Sweetwater coach Gary Zarecky took over a bottomed-out program in 1972-73 that was 2-22, 6-20, and 1-23 in the three previous seasons and proceeded to go 6-19, 1-23, and 11-15.
In Zarecky’s year four the Red Devils saw light at the end of the tunnel and fast-breaked past it.
Aaron Rico was Sweetwater’s leading scorer with 20.68 average.
Since 1975-76 Sweetwater is 196-54, a .772 winning percentage. Zarecky ioverall is 214-111 (.658) in 12 seasons. Of the 39 instances in which a San Diego Section team scored at least 100 points in a game since the 1978-79 season, Sweetwater has accomplished the feat 18 times.
The Red Devils passed 100 on six occasions this season, including 123 points, sixth highest all-time, against Marian.
Bud Maloney of the Evening Tribune wrote that the Red Devils were not getting “game-in game-out challenges” to prepare for the playoffs. They had won 39 consecutive Metropolitan Conference games and six consecutive league championships.
Zarecky was not fooled, according to Maloney.
“What am I supposed to do? wondered the coach. “We have to press to stay sharp and stay in shape. If we don’t press we’ll win about sixty to fifty and then the first time we play an Eastern League team we’ll get blown out.”
Zarecky promoted his team. He took it to a tournament in Vancouver, Canada, in 1982-83, and the Red Devils traveled to basketball hotbed Hobbs, New Mexico, this season.
Coach Neville Saner’s starters included three sophomores, Dominick Johnson, Judd Buechler, and Andy Byrne, and junior John Colborne.
The young Titans posted a 21-5 record and won the San Diego Section 3-A championship but were sidelined, 79-60, by Riverside John North in the Southern California Regional.
They would be back.
There was a glut of December tournaments and so-called “classics”, 18 in all. Despite the competition the Kiwanis Tournament was hanging in there, in its 37th year.
12/15/83
Mt. Carmel converted 30 of 40 free throw attempts and pulled away to an 80-63 upset of 5-0 Mira Mesa in a neighborhood bragging rights contest.
Rich Krigger and Pat Buchwald each scored 18 points for the Sundevils, who trailed, 33-32, at halftime.
–Orange Glen made 18×23 free throws in the fourth quarter to hold off Vista, 58-53.
1/11/84
Valhalla topped Grossmont League leader and league-undefeated (7-0) El Capitan for the second time, 62-60, to improve to 9-6 and 5-2 in the league, following seasons of 6-19, 6-16, and 7-15.
1/14/84
The all-San Diego Section first team as selected by the Evening Tribune, from left: Juan Espinoza, Helix; John Colborne, Poway; Aaron Rico, Sweetwater; Reggie Owens, Oceanside; Charles Redding, Point Loma, and player-of-year Mike Haupt, Mira Mesa.
“I never thought we were out of it, even when we were down five in the first overtime,” said Mira Mesa coach Tim Cunningham after the Marauders opened their Eastern League campaign with a 55-53, double overtime win at Morse.
1/21/84
Mt. Carmel trailed Poway only 34-30 when Sundevils ace Pete Buchwald fouled out with 3:05 remaining in the third quarter. Poway pulled away to lead by 11 points with a minute to play and won, 57-50, in a battle of Palomar League leaders before almost 2,000 persons at Poway.
1/25/84
Patrick Henry’s 99-64 rout of front-runner Mira Mesa represented the highest point total in an Eastern League game since the 1980-81 season. The Patriots’ Randy Hennis had 27 points and 18 rebounds.
—Madison, Patrick Henry, and Mira Mesa, each with a 4-1 record, were tied for first in the Eastern League after Madison whacked Henry, 69-52, three days after the Patriots bombed Mira Mesa, 99-64.
2/1/84
Mike Haupt had 25 points and 13 rebounds but it was two free throws by Todd Williams in a 1-and-1 situation with two seconds left that allowed the Marauders to escape visiting Morse, 50-49.
—Matt Brock scored 32 points but 9-11 Mission Bay upset 16-4 University City, 56-52, in overtime.
2/15/84
—The third time was not the charm. Madison couldn’t make it three in a row over Patrick Henry, whose 81-69 victory in a playoff for the Eastern League’s second postseason berth eliminated the Warhawks from the postseason despite a 16-6 record.
