The 18 San Diego Section leagues put a wrap on the regular season this week and most of their members will take a breath and await playoff seedings, which will be determined on Saturday.

Championships have been won in several circuits.

AVOCADO

Champion Carlsbad (6-0, 8-1 overall) is getting ready for a nonleague test with Vista and a possible shot in the four-team Open Division playoffs.

CENTRAL

Champion Serra (4-0, 7-2) has a nonleague encounter with Patrick Henry and awaiting its seeding in the Division IV playoffs.

CITRUS

San Diego Jewish Academy (5-0, 7-0) will meet Ocean League runner-up San Pasqual Academy in an eight-man, semifinal round, winner advancing to championship game against Foothills Christian-Ocean View Christian survivor

CITY

Scripps Ranch (3-0, 9-0), setting all kinds of records with its best season since the school opened in 1993, could lose  to Mission Bay (not likely) and would be tied for first if San Diego (2-1, 6-2) beats Kearny (probable).  However, the Falcons own  a 34-6 win over the Cavers.

COASTAL

The Bishop’s (3-0, 9-0), averaging 56 points a game, must get past tough, old rival Santa Fe Christian (2-1, 6-3), and Santa Fe holds a 16-11-1 lead in the series, which dates to the eight-man game in 1988.

EASTERN

La Jolla (3-0, 5-4) can clinch by defeating defending champion Christian (2-1, 5-4) and the Vikings can erase the memory of a 49-0 loss to the Patriots in 2018.

GROSSMONT HILLS

Helix (3-0, 8-1) is a substantial favorite, according to all scientific equations, but the Highlanders can’t dismiss fast-closing Steele Canyon (3-0, 9-0), which forced a three-way tie for the title in 2018 with a 22-21 victory over the Highlanders and get them at home.

GROSSMONT VALLEY

Beat West Hills and the 3-0, 5-4 Monte Vista Monarchs of coach Ron Hamamoto have their fifth straight win and second title in three years.  Lose and Monte Vista could be tied if Santana bests El Cajon Valley, but the Monarchs whipped the Sultans, 37-10.

IMPERIAL VALLEY

El Centro Central (4-0, 7-2) and Brawley (4-0, 7-2) are at it again, battling for the league championship and possession of The Bell, which has rung for the winner since 1944. The Wildcats lead the series since then, 49-27-2, although the rivalry goes back to 1921.

MANZANITA

Calexico Vincent Memorial (3-0, 6-3) clinches with a win over Mountain Empire and also holds a 23-16 verdict over Holtville, which could tie if Vincent loses (doubtful) and the Vikings beat Calipatria (expected).

METRO MESA

Eastlake has clinched at 4-0 and 5-5.  Paco Silva is 4-1 as coach John McFadden’s replacement.  McFadden is on mandated leave.

METRO PACIFIC

Castle Park, 2-0 and 9-0, and Montgomery, 2-0 and 8-1, will vie with Helix-Steele Canyon in this week’s most intriguing matchup.

METRO SOUTH BAY

Hilltop is in driver’s seat at 2-0 and 8-1 but must get by Mar Vista, or shaere the crown with the Mariners.

OCEAN

Ocean View Christian (5-1, 6-2), enjoying its best season since a 7-3 campaign in 2015, meets Foothills Christian (6-0, 9-0) and 35-6 since 2016, in the second  eight-man semifinal.

PACIFIC

La Jolla Country Day, 3-0 and 7-2, will play Parker, 3-0 and 4-5, will decide things.

PALOMAR

Vista, 5-0 and 7-2 with a forfeit loss in its opening game, has clinched, having beaten Rancho Bernardo, 37-20, last week.

VALLEY

It’s an intra-city battle, with San Pasqual (4-0, 8-1), trying to clinch against Escondido. (3-1, 5-3). An Eagles loss could lead to a three-way finish at the top, with Valley Center (3-1, 4-4) also in picture.

WESTERN

Cathedral (3-0, 8-1) is a heavy favorite to beat Lincoln, which would prevent St. Augustine, a 44-38 loser to the Dons, from getting a share of first.

 

 

Helix and Cathedral, the San Diego Section’s two big ones, have had to regroup.

The Highlanders lost running back Elelyon Noa, probably for the season with a foot injury, and Cathedral quarterback D.J. Ralph sustained what was reported as a broken collarbone on his non-passing side.

Ralph was replaced by Charlie Mirer, son of former Notre Dame and NFL quarterback Rick Mirer, and Delshawn Taylor picked up for Noa .

No. 2. Helix moved on seamlessly, administering its annual punishment of old rival Grossmont, 54-14, as Taylor rushed for 170 yards in 12 carries and scored twice.

The victory was the Scots’ 24th in a row over the Foothillers and now lead the series, which began in 1951, by a 45-18-2 margin.

Helix has scored at least 50 points five times in the teams’ last seven meetings.

SECOND GENERATION

Trailing, 14-6, at halftime, Cathedral’s Zavien Watson took charge of the 53^rd “Holy Bowl”, and the Dons, now leading the series, 32-21, defeated St. Augustine, 35-14.

Watson rushed for 280 yards in 18 carries and scored four touchdowns in the second half on runs of 48, 1, 6, and 30 yards.

Longtime prep followers remember another Watson.

Zavien’s farther, E.J. Watson, led La Jolla to a 13-1 record and runner-up finish in the 1991 San Diego Section 2-A finals.  The Vikings lost to El Camino, 29-7.

E.J. was the San Diego Section’s leading scorer in 1991 with 30 touchdowns and 182 points. He had 120 points on 20 touchdown as a junior. Zavien has 120 points through the season’s first nine games.

