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.

Twas a time when San Diego Section teams finished their tournament and intersectional obligations as the calender moved to the New Year and league play began, determining the playoffs picture.

That’s not the case today as teams continue to play nonleague games against out-of- the-area competition and make quick, weekend trips for so-called “classics.”

St. Augustine still has a  game scheduled against Mission Viejo Capistrano Valley in a Santa Ana Mater Dei event on Feb. 1, but top teams Foothills Christian and Cathedral will almost wholly be focused on league  games the rest of the way.

Foothills Christian has an important contest against visiting No. 7 Francis Parker tonight in a matchup of two, 5-0 Coastal League squads.

League championships today are mostly for bragging rights and look good on banners hanging in gymnasiums, but strength of schedules and computer rankings take precedent.

John Maffei’s Union-Tribune poll this week revealed a rare, first-place tie among voters between Foothills Christian and Cathedral.  Poway and Francie Parker also were tied in Max Preps‘ state rankings.

Union-Tribune	Team	Record	Points	Last Week	Max Preps	Cal-Hi Sports
1.	Foothills Christian (7)	14-5	121	2	13	14
1.	Cathedral  (5)	15-5	121	3	29	Bubble
3.	St. Augustine (1)	17-4	109	1	35	Bubble
4.	Torrey Pines	15-4	87	4	83	NR
5.	Mater Dei	15-3	80	5	73	NR
6.	Poway	16-4	63	6	38	NR
7.	Francis Parker	15-2	53	9	72	NR
8.	Christian	16-4	33	8	51	NR
9.	Santa Fe Christian	14-6	24	7	50	NR
10.	Carlsbad	13-6	11	10	134	NR

Others receiving votes: 11. Helix (14-6, 5 points), 12. El Camino (13-5, 4), 13. San Marcos (12-6, 3), 14. Bonita Vista (14-6, 1).

Voting Panel:  John Maffei (The San Diego Union-Tribune), Terry Monahan, (Union-Tribune) correspondent, Aaron Burgin (Fulltime Hoops), Steve Brand (San Diego Sports Association), John Kentera, Braden Suprenant, (97.3 FM The Fan), Steve (Biff) Dolan (Mountain Country 107.9 FM), Christian Pedersen (SoCal Preps Insider), Bodie DeSilva (scorebooklive.com); Adam Paul (ecpreps.com), Brad Enright (L.A. Court report), Rick Smith (partletonsports.com).

Voting Panel:  John Maffei (The San Diego Union-Tribune), Terry Monahan, (Union-Tribune) correspondent, Aaron Burgin (Fulltime Hoops), Steve Brand (San Diego Sports Association), John Kentera, Braden Suprenant, (97.3 FM The Fan), Steve (Biff) Dolan (Mountain Country 107.9 FM), Christian Pedersen (SoCal Preps Insider), Bodie DeSilva (scorebooklive.com); Adam Paul (ecpreps.com), Brad Enright (L.A. Court report), Rick Smith (partletonsports.com).

Through games of Monday, Jan. 13.

	Union-Tribune		Points	Last Week	Max Preps	Cal-Hi Sports
1.	St. Augustine (13)	16-3	130	1	13	14
2.	Foothills Christian	12-5	117	2	29	Bubble
3.	Cathedral Catholic	13-5	103	3	35	Bubble
4.	Torrey Pines	13-4	90	4	83	NR
5.	Mater Dei	12-3	76	5	73	NR
6.	Poway	15-4	67	6	38	NR
7.	Santa Fe Christian	13-5	49	7	72	NR
8.	Christian	15-3	31	8	51	NR
9.	Francis Parker	12-2	21	NR	50	NR
10.	Carlsbad	12-5	8	NR	134	NR

Others receiving votes: 11. Mission Hills (14-4, 7 points) 11. San Diego (12-5, 7), 13. San Marcos (11-3, 3), 14. Bonita Vista (13-4, 2), 14. Otay Ranch (15-3. 2), 16. San Ysidro (9-8, 1), 16. Helix (12-5, 1).