—Henry’s Mark Ferguson scored a 70-foot basket at the halftime buzzer and converted 12×17 field goal attempts for 24 points, aided by Howard Wright’s 22 points and 17 rebounds.
Point Loma’s John Scott is surrounded by University City defenders but Pointers won, 40-36.
TOURNAMENTS
BISHOP
San Pasqual 58, Bishop 52, but lost to Palos Verdes Peninsula Chadwick, 63-39.
The Golden Eagles traveled almost 400 miles to the community on U.S. 395 near the High Sierras.
CHINO
Escondido made its annual pilgrimage, a tradition observed almost every year since the tournament’s inaugural in the 1939-40 season.
La Canada 94, Escondido 69.
Escondido 49, Chino 48.
Pomona Ganesha 79, Escondido 50.
FOOTHILLER
Santana posted a 3-0 record in pool play, concluding with a 71-32 win over Granite Hills.
–Mark Howard’s two free throws with eight seconds left gave Valhalla a 54-52 win over preseason eighth-ranked El Capitan.
–Grossmont outscored Granite Hills, 11-1, in the final 1:40 to force a tie at 66 on Mike Weber’s basket with one second remaining and then pulled away to a 77-70 victory in overtime.
HELIX
La Jolla 49, Helix 38, 2 OT for championship of the eight teams.
The Vikings outscored Helix, 11-0, in the second overtime.
“We batted away a rebound (instead of controlling the ball),” noted Helix coach John Singer of the Highlanders’ missed opportunity in the first overtime. La Jolla’s Jeff Jacobs recovered the loose ball and his basket sent the game into another three minutes.
The teams tied at 34 in regulation play, which ended with a basket at the buzzer by the Highlanders’ Juan Espinoza, who scored 23 points.
HILLTOP
Finals of eight-team tournament saw Mira Mesa gradually pulled away to an 84-69 victory over Point Loma. Tournament most-valuable player Mike Haupt led the Marauders with 23 points.
–Kearny jumped on No. 3-ranked Chula Vista, 57-36.
–“They were a little arrogant walking out on to the floor,” said Komets coach Bill Peterson. “We out-quicked them. We did a great job of rebounding and we controlled the tempo.”
–Mike Haupt scored 24 points and Mira Mesa outscored Hoover, 19-5, in the fourth quarter for a 71-55 victory.
Andy Byrne shadows Mira Mesa’s Mike Haupt in Poway’s 70-59 win over Marauders.
–John Scott stole the ball and passed to Charles Redding, whose 8-foot jumper eased Point Loma to a 49-47 win over underdog Kearny.
–Point Loma fell behind Sweetwater, 17-1, and then rallied for a 76-73 victory.
FRANCIS PARKER
Eight small schools involved. Army-Navy edged Parker, 41-40.
The host Lancers had a chance to win the championship after overcoming an eight-point deficit but missed a 1-and-1 free throw and a 20-foot shot in the final seconds.
ELSINORE
Big Bear City Big Bear edged Army-Navy, 60-59, and Wildomar Elsinore thumped Julian, 80-23.
KIWANIS
The 37th annual opened with 28 teams, up from 24 last season. The event still was the largest in San Diego but was fighting an image battle as many squads were drawn to other tournaments.
Madison defeated Eastern League rival Patrick Henry, 62-56, and Mission Bay edged Western League foe, 44-42, for the Unlimited and Limited Division titles, respectively.
–Kearny, behind, 33-15, at halftime and 43-27 three minutes into the third quarter, stormed on a 23-2 run to beat Hilltop, 57-55, in overtime on Lionel DeMorst’s rebound and basket in the final second.
–There was no time left in overtime when Steve Jones hit the front end of a 1-and-1 free throw to get unbeaten University City (7-0) past La Jolla, which sustained its first defeat in eight games, 36-35.
LT. JAMES MITCHELL
Joe Hillman scored 51 points, his third half-century achievement in four games, to lead Glendale Hoover to a 93-91 win over Las Vegas Western and championship of the event honoring the San Dieguito star who was killed in Viet Nam.
