As Steve Brand of The San Diego Union wrote, Dennis Kane began preparing the day after San Diego High concluded the 1986-87 season.  The coach moved to quickly put the worst year in school history in the Cavers’ rear view mirror.

San Diego had bottomed out at 0-20 in Kane’s first season.

No Cavers squad, dating to the first in 1904-05, had been so unsuccessful.

“We put the players into a 7 a.m. gym class, shooting 100 times every day,” Kane remembered. “They were so used to losing, they wouldn’t believe in me or themselves.  We asked them to put forth the effort if they wanted to win.

“Our priorities were to establish a ninth-grade program, to get the school credibility, and to stop losing some of our better kids (to other schools or to lack of interest),” said Kane, who eventually built the basketball team its own team room and developed a program for incoming freshmen.

Kane’s players began to feel good about themselves, going 5-2 in a spring league and 10-2 in the summer.  They went from winless to the playoffs, improving to 15-9 in the coach’s second season. The Cavers had been a cumulative 81-161 since 1975-76.

Things came full circle this season.  San Diego lost to Poway in the San Diego Section Division I finals, 64-49, but the 20-5 record was the best since 1981-82 and the Cavers survived despite the late-season loss of 21-point scorer Raynard Wells because of academic ineligibility.

HIGH REGARD

Three San Diego teams were seeded No. 1 in their divisions for the Southern California Regional tournament, Torrey Pines in boys Division II, Lincoln in D-III, and the Vista girls in D-II.  Point Loma was a second seed in girls D-1.

BOYS PLAYOFFS

(Seedings in italics)

DIVISION I

FIRST ROUND

Hilltop 71, Mount Miguel 56 (2-21).

San Dieguito 74, Bonita Vista 52 (5-18).

SECOND ROUND

1 Poway 89, Hilltop 46 (11-17).

2 San Diego 62, San Dieguito 51 (8-18).

3 Sweetwater 60, Mira Mesa 51 (4-22).

The Marauders winners of four games against 21 losses, scored the first 10 points and led, 24-6, after one quarter.

“We told the team to take the game little by little, that we would climb back into it,” said David Ybarra, whose Red Devils improved to 25-2.

4 Monte Vista 64, Chula Vista 40 (13-15).

5 Mt. Carmel 71, Santana 49 (13-10).

6 Valhalla 77, Orange Glen 69 (7-19).

7 Southwest 57, Patrick Henry (13-12).

8 Granite Hills 74, Morse 59 (10-13).

Morse led, 15-0, after four minutes.  After a timeout, “to calm the jitters,” said coach Jeff Armstrong, the Eagles outscored the Tigers by 30 in the last 28 minutes, led by John Russell’s 22 points.

QUARTERFINALS

5 Mt. Carmel 79, 4 Monte Vista 73 (18-5).

6 Valhalla 97, 3 Sweetwater 89, 2 OT (25-3).

Tony Clark scored 47 points and Rafid Kiti, recovering from a reported collapsed lung sustained during a school day, had 32 to upset the Red Devils, led by Carlos Campbell’s 34.

1 Poway 92, 8 Granite Hills 85 (18-9).

Adam Jones (31) and Jay Blankenbeckler (30) provided the firepower that saved the Titans from an upset.

2 San Diego 59, 7 San Diego Southwest 55 (20-8).

“When we lost Raynard, I told Clark James (23 points) and Milton Miller (21) they would now be the offense,” said Cavers coach Dennis Kane.

SEMIFINALS

2 San Diego 79, 6 Valhalla 67 (19-9).

1 Poway 52, 5 Mt. Carmel 46 (18-9).

CHAMPIONSHIP

Poway 64, San Diego 49 (20-5).

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REGIONAL

L.A. Crenshaw 79 (22-2, L.A. City), Poway 62 (23-5).

D-II

FIRST ROUND

Escondido 76, Hoover 51 (2-23).

Mission Bay 67, El Capitan 58 (9-17).

San Pasqual 72, Mar Vista 53 (6-19).

Carlsbad 52, Kearny 49 (10-16).

“They didn’t win this game; we lost it” complained Komets coach Bill Peterson “We’re normally a very good free-throw shooting team.” Kearny was 5×15, the Lancers’ 13×15.

