 24 points spearheaded Chula Vista’s 82-63 championship win over Garden Grove Rancho Alamitos.

–Chula Vista also topped Montclair, 64-60, Pomona Garey, 71-54, and Claremont, 78-66

–Mar Vista (5-19) lost to Pomona, 53-51, in overtime and 68-59 to Temple City. Escondido (3-18) was beaten by Chino, 51-38, and Riverside Rubidoux, 67-66.

PERRIS

Orange Glen beat North County neighbor Fallbrook, 68-45, for third place.

FILLMORE

Helix towered over Fillmore on the floor and in the score, 64-43, in the opening round, then defeated Bakersfield, 36-32, and won the championship with a 60-48 victory over Glendale Hoover.

CLASS A PLAYOFF

Carlsbad (17-5) defeated Oceanside (19-8), 65-56, for the championship after losing to the Pirates, 61-38, and 68-59, in Avocado League play.  Chris Chambliss, whose home run won the 1976 American League pennant for the New York Yankees, was on the Oceanside side squad.

SEASON SCORING LEADERS

NAME	TEAM	GAMES	POINTS	AVERAGE
Jacobsen	Crawford	29	712	24.6 (1)
Foster	San Diego	31	667	21.4 (3)
Boyd	El Capitan	29	569	19.6 (4)
Martin	Clairemont	28	511	18.3 (7)
Ohlendorf	Chula Vista	30	503	16.9 (10)
Schneider	Santana	21	477	22.7 (2)
Strom	San Diego	31	466	15.0
J. Skalecky	Helix	27	462	17.1 (9)
Purma	Grossmont	23	448	19.5 (5)
P. Ela	Mount Miguel	26	427	16.4
Pradels	Hilltop	28	424	15.1
Rostoker	Madison	24	394	16.4
Collins	Granite Hills	24	382	15.9
Westbrook	San Marcos	21	378	18.0 (8)
Thayer	Carlsbad	20	376	18.8 (6)
Tuzinsky	St. Augustine	23	371	16.1
Conklin	Sweetwater	25	369	14.8
Bullis	Castle Park	25	360	14.4
Mosher	Fallbrook	25	356	14.2
Weigel	Fallbrook	24	338	14.1
Sutton	El Cajon Valley	23	331	14.4

JUMP SHOTS

San Diego claimed its first Eastern League championship and first league title since 1957-58 with a 70-49 win over St. Augustine but later was forced to forfeit five league games and the title because of the Dreaded Administrative Glitch…guard Lester Martin was found to be over the age limit, much as Otha Phillips was in 1958-59…the Cavers posted a 12-3 record in league play, topping Crawford’s 11-4 and Hoover’s 9-5…San Diego, Crawford, and Hoover separated from the rest of the league, posting a combined, 33-12 record in league play…the Cavers earned a tie for the title with a 60-48 win over Hoover, inspiring Cardinals coach Wayne DeBate to remark, “We were taking shots when we didn’t have ‘em and not taking ‘em when we had ‘em”…Carlsbad ended the season with a 51-game homecourt winning streak…Pat Ela’s 33 points in a 73-68 win over Grossmont (the Foothillers’ Joe Purma had 32) broke the Mount Miguel record of 31 by Bill Sage in 1960-61 and Doug Ashley’s season mark of 378, set in 1962-63…two of San Diego’s losses were to Crawford in typically rousing Eastern League battles…Crawford won the first in the Cavers’ gym, 56-55, as Ken Neun converted a pair of free throws with 11 seconds remaining…Greg Montanero’s fast-break, slam-dunk basket at the halftime buzzer gave Crawford a 48-34 lead in the rematch but the Colts had to hang on for a 70-65 victory…Morse upset Crawford, 55-46, although Von Jacobsen’s 17 points moved him past Tom Shaules in career scoring, 1,336-1,323…the Colts had the season’s only century outburst in a 102-60 win over Lincoln…”We’re gonna win it,” predicted Hilltop’s Paul Pruett before a critical Metropolitan League game with Chula Vista…the Spartans defeated the Lancers, however, 55-53, this after a 59-54 Chula Vista win over Hilltop…Crawford’s 68.2 scoring average was first, followed by Chula Vista at 67.3…the Spartans were No. 1, Crawford 2, San Diego 3, and Helix 4, in the Evening Tribune’s final Top10 before the playoffs…Von Jacobsen’ 78 points broke the playoff record of 68 by Dick Baker of Grossmont in 1962…Oscar Foster also topped Baker with 69 points…Jacobsen had 30 in a first-round, 75-60 win over Clairemont, four less than Steve Ojetti’s record in a Lincoln playoff loss to Point Loma in 1961….