–Sixteen teams, including six from out of the area, made this arguably the most attractive on the December calendar.
— Hillman passed 50 points for the second time with a 52-point effort in a 95-69 win over Escondido.
–Hillman, who came into the game with a 39-point average, was not pleased with his defense. The Indiana University-bound Hillman said he expected IU coach Bobby Knight would “make me play much better and tougher D.”
–Hillman’s 20-foot jump shot at the buzzer got Hoover past Torrey Pines, 62-60. The Tornadoes had managed to control the ball for more than four minutes with the score tied at 60. Hillman finished with 50 points.
— Greg Bowman’s layin with two seconds left in overtime was the difference in Poway’s 83-81 win over Burbank Burroughs.
Mt. Carmel’s Pete Buchwald is sandwiched by Poway’s John Colborne (left) and Jud Buechler, but Buchwald scored 33 points, rebounded 15 shots, and Sundevils scored 74-62, Palomar League victory.
–Poway, trailing, 36-23, at halftime won the consolation championship, 56-45 over Newport Beach Newport Harbor.
MONTGOMERY
Six teams entered, with Castle Park emerging as champion in the inaugural event, 60-43 over El Cajon Valley.
DOS PUEBLOS
The high school in Santa Barbara was host.
–Mt. Carmel 85, Santa Barbara Bishop Garcia Diego 61.
WILMINGTON BANNING
San Pedro 87, Morse 74.
Morse 62, Los Angeles Fairfax 56, OT.
Morse 60, Harbor City Narbonne 47.
Compton 48, Morse 39, consolation championship.
HOBBS, NEW MEXICO
The 26th annual Holiday Invitational.
Sweetwater earned third-place honors by defeating Abilene, Texas, 89-77.
–Sweetwater 77, El Paso Austin 61. The Red Devils scored 20 points in a row in the fourth quarter.
–Sweetwater led, 47-39, after three quarters but bowed to Altus, Oklahoma, 62-55.
PENINSULA CLASSIC @POINT LOMA
University City 43, Burbank 41.
The Centurions, 1-18 and 7-12 in their first two seasons improved to 10-1 by coming from five points down in the fourth quarter.
Matt Brock, a 6-foot, 5-inch forward and future NFL player, scored 16, 21, and 24 points in the three-games and was tournament most-valuable player. Brock’s father, Clyde, also played in the NFL.
–Eight teams played round-robin, two games each a day.
BARON-OPTIMIST
Madison (10-2) ran past Mira Mesa (8-2), 96-75, for the championship after taking a 20-8, first-quarter lead and not looking back.
SANTANA
Mt. Carmel 60, Patrick Henry 48.
The Sundevils lagged, 37-28, with five minutes remaining in the third quarter and then went on a 15-3 run.
–“The team was waiting for me to take control,” said Clairemont’s Keith Landham after two starters had fouled out and the Chieftains trailed host Santana by 10 points in the third quarter.
Madison’s Derrick Johnson has ball. Patrick Henry’s Mark Ferguson wants it. Madison had ball most often, won Kiwanis tournament final, 63-54.
–Landham scored three consecutive field goals and the Chieftains went on to a 56-52 victory.
–“The refs seemed to be calling a one-sided game, but we didn’t let it bother us,” said Landham.
LAS VEGAS WESTERN RED ROCK
San Dieguito 61, Henderson Basic, Nevada 55.
Las Vegas 60, San Dieguito 34.
Western 86, San Dieguito 58.
Western 81, San Dieguito 68.
WEST COAST CLASSIC @SAN JOSE
Christian 94, Turner Cascade, Oregon 44.
Christian 65, Rippon 59.
Christian 56, Shoreline King’s, Washington, 46. Bill Donley scored 19 of his three-game total of 62 and led the Patriots to the championship.