Grossmont 61, University City 59, OT (16-10).

Todd Jaeger’s basket with three seconds remaining in the extra session elevated Grossmont (7-17) in the postseason’s first stunner.

Fallbrook 76, San Marcos 47 (7-18).

Rancho Buena Vista 77, Castle Park 72 (8-16).

Oceanside 73, Vista 55 (6-19).

SECOND ROUND

1 Torrey Pines 71, Escondido 50 (13-12).

7 San Pasqual 66, 2 El Camino 59 (20-6).

Another stunner. San Pasqual was only 13-11 but 6-foot, 9-inch sophomore Erik Meek had 24 points and 24 rebounds.

3 Point Loma 58, Carlsbad 48 (8-17).

4 Helix 45, Grossmont 43 (7-18).

5 Rancho Buena Vista-La Jolla, no score (15-10).

6 Serra 62, Fallbrook 53 (13-13).

7 Madison 69, Oceanside 59 (13-11).

8 Crawford 54, Mission Bay 52 (16-9).

QUARTERFINALS

3 Point Loma 78, 6 Serra 61 (15-10).

Leading, 51-48, Point Loma advanced after making 16×20 free throws in the last quarter.

4 Helix 73, Rancho Buena Vista 59 (14-14).

1 Torrey Pines 91, 8 Crawford 43 (17-9).

7 Madison 73, San Pasqual 71 (13-12).

Monte Bohannon’s rebound and reverse layup with two seconds remaining came off a missed shot by Robby Robinson, who led the Warhawks with 30 points.

–Erik Meek kept his unseeded team in the hunt with 39 points, 24 rebounds, and eight blocked shots.

SEMIFINALS

7 Madison 58, 3 Point Loma 55 (17-11).

1 Torrey Pines 58, 4 Helix 40 (19-7).

CHAMPIONSHIP

1 Torrey Pines 75,  7 Madison 49.

Torrey Pines claimed its first title since 1977-78 and headed to the state tournament as the No. 2-ranked team in the division by Cal-Hi Sports.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REGIONAL

QUARTERFINALS

Torrey Pines 62, Lakewood Artesia 51 (22-7, Southern).

The Falcons went on a 13-2 run after the Pioneers’ Ed O’Bannon received a third personal foul with 5:22 remaining in the first half.

The Falcons led, 45-28, early in the third quarter and withstood a run that cut Artesia’s deficit to eight with 2:16 left in the game,

After sitting until halftime, O’Bannon, considered by some as the state’s best player, finished with 23 points and 6 rebounds.

San Bernardino 78, Madison 54 (17-14).

The Warhawks were out of it after a 28-10 first quarter by the host Cardinals.

SEMIFINALS

Compton Dominguez (26-4, Southern) 78, Torrey Pines 70 (32-2).

The Falcons’ inside play, Courtie Miller 31 points, 8 rebounds, and Kevin Flanagan, 16 points, 8 rebounds, was not enough to overcome their 4×20 shooting from the three-point line.  Dominguez was 8×12.

Torrey Pines fell behind by 21 points in the first half, fought back to trail, 42-40, and then was shaken by a 17-2 run by the visiting Dons.

The Falcons came back again to lag, 67-61, with 3:52 remaining but got no closer.

D-III

Ramona 83, St. Augustine 67 (2-19).

SEMIFINALS

1 Lincoln 95, Ramona 54 (19-4).

The victory was the 100^th for Hornets coach Ron Loneski, who was Wilt Chamberlain’s college roommate as a freshman at Kansas and a starter on the Jayhawks’ national collegiate runners-up as a senior.

2 Clairemont 72, University 60 (11-11).

CHAMPIONSHIP

1 Lincoln 89,  2 Clairemont 59.

Is it how you dress?  Lincoln coach Ron Loneski wore a green blazer and tie.  Clairemont coach Greg Lee  was in shorts and sweat shirt.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REGIONAL

Inglewood Morningside (22-5, Southern) 81, Lincoln 65 (27-2).

“It’s the coach’s job to have his players ready,” said Lincoln’s Ron Loneski.  “I take the blame.  We weren’t ready.”

