Dave Moore topped with a 51-point game, but Patrick Henry’s Mark Fitzner had the most points and held off “Score” Moore for highest average among players from large schools.
The breezy sobriquet for Moore, courtesy of Bill Finley of the Evening Tribune, fit the San Marcos senior, who scored 594 points in 27 games for a 22.0 average, but Fitzner held sway with 704 points in 31 games and 22.7 average. Clarence Clark of San Diego Military had a 25.8-point average in 19 games, leading small schools players.
Moore and Fitzner earned rank among the all-time leaders with their individual and seasonal efforts.
Moore became the fourth player in San Diego County history to score at least 50 points in one game. Fitzner moved to 14th in all-time season scoring.
Fitzner was an exception in what seemed to be a downward trend in scoring.
There were eight players who accounted for at least 500 points this season, compared with 15 in the Bill Walton-dominated season of 1969-70. Four players scaled 700 that season and six were at 600 or more.
There were eight over 500 in 1970-71, 12 in ‘71-72, and 10 in ’72-73.
Nine players averaged 20 points or more this year, compared with 12 in 1968-69, 20 in ’69-70, 4 in ’70-71, 11 in ’71-72, and 4 in ’72-73.
Fitzner became the 42nd in the County to score at least 1,000 career points.
Poway’s 108-79 win over San Dieguito in a Coast League game was the single score at or above 100.
THIS SEASON
| NAME | TEAM | GAMES | POINTS | AVERAGE |
| Mark Fitzner | Patrick Henry | 31 | 704 | 22.7(1) |
| Dave Moore | San Marcos | 27 | 594 | 22.0(2) |
| Andre Robinson | Morse | 28 | 580 | 20.7(4) |
| Ron Thomas | Hoover | 32 | 580 | 18.2(9) |
| Art Leahy | Madison | 17 | 547 | 20.3(5) |
| Mike Milke | Hilltop | 25 | 533 | 21.3(3) |
| Ron Wiggins | St. Augustine | 26 | 518 | 19.9(7) |
| Rick Taylor | Kearny | 32 | 505 | 15.8 |
| Robin Harvey | Mar Vista | 24 | 479 | 20.0(6) |
| Dean Miller | Poway | 26 | 470 | 18.1(10) |
| Ron McFarlin | Lincoln | 31 | 469 | 15.1 |
| Joe Sobkowiak | Clairemont | 25 | 462 | 18.5(8) |
| Paul Robinson | Poway | 28 | 457 | 16.3 |
| Gary Walin | Bonita Vista | 27 | 450 | 16.7 |
| Terry Belsan | Marian | 27 | 446 | 16.5 |
| Eddie Newell | Crawford | 27 | 446 | 16.5 |
| Dan O’Neill | Marian | 29 | 438 | 15.1 |
| Kerman | La Jolla | 29 | 437 | 15.1 |
| Richard Ridgway | Monte Vista | 26 | 435 | 16.7 |
| John Frise | Bonita Vista | 29 | 435 | 15.0 |
| Tom Ford | Granite Hills | 25 | 381 | 15.2 |
| CLASS A | ||||
| Dan Stockalper | Ramona | 26 | 580 | 22.3 |
| Clarence Clark | San Diego Military | 19 | 490 | 25.8 |
| Partch | Julian | 23 | 404 | 17.6 |
| Kyle Spain | La Jolla Country Day | 16 | 363 | 22.7 |
| Dave Cook | Francis Parker | 16 | 310 | 19.4 |
| Temple | Army-Navy | 16 | 258 | 16.1 |
ONE SEASON
| NAME | SCHOOL | YEAR | POINTS | AVERAGE |
| Bill Walton | Helix | 1969-70 | 958 | 29.0 |
| Ralph Drollinger | Grossmont | 1971-72 | 868 | 27.4 |
| Dave Smith | Madison | 1969-70 | 776 | 26.8 |
| Wilburn Strong | Kearny | 1968-69 | 774 | 25.8 |
| Phil Edwards | Madison | 1968-69 | 766 | 23.9 |
| George Evans | St. Augustine | 1969-70 | 748 | 23.4 |
| Larry Blum | Crawford | 1962-63 | 737 | 23.8 |
| Tom Shaules | St. Augustine | 1957-58 | 736 | 28.3 |
| Paul Halupa | Bonita Vista | 1968-69 | 718 | 28.7 |
| Von Jacobsen | Crawford | 1965-66 | 712 | 24.6 |
| Cedric (Ric) Reed | Morse | 1969-70 | 711 | 24.5 |
| Clarence Brown | Lincoln | 1969-70 | 709 | 24.4 |
| Ron Dahms | Madison | 1967-68 | 706 | 22.1 |
| Mark Fitzner | Patrick Henry | 1973-74 | 704 | 22.7 |
ONE GAME
| NAME | SCHOOL | YEAR | POINTS |
| Tom Shaules | St. Augustine | 1957-58 | 60 |
| Rob Petrie | Julian | 1969-70 | 60 |
| Shaules | 53 | ||
| Dave Moore | San Marcos | 1973-74 | 51 |
| Bill Walton | Helix | 1969-70 | 50 |
| Shaules | 1956-57 | 49 | |
| Jody Schmitz | Fallbrook | 1972-73 | 49 |
| Ken Leininger | Morse | 1963-64 | 49 |
| Bill Flohr | Julian | 1960-61 | 48 |
| Frank Petersen | Clairemont | 1967-68 | 48 |
| Paul Lockridge | Fallbrook | 1950-51 | 47 |
| Bill Froehling | Army-Navy | 1960-61 | 47 |
| Tim Doerr | Granite Hills | 1968-69 | 47 |
| Blaine Bundy | El Capitan | 1965-66 | 46 |
| Earl May | San Dieguito | 1967-68 | 46 |
The season and game scoring tables above are historically complete through 1973-74.
