2013-14: Sweetwater Runs to Fourth in Poll

Echoes of Gary Zarecky’s fast-breaking teams of the 1980’s are being heard at Sweetwater, where the Runnin’ Red Devils now are 16-0 and inching higher in the UT-San Diego weekly poll.

An 82-66 victory over Morse last week was preceded by five games in which coach Jesse Aguirre’s team scored at least 90 points and 100 twice.

Sweetwater defeated San Diego  Southwest, 116-30, recently, but that scoring total is only fifth all-time at the National City school, made famous by Zarecky’s relentless offensive teams.

The Red Devils defeated Coronado, 136-48, and Mar Vista, 123-54, in 1984-85, rolled a 123-48 number against San Diego Southwest and ran past Marian, 122-91, in 1983-84.

This Red Devils squad is averaging 83.7 points a game, while Zarecky’s clubs averaged 92.3 in ’84-85, 91.7 in ’82-83, and 88.4 in ’83-84.

St., Augustine and Mater Dei are running 1-2 in this week’s poll, with La Costa Canyon third.

The 18-2 Saints lost to Chino Hills, which is 17-4, and to Lakewood Mayfair, now 16-5. A more relevant evaluation of the Saints may come Wednesday night when Chino Hills meets 18-3 La Verne Damien, a 73-63 loser to St. Augustine.

Mater Dei’s two losses were in a tournament in Phoenix, where it was outscored by Capistrano JSerra, 63-48, and West Hills Chaminade, 55-47.

JSerra is 11-7 and lost its most recent game to Santa Ana Mater Dei, 69-39, ranked No. 1 in the country today by USA Today. Chaminade is 17-3 and holds a 73-61 win over Loyola, ranked twelfth nationally.

**Points awarded on 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis

Others receiving votes: Foothills Christian, 9; Grossmont, 8; Kearny, Mission Hills, Westview, 2 each.

Thirteen sportswriters, sportscasters and CIF representatives from throughout San Diego County vote in the weekly poll:
John Maffei, Craig Malveaux and Don Norcross (U-T San Diego);
Terry Monahan (U-T San Diego stringer);
Bill Dickens, Andrew Smith (eastcountysports.com);
Steve Brand (San Diego Hall of Champions);
John Kentera and Jack Cronin (The Mighty 1090);
John Labeta (CIF San Diego Section office);
Rick Smith (Partletonsports.com);
Bodie DeSilva (sandiegopreps.com);
Aaron Burgin (fulltimehoops.tumblr.com).

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