Leading, 33-32, at halftime, Lincoln couldn’t come back when the Monarchs, who were an at-large entry after losing in the Southern Section playoffs, converted two technical foul free throws and stole an inbounds pass for a basket and 44-35 lead.

Trabuco Hills (23-6, Southern) 87, Clairemont 60 (13-17).

D-IV

SEMIFINALS

 1 Christian 74, 4 Holtville 47.

2 Coronado 76, 3 Army-Navy 57.

CHAMPIONSHIP

1 Christian 70,  2 Coronado 60.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REGIONAL

Whittier Christian 70 (23-6, Southern), Coronado 58 (11-15).

The Islanders led, 45-44, entering the fourth quarter but turned the ball over four times in the final five minutes.

Orange Lutheran 72 (24-4, Southern), Christian 64 (14-12).

D-V

FIRST ROUND

3 Marian 88, Tri-City 26.

4 Calipatria 66, Victory Christian 30 (3-12).

5 La Jolla Country Day 96, Borrego Springs 51 (6-17).

6 Lutheran 53, Julian 41 (4-17).

7 Francis Parker 54, Calvin Christian 44 (7-12).

8 Midway Baptist 59, Calexico Vincent Memorial 57.

QUARTERFINALS

1 The Bishop’s 55, 8 Midway Baptist 38 (15-11).

2 Imperial 67, 7 Francis Parker 51 (20-5).

3 Marian 57, 6 Lutheran 40 (15-9).

4 Calipatria 65, 5 La Jolla Country Day 56 (15-10).

SEMIFINALS

2 Imperial 52, 3 Marian 45 (7-16).

4 Calipatria 47, 1 The Bishop’s 35 (21-3).

The Hornets were 13×16 on free throws in fourth quarter.

CHAMPIONSHIP

4 Calipatria 58, 2 Imperial 45.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REGIONAL

QUARTERFINALS

The Bishop’s 58, Calipatria 57 (18-8).

SEMIFINALS

Reedley Immanuel (22-5, Central) 45, The Bishop’s 35 (22-4).

The Eagles reversed a 51-48 loss to the Knights in last year’s regional.

GIRLS PLAYOFFS

DIVISION I

FIRST ROUND

Mount Miguel 51, Hilltop 42.

Montgomery 38, Granite Hills 31.

San Diego 44, Sweetwater 43.

Cavers advanced on Melanie Covey’s three-point basket at the buzzer.

SECOND ROUND

1 Point Loma 85, Mount Miguel 22.

2 Santana 75, Montgomery 24 (8-15).

3 Mira Mesa 66, San Diego 31 (11-14).

4 Poway 54, Monte Vista 36 (8-17).

5 Bonita Vista 55, Orange Glen 51 (7-19).

6 Patrick Henry 52, San Dieguito 39 (8-15).

7 Mt. Carmel 65, Morse 38 (11-14).

8 Chula Vista 51, Southwest 49 (15-10).

QUARTERFINALS

3 Mira Mesa 52, 6 Patrick Henry 43 (18-8).

4 Poway 65, 5 Bonita Vista 45 (21-6).

1 Point Loma 64, 8 Chula Vista 12 (13-13).

2 Santana 54, 7 Mt. Carmel 46 (14-13).

SEMIFINALS

3 Mira Mesa 63, 2 Santana 38.

1 Point Loma 48, 4 Poway 29.

CHAMPIONSHIP

1 Point Loma 44, 3 Mira Mesa 25.

“Yes, it was an ugly game, but a great defensive game,” said Pointers coach Lee Trepanier of his team’s fifth section title in six years.  “I guess you could say the first four were Terri Mann’s (the all-America Pointer) and this one was mine.”

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REGIONAL

QUARTERFINALS

Point Loma 51, Santa Barbara 29 (21-9).

The Pointers’ pressing, man-to-man defense harassed the visiting Golden Tornado.

“Their coach. Andrew Butcher, asked me if we ever play a zone defense,” coach Lee Trepanier related to Pedro Gomez of The San Diego Union.  “I told him, ‘When the sky turns gray and the atom bomb goes off we might consider it.’  You have to play man-to-man on this level.”

SEMIFINALS

Point Loma 54, Newhall Hart 47.