Voting Panel:  John Maffei (The San Diego Union-Tribune), Terry Monahan, (Union-Tribune) correspondent, Aaron Burgin (Fulltime Hoops), Steve Brand (San Diego Sports Association), John Kentera, Braden Suprenant, (97.3 FM The Fan), Steve (Biff) Dolan (Mountain Country 107.9 FM), Christian Pedersen (SoCal Preps Insider), Bodie DeSilva (scorebooklive.com); Adam Paul (ecpreps.com), Brad Enright (L.A. Court report), Rick Smith (partletonsports.com).

Playoffs this year moved toward an Indiana model, used by that state’s schools for decades and which was immortalized in the basketball movie/drama “Hoosiers”, starring Gene Hackman and Helix graduate Dennis Hopper in 1986.

The Indiana way meant that all teams were eligible, in one division, including many with hopeless records.  The San Diego Section positioned playoff teams in multiple divisions.

Not everyone was happy, but prep maven Steve Brand wrote that “neither side, those that were against and those for, really had to worry.”

“The teams expected to win, won,” wrote The San Diego Union reporter.  “The teams playing in weaker leagues that might have earned playoff spots over teams with superior schedules under the previous playoff system, lost.”

The regular season would determine league championships and bragging rights, said Brand.  The second season was for section championships and state playoff berths.

The San Diego Section 3-A, 2-A, 1-A format of recent years gave way to Divisions I, II, III, IV, and V, based on statewide school enrollments, said Brand.

Of the 67 basketball-playing schools in the section, only three, El Cajon Valley boys, and University City and Midway Baptist girls, declined to participate in the postseason.

PLAYOFF BOOST

Steve Brand also wrote that a playoff procedure in the Southern Section would result in San Diego Section teams earning more berths in the state tournament.

The Southern Section, which did not conduct its playoffs along state divisional lines, ruled that only teams winning section championships would be allowed to move on.

Because of this arrangement no state-designated Division III and only one team each from D-II and D-IV qualified from California’s largest section.

As a result San Diego gained several “at large” girls’ and boys’ berths in divisions II, III, and IV, which, added to winners in sections I-V, brought the total to 19.  No D-I boys at-large teams were invited.

The “3”  game arrived in San Diego Section gymnasiums this season.

The three-point basket, which  revolutionized basketball, was first used on an experimental basis at colleges in the East as far back as 1945 and was adopted by the  fledgling American Basketball Association in 1967-68.

The NBA got with the program in 1979-80,  followed by international ruling bodies in 1984, by all NCAA members in 1986-87, and by CIF schools this season.

The new scoring dimension was met with overwhelming approval by paying customers and mostly by coaches and referees.

Results of an informal poll by Steve Brand of The San Diego Union late in the season:

Fans:  73 for, 0 against.

Officials: 28 for, 2 against.

Coaches: 30 for, 6 against.

“It’s great, totally revolutionizes the game,” said Valhalla coach Manny Silva.

“I don’t like kids going up for the three-point shot when we’ve got other kids standing underneath the basket,” said Mount Miguel’s Art Edge.

“Can neutralize size and bring the smaller player into the game,” said Al Schaffer of Ramona.

“The defense used to dictate what happened at the end (of a game), but not with the three-pointer,” said La Jolla’s Rick Eveleth.

“I hate it because I don’t have anyone who can make it,” said San Pasqual’s Tom Buck.

MORE OFFICIALS NEEDED?

“It is a hardship when you have just two officials,” said veteran whistle blower Steve Tayson.

“We’ve been told, ‘Do not miss the three-point attempt,'” said Tayson. “So while you’re concentrating on whether someone is inside or outside the line (which was an arc 19 feet, 9 inches, from the basket), a foul might be committed somewhere else.”

Perhaps a player summed it up best:

“I’m so short (5 feet, 4 inches) it makes it hard to drive or do anything else,” said Calexico’s Kathy Lizarraga, who stunned area coaches when she made 12 of 15 three-point attempts in one game.

Coincidentally scoring was up as 14 different teams combined for a record 19 games of at least 100 points and there were 11, 20-points-or-better scorers, compared to 7 last season and 4 in 1985-86.

12/2/87

Greg Edwards of Patrick Henry delivered perhaps the first, winning three-point basket when he scored at the end of a second overtime to give the Patriots a 52-50 win over El Capitan.

12/4/87

Coronado came close to its school scoring record when it defeated Santa Fe Christian, 101-54, as 15 players got into the scoring column at the Foothillers’ Tournament.