TOURNAMENTS
Three local events, the 27th Kiwanis, ninth University, and fourth Baron-Optimist, took the pre-league spotlight.
KIWANIS
Hoover or San Diego won the event 8 times in the first 10 years of the event and usually was a finalist in years they didn’t win.
The Cardinals and Cavers were dropped into the Limited Division this year because of declining enrollment and recent years of mediocrity.
No matter. San Diego whipped El Cajon Valley, 74-27, and Hoover mashed Orange Glen, 70-45, in opening-round games. San Diego defeated Hoover, 61-58, for the division championship.
Patrick Henry extended its winning streak to 26 games, including 1972-73, and rocked Santana, 68-38, in the Unlimited Division final. Mark Fitzner had 22 points, 14 rebounds and made 55 per cent of his shots from the floor.
The Cavers’ James Pipkins was spotted wearing a Bonita Vista wrestling shirt after an 86-64 win over Bonita Vista. “My collection includes a shirt from almost every school in the County,” said Pipkins.
Lincoln topped Brawley, 55-45, for the Classified championship.
Grossmont claimed fifth place in the Limited Division, 76-66, over Hilltop despite 36 points by the Lancers’ Mike Milke, whose total was a tournament high for one game.
COVINA
Poway lost to Long Beach Millikan, 68-60, beat Santa Fe Springs Santa Fe, 57-37, beat Pasadena Blair, 67-63, and lost to West Covina, 78-55, in the consolation bracket semifinals.
EL CENTRO ELKS
Dave (Score) Moore made 21×29 field goal attempts and 9×11 free throw attempts to score 51 points in a 78-42 San Marcos win over Imperial. Moore’s total was the highest since St. Augustine’s Tom Shaules scored 60 in 1957-58 and Rob Petrie of Julian scored 60 in 1969-70.
The Knights dropped the Limited Division championship game to Calipatria, 35-33. Coronado beat Antelope, Arizona, 83-58, for third place. San Pasqual topped Orange Glen, 57-47, for the Limited consolation title.
BRETHREN
Christian’s trip to the Huntington Beach was short-lived. The Patriots were defeated by Cerritos Gahr, 100-54, and Montebello Cantwell, 77-56.
CHINO
Escondido was chased out in the first round by Claremont, 67-47, and in consolation play by Montclair, 78-55
RIVERSIDE RUBIDOUX
After a 66-61 loss to Colton, Vista rebounded to defeat Bloomington, 61-43, and Riverside Norte Vista, 49-39, for consolation honors.
TRACY
Mount Miguel traveled 450 miles to the community east of Oakland and lost to the host school, 81-74, and defeated Stockton Franklin, 80-61. We’re still looking for the Matadors’ next-game result.
POST-NEW YEAR
Thirty-one teams entered the University and Baron Optimist tournaments, which began after the first of the new year for the first time. Seedings for both tournaments were done before the season.
The seeds held up at Uni, as Kearny was ranked No. 1 and Patrick Henry No. 2, with Lincoln 3 and Hoover 4. The Baron-Optimist seeds, not so much. Monte Vista, with a 5-4 record, was ranked ahead of 9-2 Morse and 11-1 San Diego, with the host Barons seeded fourth with a 4-6 record.
UNI
Kearny topped Patrick Henry in the Kiwanis rematch, 49-47. Hoover edged El Capitan, 53-52, for third place. Lincoln beat Santana, 52-45, for fifth, and Granite Hills won consolation by outscoring La Jolla, 45-41.
BARON-OPTIMIST
Bonita Vista lived up to its seeding and even upset No 2 Morse, 64-62, in the semifinals, while unseeded Helix beat Marian, 58-47, pitting two surprising clubs in the finals, the finish of which veered from usual script.
Helix led, 67-66, and had the ball with 22 seconds remaining in the game, at which time the Highlanders signaled for a time out.
Oops.
The Scots did not have any time outs, as was pointed out by the official scorekeeper.
The Barons’ Gary Walin stepped to the line and converted the technical free throw to tie the score at 67.
Bonita Vista then took possession of the ball at side court and worked the ball to Bart Helms, who drilled a 15-footer with 6 seconds left and the Chula Vista squad escaped with a 68-67 victory.