CHAMPIONSHIP

Inglewood Morningside 45 (32-1, Southern). Point Loma 44 (32-2).

Six-foot, 5-inch Lisa Leslie’s turn-around jump shot with 57 seconds left held up for the Monarchs, although Point Loma could have won but for a missed shot with five seconds remaining.

Leslie scored 22 points and had 13 rebounds after sitting with 4 fouls for 11 minutes.

The Pointers’ Monica Filner was brilliant in her final game, scoring 20 points with 9 assists and leading the Pointers back from a 17-0 deficit at the outset.

“I’m shedding no tears,” Filer told Steve Brand.  “We did the best we could.  I enjoyed every minute of this.”

D-II

FIRST ROUND

San Pasqual 53, Crawford 32 (16-9).

Fallbrook 1, Hoover 0, forfeit (2-23).

Helix 58, Escondido 26 (2-21).

University City 60, El Cajon Valley 50 (10-12).

Mar Vista 59, Grossmont 43 (6-18).

Valhalla 38, Madison 36 (6-18).

Rancho Buena Vista 59, Kearny 30 (6-17).

Serra 52, El Camino 46 (4-17).

El Capitan 53, Carlsbad 52 (6-15).

SECOND ROUND

1 Vista 63, San Pasqual 41 (9-16).

Christine Enger buried the Golden Eagles with 41 points, 29 rebounds, and eight blocked shots.

2 San Marcos 72, Serra 44 (5-19).

Susie O’Brien, the County’s top scorer, upped her 29.9 average with 47 points.

3 Mission Bay 58, Valhalla 41 (7-18).

4 Castle Park 61, Mar Vista 44 (11-14).

5 Oceanside 38, University City 20 (7-16).

6 Torrey Pines 54, Rancho Buena Vista 49 (15-11).

7 La Jolla 61, El Capitan 51 (18-7).

8 Fallbrook 51, Helix 48 (12-10).

QUARTERFINALS

3 Mission Bay 53, 6 Torrey Pines 48 (16-10).

5 Oceanside 49, 4 Castle Park 42 (20-7).

1 Vista 72, 8 Fallbrook 44 (13-13).

2 San Marcos 59, 7 La Jolla 40 (16-10).

SEMIFINALS

1 Vista 64, 5 Oceanside 34 (18-9).

2 San Marcos 63, 3 Mission Bay 45 (21-7).

CHAMPIONSHIP

1 Vista 65, 2 San Marcos 51.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REGIONAL

QUARTERFINALS

Vista 82, Anaheim Canyon (22-6, Southern) 38.

Panther Christine Enger scored 43 points, pulled 27 rebounds, and blocked 11 shots.

Anaheim Katella 56, San Marcos 39 (21-8).

SEMIFINALS

Vista 59, Placentia Valencia 38 (21-10, Southern).

CHAMPIONSHIP

Anaheim Katella (29-3, Southern) 56, Vista 50 (28-4).

Christine Enger and Katella’s Joni Easterly battled for a rebound with 5:05 remaining in the game. A game official’s whistle blew.  It could have been Easterly’s fifth personal foul but it was Enger’s fourth.  Easterly broke a 48-48 tie with two free throws and the Knights scratched out a few more points.

“That was a good call,” said Enger.  “I did reach over to get the rebound.  It was a dumb foul.  Sometimes you get away with it; sometimes you don’t.”

Enger finished with 20 points, 12 rebounds, and eight blocks.  Easterly had 24 points and 13 rebounds.

D-III

4 Lincoln 58, 5 Clairemont 32 (12-16).

SEMIFINALS

1 Ramona 62, 4 Lincoln 52 (16-6).

3 University 51, 2 Our Lady of Peace 44.

CHAMPIONSHIP

3 University 54, 1 Ramona 46.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REGIONAL

QUARTERFINALS

Brea-Olinda (28-2, Southern) 81, Our Lady of Peace 36 (19-7).

Reedley (12-13, Central)  54, Ramona 25 (19-5).

Palm Desert (23-3, Southern) 65, University 50 (13-9).