The Islanders reportedly topped Rancho del Campo, 103-31, in the 1953-54 season.

—University City set a school scoring record in a 99-55 win over El Cajon Valley.

—Grossmont, without one player taller than 6 feet, relied on the speed and quickness of Lance Williams (34 points) and coach’s son Jason Foggiano (26), and was an unaccommodating host to Christian, 85-55, in its Foothillers tournament.

12/6/87

El Cajon Valley was on the short end of another school record when it was routed by Mira Mesa, 104-62.  Fourteen Marauders scored.

Not to be outdone, tournament host Torrey Pines ran past Imperial, 104-53.

12/11/87

Terri Mann had graduated and was at Western Kentucky University but the Point Loma girls rolled on, winning their 64^th game in a row, breaking the section record that they held.

Monica Filer scored 29 points in the 83-27 win over Mount Miguel that clinched the Point Loma/7-Up tournament and was the Pointers’ 116^th straight at home.

12/16/87

El Cajon Valley again was party to another team’s school record.  Santana whipped the Braves, 105-53.

12/18/87

Phoenix Arcadia hit six, three-point baskets and topped Kearny, 66-51, in the Chaparral Tournament in the Arizona city.

“I really think it will take at least a year to get used to the three-pointer,” said Kearny coach Bill Peterson.  “We played good but got too far behind.”

BE LATE, BE OUT

Dec. 19, 1987

The Las Vegas Wildcats arrived 15 minutes late and game referees ruled a forfeit victory to Vista in the 28^th Lt. James Mitchell Tournament at Torrey Pines.

Wildcats coach Mel Washington said his team was stuck in traffic and then couldn’t find the gymnasium.

“We come from Las Vegas and we can’t even get a game?” Washington wondered.  “We will not be back here.”

The Wildcats were pushed into the loser’s bracket, annoying Glendale Hoover coach Ken Kohlmeyer, whose team was defeated in the first round by Orange Glen, 82-75.

“Now we have to play the top-seeded team in the tournament, said Kohlmeyer.  “If we’re going to get treated this way, we’re not coming back.”

San Dieguito athletic director and tournament chairman David LaBorde weighed in.  “I wasn’t there but I think the officials should have been a little more flexible. We’re trying to operate in the spirit of sportsmanship.”

—The annoyed Glendale Hoover coach was correct.  Las Vegas won the loser’s bracket game, 98-81.

—Lance Williams’ baseline jump shot with three seconds remaining was the difference as Grossmont won a three-overtime battle with Helix, 64-62.  Williams’ three-point basket a minute earlier had drawn the Foothillers even at 62.

—A hay burner in Buckman Springs: Desert toughie Calipatria outscored Mountain Empire, 64-63, in the host Redskins’ tournament.

SCORING  LEADERS (average instead of  points accentuated; not all totals reported)

NAME	TEAM	GAMES	POINTS	AVERAGE
Lamont Grove	Crawford	23	644 (2)	28.0
Mark Dirksen	Hilltop	28	692 (1)	24.7
Jay Malott	Coronado	23	557 (3)	24.2
Lance Williams	Grossmont	23	546 (4)	23.7
David Jerimiah	Christian	24	529 (8)	22.0
Dave Delaney	Poway	22	474	21.5
Rafid Kiti	Valhalla	25	533 (7)	21.32
David Lee	Mira Mesa	25	554 (5)	21.30
Lee Cobb	El Camino	25	532 (8)	21.28
Doug Carter	St. Augustine	25	526 (9)	21.04
Erik Meek	San Pasqual	21	434	20.66
Scott Oatsvall	El Camino	24	482	20.0
Mike West	Fallbrook	21	416	19.80
Ray McDavid	Clairemont	24	474	19.75
Carl Gaines	Lincoln	28	550 (6)	19.6
Paul Sscali	Montgomery	22	430	19.54
Paul Baldwin	Escondido	25	487 (10)	19.48

12/23/87

Either Kevin Friel didn’t hear or he tuned out coach John Farrell’s shouting for a timeout.

Friel drove across the middle of the free throw line and drained a 10-foot jump shot for the decisive points in a 79-76 win over El Camino in the Mitchell championship game.