SEASON SCORING LEADERS
NAME
TEAM
GAMES
POINTS
AVERAGE
Duane Hurd
Carlsbad
24
566
23.5
Aaron Rico
Sweetwater
25
527
20.68
Kirk Hansen
Fallbrook
22
511
23.2
Jan Styles
Torrey Pines
23
480
20.8
Charles Redding
Point Loma
23
461
20.04
Steve Eyler
Army-Navy
21
460
21.9
Neil Bernstein
La Jolla
23
452
19.7
Sam Aguirre
Hoover
21
434
20.66
Brad Milhoan
Kearny
24
430
17.9
Juan Espinoza
Helix
22
422
19.18
Mark Lazoya
Valhalla
22
409
18.59
Mike Haupt
Mira Mesa
24
408
17.0
Matt Brock
University City
22
402
18.27
Fred Farnsworth
Marian
21
389
18.52
John Colborne
Poway
21
385
18.33
Gary Gottschall
El Capitan
21
383
18.23
Mike Robinson
Serra
21
381
18.1
Scott Lanham
Granite Hills
19
362
19.05
Maurice Lewis
Madison
21
361
17.2
Crawford, Montgomery, 18×336, 18.66. Shawn Bell Morse, 16×292, 18.25. 1-A: Julio Troche, Borrego Springs, 16×342, 21.37. Richard Winter, The Bishop’s, 15×328, 21.86.
(Search 1983-84 “Those Running Red Devils” for team 100-point games).
PLAYOFFS
BOYS
First Round
3-A Patrick Henry 46, Monte Vista 43 (19-5). “The only thing that makes me happy about this game is the final score,” to the Tribune’s Bud Maloney said Patriots coach Fritz Ziegenfuss, unhappy with the way his team ran offensive and defensive sets.” Poway 77, Sweetwater 68 (21-4). Favored Sweetwater was bounced in the first round for the second year in a row in a row, a long winning streak broken each time. This season the Red Devils carried a 14-game run into the playoffs; it was 16 in 1982-83 and 16 in 1981-82. Mira Mesa 57, Castle Park 47 (2-18).
Mt. Carmel 51, Helix 49 (11-9).
2-A Point Loma 77, St. Augustine 50 (12-11).
La Jolla 48, Christian 43 (16-7). Six-foot, 9-inch Neil Bernstein provided half of La Jolla’s 48 points and added 22 rebounds. Chula Vista 70, Carlsbad 68 (5-14).
Oceanside 62, Hilltop 51 (13-12).
1-A
Army-Navy 45, Francis Parker 41.
Borrego Springs 83, The Bishop’s 37.
Oceanside’s Donald Harris battles Chula Vista’s Darnell Woods (left) and David Willard in 2-A championship, won by Oceanside, 57-55, as Harris scored 22 points.
Semifinals
3-A Poway 70, Mira Mesa 59 (20-4). The Titans outscored the Marauders, 34-23, in the fourth quarter after a 36-36 standoff through three quarters.
Poway coach Neville Saner’s “triangle and two defense” helped hold San Diego Section player of the year Mike Haupt to 10 points.
Dominick Johnson, a 6-foot, 4-inch forward and son of legendary San Diego High athlete Deron Johnson, led the Titans with 22 points. Patrick Henry 48, Mt. Carmel 47 (20-4).
2-A Oceanside 48, La Jolla 43 (12-7).
Chula Vista 63, Point Loma 62 (18-6), OT “There was this sort of glow in their eyes. It was like they were in a state of shock,” said Spartans coach Mike Collins after his team’s 11-point lead turned into a 12-point deficit in less than a quarter of play. “Finally, I had to do something,” said Collins. “I called timeout and yelled at them.” David Willard, who led the Spartans with 26 points, converted a 1-and-1 free throw with 16 seconds remaining to force the overtime and was 4×4 in the extra session.
1-A COASTAL LEAGUE
Army-Navy 60, Borrego Springs 59.
DESERT–MOUNTAIN LEAGUE
Holtville 60, Calipatria 50.
3-A CHAMPIONSHIP Poway 57, Patrick Henry 51 (20-6). Among the Poway starters, only John Colborne is old enough to drive an automobile, according to Bud Maloney of the Evening Tribune. “When we want to go anywhere we all pile into John’s car,” said teammate Judd Buechler.
Andy Byrne, one of three sophomore starters, scored 19 points and 6-7 ½ junior Colborne added 18.
2-A
Oceanside 57, Chula Vista 55 (16-10). Donald Harris’ 22 points and two free throws with 21 seconds left made a last-second Spartans basket meaningless.