D-IV

4 Mountain Empire 61, 5 West Hills 26.

SEMIFINALS

3 Coronado 39, 2 Christian 38.

1 Holtville 48, 4 Mountain Empire 26.

CHAMPIONSHIP

1 Holtville 44, 3 Coronado 30.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REGIONAL

QUARTERFINALS

Oxnard Santa Clara 54 (25-1, Southern), Coronado 24 (13-12).

D-V

FIRST ROUND

4 Marian 1, Victory Christian 0, forfeit.

5 Julian 66, Calexico Vincent Memorial 23.

6 The Bishop’s 73, Lutheran 31.

7 Borrego Springs 47, Tri-City 9.

8 Francis Parker-Midway Baptist, no score.

QUARTERFINALS

1 Calvin Christian 56, 8 Francis Parker 27 (6-11).

2 La Jolla Country Day 53, 7 Borrego Springs 18 (10-12).

4 Marian 36, 5 Julian 31 (12-11).

3 Calipatria 37, 6 The Bishop’s 29 (9-9)

SEMIFINALS

1 Calvin Christian 59, 4 Marian 41 (3-20).

2 La Jolla Country Day 42, 3 Calipatria 41.

CHAMPIONSHIP

2 La Jolla Country Day 49, 1 Calvin Christian 47.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REGIONAL

L.A. Pilgrim (21-3, Southern) 56, La Jolla Country Day 54 (17-6).

Hemet Baptist (23-3, Southern) 39, Calvin Christian 38 (22-3).

Tony Clark, a 6-foot, 7-inch junior at Valhalla High, set a San Diego Section record with a 30.3 scoring average and had 55 points in one game.

Clark’s season seemingly could lead to future honors in college basketball, or even the NBA.

Clark did play professionally, but it was in baseball and, after a 15-season career on the field, he rose to one of the game’s most important positions, executive director of the Major League Players’ Association.

Clark was the second player chosen in the 1995 baseball draft by the Detroit Tigers, was third in rookie-of-the-year voting, and earned an all-star berth in 2001 in a career in which he hit 251 home runs.

Clark’s high average this year reflected a booming prep season.  Lincoln averaged 92 points a game and bettered 100 ten times. Valhalla had a 78-point average, and five others were at 70 or better.

The three-point basket, adopted for the 1987-88 season, had become a smashing success.

The 10 top scorers averaged at least 21.5 points.

SCORING LEADERS BY AVERAGE, UNOFFICIAL

NAME	TEAM	GAMES	POINTS	AVERAGE
Tony Clark	Valhalla	28	847	30.25
Joe Temple	Lincoln	28	758	27.07
Robby Robinson	Madison	29	757	26.10
Ray McDavid	Clairemont	30	757	25.23
Aaron Willhite	Lincoln	29	690	23.79
Erik Meek	San Pasqual	24	544	22.66
Adalberto Silva	Southwest	29	656	22.62
John Pressler	Helix	25	540	21.60
Brooks Barnhard	Escondido	24	518	21.58
David Jerimiah	Christian	25	538	21.52

12/1/88

“It’s one thing when we control the tempo of the game and it’s another when we win with our talent.  Tonight, we won on talent alone.” said San Diego coach Dennis Kane, unhappy after an opening game, 92-35 rout of Castle Park.

12/8/88

Aaron Willhite doubled with 36 points and 20 rebounds and Lincoln outscored Madison, 99-79.

12/10/88

Patrick Henry mentor Fritz Ziegenfuss said, “Basically, they killed us,” after a 75-49 loss to Poway, which presented Coach Neville Saner with his 100^th career victory.

12/11/88

Preseason girls No. 1 Vista could not get past legendary power and preseason No. 2 Point Loma.  The host Pointers won, 54-44, in the Point Loma/Coca Cola Classic, their 135^th win in a row at home, dating to 1980.

Monica Filer scored 29 for the Pointers, Christine Enger 25 for the Panthers.

12/14/88

Lincoln, averaging 87 points in a 5-0 start, ran into stiff defense and lost at Poway, 65-56.  Jay Blankenbeckler scored 25 points and was 8×8 from the free throw line in the final minute, after Lincoln had shaved a 15-point deficit to three.

12/20/88

The 42^nd Kiwanis Tournament, with 59 teams in boys’ and girls’ divisions, tipped, as the 28^th Lt. Jim Mitchell Memorial event was concluding.