FIRST ROUND PLAYOFFS
Hoover’s 13-1 run at the end of the second quarter led to a 37-29 halftime lead in a 71-55 victory over Marian (21-8). San Diego walloped San Marcos (15-12), 76-58. Kearny conquered Chula Vista (16-13), 60-45. Lincoln edged University (13-14), 68-64. Helix beat Poway (21-7), 76-71. Henry nipped Mount Miguel (16-12), 62-59, and Grossmont ousted La Jolla (15-14), 46-35.
QUARTERFINALS
Charles McLemore scored all of Lincoln’s overtime points to eliminate San Diego (24-6), 70-69. The teams were deadlocked, 64-64, after regulation play. Patrick Henry retired Grossmont (20-9), 56-48. Kearny dumped Vista (16-10), 76-47, and Hoover, which went to a press against Marian, continued pressing and beat Helix, 55-43.
SEMIFINALS
Hoover topped Lincoln (25-5), 77-63. Kearny again beat Patrick Henry (23-8), 73-57.
FINALS
Kearny dispatched Hoover (24-8), 71-50 (Search 1973-74: Kearny’s Double Unbeaten Komets).
SWEET IT IS
Sweetwater would finish 1-23 this season and took special delight in its only win, which snapped the Red Devils’ latest losing streak at 22. Coach Gary Zarecky’s battlers knocked off blood rival Chula Vista, 9-2 in league play and 15-10 overall, 49-46.
HIS BEST
Evening Tribune writer and basketball maven Bill Finley picked his favorite players: 1—Mark Fitzner, Patrick Henry. 2—Donald Page, Kearny. 3—Rick Taylor, Kearny. 4—Mike Milke, Hilltop. 5—Mark Hoaglin, Kearny, 6—Terry Belsan, Marian
MILITARY TRAVEL
Clarence Clark of San Diego Military Academy, which had an enrollment of 200 students, averaged 25.8 points and had been the Southern League player of the year in baseball as well as basketball.
During the summer Clark played for the Los Angeles High Romans near his home. Clark’s father, a retired Army major, sent his son to the military school in Del Mar.
“Let’s face it,” said Eagles coach Rick Stewart. “The teams in this league aren’t world beaters, but he could play anywhere. People ignore Clarence because he plays at San Diego Military, not Kearny.”
JUMP SHOTS
Poway’s 108-79 win over San Dieguito bettered the Titans’ record, which had come in a 90-50 win over Orange Glen in December, 1971…San Dieguito (10-17) got even with the Titans in the rematch, 66-63, with a 21-11 fourth quarter…winless Poway Christian after a series of blowouts suspended its program and forfeited the remaining three games on its schedule…Jeff Worley’s two free throws with 5 seconds left got Coronado past Vista, 45-44…Marian’s Terry Belsan was 8×8 from the floor and 9×9 from the free throw line for 25 points and had 21 rebounds in an 88-53 win over Point Loma…Mike Milke scored 24 of his 33 points in the first half as Hilltop ran away from Montgomery, 76-59…St. Augustine’s Ron Wiggins scored 17 of his 33 points from the free throw line but Patrick Henry held on for a 79-74 victory…Wiggins scored 15 fourth-quarter points and the Saints won the quarter, 27-15, but couldn’t overcome Henry’s 67-47 lead….
Rick Thanks For That 1974 Hoops Post – I Liked it So Much I Went Out & Bought Me Some “Chuck Taylor’s” The Next Day! Still Say If My Dad Had Let Me Go To Marian We’d Have Been In Action At The Sports Arena Both 73 & 74! Thanks For All You Do With Your San Diego Posts ..I Read Em All & One Day We’ll Meet At An Aztec Game – Go Rebels🏀
I wonsder what your dad thought of your ‘do. I remember when he coached at Mar Vista your dad had much shorter locks. Thanks again for writing, Mike.
Mike, Always wondered why you were not at Marian. Remember your brother George went there. Always thought if Marian had you and Kevin Yavorsky (from BV) with the rest of their lineup could have had decent chance vs Komets & possible CIF champs. You might have had 32 vs us but someone dropped the ball (on D) on the long inbound pass Disharoon to Cottingham for the slim Spartan victory. Good memories Mike. Dish says you always bring that up when you see him.
Yeah the Chuck Taylors were in vogue.
Take care Mike, & Thanks Rick for all the good information from ’74 yesteryear hoops, those days were a blast,
Mel Slevin
Thanks for writing, Mel. All the best.
Keep up the good work Rick. Not sure how you are able to dig up this stuff from the catacombes, but enjoying the look backs.
Take Care,
Mel
Grainy, hard-to-read microfilm on equally fading machines at the downtown library and at San Diego State, until the microfilm room sprung a leak several months ago. I think that room hopefully will be available again. I was in the NFL for almost 30 years as a PR man and had to find an interest when I retired in ’09. I had always loved high school history and kept in touch with the preps.