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 10th-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 19th 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 23rd 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 75th 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….
Nice, Pulitzer quality work! Lorelei Kilbourne will be sniffing you out –
Thanks, John. Wasn’t she with Patrick McVey in that TV series?
Don’t know, I remember the radio show.
According to wikipedia there was a radio show called “Big Town” that ran from 1937-’52 and from ’42-52 featured a Lorelei Kilbourne character. A television version was from ’50-’56. Patrick McVey played “Steve Wilson, crusading editor”, for “The Illustrated Press”.
Don’t think I had a TV until ‘56.
Charlie Schneider of Santana? He was known as Gary Schneider to his fellow Sultans.
Oops. I’ll change right now. I was thinking of Charlie Schneider, Hilltop ace from early ‘sixties. Thanks for noting.