Kevin Flanagan scored 33 points as Torrey Pines improved to 10-0 with an 84-56 victory over Las Vegas for the Mitchell championship at San Dieguito.

12/22/88

Tony Clark scored 38 points and Rafid Kiti 34, but Lincoln won the Kiwanis Tournament Limited Division game, 113-94, as Aaron Willhite (33), Joe Temple (28), Darryl McMillan 22, and Victor Dean (16) offset the two Norsemen.

Lincoln also bettered the Kiwanis Tournament scoring record, held by El Capitan, which defeated Sweetwater, 107-44, in 1971-72.  Newhall Hart, featuring future NFL quarterback Joe Kapp, had been the first to hit triple digits when it defeated Oceanside, 104-33, in 1954-55.

12/23/88

Lincoln topped La Jolla, 65-56, for the Limited Division championship, by the same score it lost to Poway nine days before.  “We learned not to get into a rush if you’re three points behind and certainly not get into as rush if you’re three points ahead,” the Hornets’ Joe Temple said of lessons learned.

–Poway won the Unlimited Division, 57-44, over Point Loma.

12/29/88

“Maybe we need to go down to Tuneup Masters and have a major overhaul done,” Santana coach John Bobof complained to Pedro Gomez of The San Diego Union.  “This team is in dire need of a tuneup.”

The 7-1 Sultans and defending San Diego Section Division I champions had just finished a 48-40 win over Chula Vista in the Santana Tournament.

–Robby Robinson scored 40 points and had 12 rebounds to lead Madison to a 79-49 win over Hilltop at Santana.

–Monica Filer, averaging 23.5 points, scored only 10 but dished a reported 21 assists as Point Loma rolled, 56-27, over Bonita Vista in the Ben Fisher Tournament.

–Morse, still finding its way with late football arrivals Darrell Lewis and Jimmie Rose, bowed to Las Vegas Bonanza, 63-49, in finals of the Baron-Optimist tournament.

12/30/88

Ray McDavid outscored Joe Temple, 42-33, but Lincoln outscored Clairemont, 100-77, in the Santana event.

12/31/88

Lincoln bombed Santana, 106-58, for championship of the host school tournament.  “I knew we’d come out intense,” said Hornets coach Ron Loneski, who was unhappy with its effort in the day-before win over Clairemont.

“I ripped them,” said Loneski.  “They played as individuals.  I‘ve never had a team play that poorly.  I was upset and I could tell they were upset afterward.”

–A 2,578-mile trip and four nights on the road took the steam out of Torrey Pines, beaten, 68-32,  in the City of Palms Classic final by a Miami Carol City squad that had only to deal with a 140-mile bus ride over Alligator Alley to Fort Myers, Florida.

The Falcons had beaten Avon Park, Florida, 64-57, Stuart of Martin County, Florida, 61-50, and Dunbar of Washington D.C., 67-65, to get to the championship game.

The Carol City Chiefs, ranked eighth in the country, with a front line of 7 feet, 6-10, and 6-10 (“They were quicker than our guards,” said a Falcons representative)  shot 65 per cent from the field (26×40) and out rebounded the 13-1 Falcons, 26-13.

1/3/89

The Point Loma girls’ 143-game home winning streak, dating to 1980, came to an end, 50-39, to 12-0 Chino in the Ben Fisher final.  “That’s what streaks are for…you make them and break them,” said Coach Lee Trepanier.  “We’ll just have to start over again.”

Chino had a matchup edge over the Pointers, 13-0 at tip, with four players taller than 6 feet.

1/4/89

Tony Clark, who averaged 26.3 points in 12 December games, got the New Year started with 38 points and Rafid Kiti added 25 to lead Valhalla to a 96-51, Grossmont League 2-A win over El Cajon Valley.

1/6/89

Christian coach Randy Wright was willing to wait, “but I thought our second string would play better,” said La Jolla mentor Rick Eveleth after his sixth-ranked Vikings were beaten by the Patriots, 66-41.

Eveleth went with his No. 2 group at the start of the game because an automobile carrying five of the Vikings’ six top players broke down on the way to the El Cajon campus.