1-A
Army-Navy 46, Holtville 42 (19-4). Coach’s son Chris Maffucci’s two free throws throws clinched the victory.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REGIONAL
D-I Riverside North 79, Poway 60 (21-5).
D-II Oceanside 47, Los Angeles Lutheran 46.
CHAMPIONSHIP
D-II Oceanside 68, City of Industry Workman 54. Reggie Owens scored 22 points and the Pirates defense held their opponents to 36 per cent shooting from the field.
“We took them apart. Who in the state can control a game like that?” enthused Pirates coach Bill Christopher.
Despite the school name and the relative community in which it is located, Workman was not a generic appellation but named for William Workman, and the mascot is a Lobo.
D-III Pasadena Poly 63, Army-Navy 38 (18-3). The Cadets were byed into the finals but over matched.
STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
Modesto (33-2) 50, Oceanside 47 (26-2).
“I think Modesto knows we could have won it…we had plenty of chances”, said Pirates coach Bill Christopher.
Donald Harris (7×14) and Reggie Owens (5×10) hit 50 per cent of their field goal attempts. The rest of the team was 5×39, 13 per cent.
PLAYOFFS
Future superstar Terri Mann (on floor) was major asset as freshman for Point Loma girls.
GIRLS
FIRST ROUND 3-A Sweetwater 55, Poway 53 (17-4). Karen Taetafa scored two free throws with 15 seconds remaining for the victory. Santana 62, Madison 31 (11-11).
Patrick Henry 60, Bonita Vista 45 (16-8)
Fallbrook 61, Monte Vista 56 11).
El Camino 76, Southwest 33 (14-6). Sharon Turner, the County’s leading scorer with a 28.5 average, scored 26 for the Wildcats.
2-A Point Loma 73, Lincoln 31 (9-7). Freshman Terri Mann scored 19 points and had 14 rebounds. University 47, Chula Vista 46 (22-2).
Ramona 60, Crawford 46 (15-5).
1-A Francis Parker 47, Santa Fe Christian 32.
La Jolla Country Day 45, Julian 42.
SEMIFINALS A Santana 75, Sweetwater 46 (14-7).
Patrick Henry 61, Fallbrook 46 (14-7). “My mom told me before the game that there’s no tomorrow, so I played like there was no tomorrow,” said Henry’s Brooke Davis of her 32 points that included six, three-point baskets, plus 14 rebounds.
2-A El Camino 55, University 51 (17-5). Illness that caused breathing problems brought on by hives forced leading scorer Sharon Turner to the locker room but teammate Sheri Williamson scored six unanswered points to create a 52-39 lead and the Wildcats rode out a late storm.
Point Loma 76, Ramona 34 (18-4). Point Loma’s 6-foot-3 Suzanne Eagye scored 32 points in three quarters and then rested.
COASTAL LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP
Francis Parker 63, Julian 47.
CHAMPIONSHIP
3-A Santana 54, Patrick Henry 50 (18-7).
Maureen Carey, Michelle Collum, and Lisa Carillo celebrate Point Loma’s 64-55 win over team from Chico in state championship.
2-A
Point Loma 64, El Camino 47 (23-2). “We’re much more ready for the Southern Cals this year,” said Suzanne Eagye. “Terri (Mann) has helped us so much. We had a hard time with El Camino last year, but this game shows how much we’ve improved.”
Mann, a 6-foot-1 ninth-grader, Mann led all scorers with 22 points.
1-A
Holtville 47, Francis Parker 25 (17-5). SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REGIONAL
D-I
Los Angeles Fairfax 52, Santana 49 (24-2). Outrebounded, 44-27, and trailing at one point, 36-22, coach Wade Vickery’s Sultans scrapped back to take a 45-44 lead but fell short.
D-II
Point Loma 70, Santa Maria St. Joseph 51.
CHAMPIONSHIP
D-II
Point Loma 57, Indio 36.
STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
Point Loma (29-0) 64, Chico Pleasant Valley 55 (27-1). “When we play as a team we’re awesome. When we don’t we’re horrible,” said the Pointers’ Beth Thompson, reflecting on a second-quarter deficit of 26-12 and 16 turnovers in the game’s first 10 minutes.