Courtie Miller’s 34 points, including 2 free throws in the final second seconds, clinched for the Falcons, who offered a front line of 7-foot Neal Pollard, 6-9 Kevin Flanagan, and the 6-6 Miller.

—Calexico’s Kathy Lizarraga knocked down 12 three-point shots and scored 47 points in a 61-48, Limited Division win over Fallbrook.

12/27/87

“I like the Bobby Knight philosophy,” Lincoln coach Ron Loneski said. “He said the most important part of a basketball game is the first three or four minutes of a half.”

Lincoln led La Jolla, 42-40, at intermission in the 41^st Kiwanis tournament Limited Division final.  A 10-0 run to start the third quarter propelled the Hornets to an 85-68 victory. Madison topped Mt. Carmel, 70-64, for the Unlimited title.

12/30/87

Roger Johnson, a 6-foot, 6-inch forward who was unexpectedly absent in Lincoln’s Kiwanis victory over La Jolla, scored 22 of his 28 points in the second half as the Hornets erupted for 60 in the final 16 minutes, to defeat Alaska’s Anchorage West, 100-75, in the Santana Tournament.

1/3/88

Lincoln (13-1) handed Santana its first loss after 10 victories, 68-65, in finals of the Sultans’ tournament.  Joe Temple’s free throw with 31 seconds left put the Hornets in front.

“We didn’t tire out and I think Santana did,” said Hornets coach Ron Loneski.

1/9/88

Coronado coach Bob Stanton faced off against Castle Park and, for the first time, his son. John Stanton scored 20 points and the Trojans won, 73-46.

—More than 300 persons were locked out of Lincoln’s fire-marshal-approved-but–usually-ignored-999-seat gymnasium capacity and didn’t see Morse’s 78-71 upset of the Hornets.

—Morse’s Willie Davis scored 13 of his 24 points in the fourth quarter as the Tigers held off repeated  challenges.

1/13/88

The top-ranked Point Loma girls’ 137-game winning streak against San Diego County teams came to end in ninth-ranked host Fallbrook’s 39-37 victory.

1/16/88

“This is our year; we’re going all the way to the top,” enthused Robby Robinson, who scored 24 points and had 11 rebounds in a Madison 73-68, Eastern League win over Morse.

–Mission Bay (5-10) took Kearny (13-2) to three overtimes and outlasted the Komets, 59-54.

–El Cajon Valley sustained its fifth triple-digit loss as Granite Hills became the 11^th different team to score at least 100 in a 111-62 victory.

1/17/88

Top-ranked Torrey Pines (18-0) withstood 44 points from Victor Carstarphen and surprised New Jersey’s nationally prominent Camden Panthers, 90-88, in two overtimes. The Panthers, not as robust as in previous years under coach Herb Wagner, lost again days later at Playa del Rey St. Bernard, 88-78.

1/28/88

Bob Stanton thought his son had misgivings about playing against his father on January 9, but John Stanton must have felt more comfortable in the rematch, leading Castle Park to a 115-56 victory with 24 points, seven assists, and five steals.

1/30/88

Christian was feeling good.  It led Lincoln, 14-13, after one quarter.  Final score, Lincoln 114, Christian 45.  “We have a lot of players who can shoot,” understated Hornets coach Ron Loneski, who had seven in double figures, led by Kenny Hawkins’ 28 points.

2/4/88

Mt. Carmel (11-8) knocked down Torrey Pines, 22-0 going into the game, 64-63, in overtime, on Jason Mann’s short jump shot in the final seconds.

2/6/88

“We got fired up and they got worn out,” exclaimed Lincoln center Aaron Willhite after his 23 points and 22 rebounds led the Hornets to a 100-81 victory over Crawford.

The Colts, who hung with the Hornets in a 42-39 first half, were just 3 for 13 from the field in a disastrous, 32-13 third quarter.

Crawford’s Lamont Grove, a transfer from City High in South Bend, Indiana, battled the Hornets with a season-high 38 points.

2/12/88

Jeff Harper was 5×6 from beyond the three-point arc, scored 22 points overall, and led Madison to a 68-53 victory at Point Loma for its first league championship since the 1974-75 season.

–Montgomery claimed the Metro Conference championship, its first in the 18-season school history, 58-54 over Sweetwater.