The hosts’ David Jerimiah scored 18 points of his eventual 31 and the Patriots led, 24-11, after one quarter, at which time the Vikings’ regulars showed up.

1/7/89

No. 1 Torrey Pines took a 30-12, first quarter lead and blew out No. 4 Orange Glen, 97-41, as Courtie Miller scored 30.

1/21/89

Lincoln hit triple digits for the eighth time, 100-47, over Crawford.  Aaron Willhite scored 37 points, Joe Temple 28, and Darryl McMillan 16.

1/25/89

Christian gave it a good shot, leading, 28-26, after one quarter behind David Jerimiah’s four three-pointers and  trailing Lincoln just 46-42 at halftime, but the Hornets pulled way to a 99-75 win, behind Joe Temple’s 32, offsetting Jerimiah’s 30.

–Poway was thought to be a good test for Torrey Pines, but the Falcons prevailed, 64-47.

–Jerome Price scored 28 points and had 19 rebounds to lead University City to a 65-58, overtime victory against 10^th-ranked La Jolla.

Price said he was particularly dedicated to performing well because he opted not to play the previous Friday in order to compete in the Los Angeles Invitational track meet, where he won the long jump at 23 feet, 4 inches.

1/28/89

Joe Temple led the way with 38 points as Lincoln scored 100 or more points for the ninth time and set a school record in a 119-74 win over Hoover.

–Tiny Midway Baptist got into the scoring fray, outpointing Victory Christian, 111-43. Tobin Wilkins paced the winners with 36 points, 17 rebounds, 11 assists, and four three-point baskets.

2/4/89

Lincoln called time out, trailing, San Diego, 65-57, with 3:50 remaining before almost 2,000 persons in the Cavers’ gym.  Joe Temple scored 7 of his 27 points as Lincoln closed with a 12-3 finish to win, 69-68.

“Coach (Ron) Loneski told me I had to be the man, to take the ball to the hole,” said Temple, who also cleared two offensive rebounds and knocked down 2 free throws after a Caver was called for hanging on the rim after a missed dunk with 1:23 left when the score was tied at 68.

Temple finished the game with a rebound off a missed shot, dribbled the length of the floor, was fouled, and converted a game-winni.ng free throw with: 19 remaining.

2/8-10/89

Tony Clark’s 55 points clinched the Grossmont league 2-A title for Valhalla, 105-82 over Santana, and elevated Clark to the fourth-highest single game total in County history.

Mitchell Lilly of Madison had 61 points in 1976-77, Tom Shaules of St. Augustine, 60 in 1957-58, and Rob Petrie of Julian, 60 in 1969-70.

Clark converted 24×30 attempts from the field, including one three-point basket, and was 6×7 from the free throw line.

–Three technical fouls and a player ejected for telling a game official, “That was a lame call, ref,” was Granite Hills’ denouement in a 71-64 loss to Monte Vista.

–The 100-point frenzy continued, with Lincoln routing St. Augustine, 105-58, and Torrey Pines beating Vista, 104-67.

2/14/89

Clark came back with 45 points in an 86-54 win over Mount Miguel, added 15 rebounds, and was 13×14 on free throws.

–Monte Vista beat Helix, 38-37, for the Grossmont League 3-A championship on Jeff Polinsky’s basket at the buzzer, which nullified a basket by Helix’ Todd McTrusty with 11 seconds remaining.

2/15/89

Montgomery completed a 0-20 season and announced it was not going to participate in the upcoming playoffs, although all teams were eligible.

–Lincoln beat Christian, 109-72, and Joe Temple’s 15 steals set a San Diego Section record.

Temple added 35 points and teammate Aaron Willhite 31 points and 27 rebounds.

— Ray McDavid had 48 points, including a record 10, three-point baskets, in an 89-84, overtime win against Kearny.

2/17/89

Aaron Willhite pulled down 39 rebounds, breaking the record of 38 by Sweetwater’s Michael Pitts in 1978-79 and Lincoln topped Hoover, 105-59.

–The Point Loma girls’ 66-40 win over Patrick Henry earned the Pointers an eighth consecutive league championship and coach Lee Trepanier’s 300^th coaching victory against 45 losses, a .869 percentage.