The regular season will be complete in next week. Playoff seedings will be determined Nov. 2.

Helix and Cathedral will have to continue adjusting to their losses.  Perhaps there will be a rematch of Helix’ earlier, 45-27 victory over the Dons in the playoff Open Division championship.

QUICK KICKS

San Pasqual won a barnburner from Valley Center, 35-32, and can claim its first outright Valley League title since 2000 next week against Escondido…the Golden Eagles shared the title in 2013 and ’15 and Valley Center has won the last three…the list of undefeated teams is down to four: Steele Canyon, Castle Park, and Scripps Ranch, each 8-0, and The Bishop’s, 7-0…Foothills Christian (8-0) and San Diego Jewish (6-0) are perfect in eight-man football…St. Augustine and Cathedral have met every season since 1966 except for 2007, when the San Diego Section canceled all games for one week because of smoke from the Witch fire, which rampaged through much of Rancho Bernardo….

The San Diego Union-Tribune Week 9 poll:

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

First-place votes in parenthesis. NR–Not ranked. *Includes forfeit loss.

RANK	TEAM	RECORD	POINTS	PREVIOUS
1.	Helix (31)	7-1	310	1
2.	Cathedral	8-1	292	2
3.	St. Augustine	6-2	237	3
4.	Carlsbad	7-1	213	4
5.	Steele Canyon	8-0	198	5
6.	Mission Hills	6-2	163	6
7.	Madison	5-3	84	10
8.	Oceanside	5-3	76	9
9.	Vista	6-2*	54	NR
10.	Grossmont	6-2	30	7

Others receiving votes: The Bishop’s (8-0, 25 points), La Costa Canyon (4-4, 25), Lincoln, (5-3, 6), Rancho Bernardo (6-2, 5), Scripps Ranch (8-0, 3), San Pasqual (7-1, 2), Montgomery (6-1, 1)

Voting panel of 31 sportswriters, sportscasters, various County football honchos:

• John Maffei, San Diego Union-Tribune
• Jim Lindgren, Rick Hoff, Terry Monahan, Don Norcross, Thomas Gutierrez, freelance contributors.
• Paul Rudy, Brandon Stone,Ted Mendenhall, KUSI Chl. 51
• Adam Paul, ECpreps.com
• Ramon Scott, EastCountySports.com
• Bodie DeSilva, sandiegopreps.com
• Taylor Quellman, The Mighty 1090
• Steve Brand, San Diego Hall of Champions
• Troy Hirsch, Kaylyn McMakin, Tabitha Lipkin, Fox 5, San Diego
• Rick Smith, PartletonSports.com
• Jerry Schniepp, John Labeta, Ron Marquez, CIF San Diego Section
• Joe Heinz, Coordinator, Athletics, Sweetwater School District
• Raymond Brown, sdfootball.net
• Bob Petinak, free lance.
• John Kentera, Brandon Suprenant, 97.3 FM The Fan
• Steve (Biff) Dolan, Mountain Country 107.9 FM
• Mike Dolan, John Carroll, San Diego Section Tournament Directors.
• Christian Pederson, SoCal Prep Insider.
• Joe Heinz, Athletics Director, Sweetwater School District.
• Eric Williams, WBK Sports/San Diego Friday Night Lights Magazine.

AS OTHERS IN CALIFORNIA SEE SAN DIEGO’S TOP 10

Team	Record	Cal.Preps.Com	Max Preps	Cal-Hi Sports
Helix	7-1	61.5/60.1	11/10	9/9
Cathedral	8-1	65.9/64.6	5/7	12/13
St. Augustine	6-2	51.4/51.6	21/18	28/20
Carlsbad	7-1	46.1/45.6	28/31	39/40
Steele Canyon	8-0	38.1/38.1	58/50	47/50
Mission Hills	6-2	42.9/40.7	38/43	49/Bubble
Grossmont	6-2	32.3/30.3	96/98	NR
La Costa Canyon	4-4	35.6/36.2	73/62	NR
Oceanside	5-3	31.4/31.7	99/84	NR
Madison	5-3	37.8/36.7	62/60	Bubble/Bubble

The second set of numbers or scores in the three columns to the right represent last week’s rankings. Cal Preps.com and Max Preps ratings are based on computer algorithms.  Cal-Hi Sports ratings are product of publisher Mark Tennis’ eye test and information from Tennis’ correspondents throughout the state..

 

And another milestone is near.

Joel Allen of The Bishop‘s rampaging Knights of La Jolla could become the 43^rd San Diego Section coach to win a 100^th career game.

The Bishop’s will have to win out but you’d have to go to eight-man football to find any team scoring 55 points or more six times in a season, which the Knights have done.

Allen, 95-34-1 record in 10-plus seasons at the school, will have the favored team in the last three regular-season games, versus Tri-City, Classical, and Santa Fe Christian.

Win those and go deep into the Division II playoffs to get the necessary wins for 100.  Right now Allen is looking only to winning No. 96.

The Knights blew out La Jolla Country Day, 60-14, last week as Tyler Buchner, who has 29 touchdown passes in seven games, and his teammates overwhelmed the Torreys, who have their own gifted quarterback, Eric Kreutzman, author of 30 touchdown passes.

I gave the Knights a top 10 vote in the Union-Tribune poll this week, but they’re not getting much traction with my colleagues and still are in the “also receiving votes” category.

BY COMPARISON

Allen was 10-13-1 in his first two seasons.  San Diego’s Charles James is following a similar trajectory.

James was 1-9, 2-8, and 2-8 in his first three seasons at the famous school that originally overlooked the city but had lost relevance as students who could play football were moving east, to Lincoln and Morse, and eventually to all locales in the city.

San Diego went into a downward spiral, with infrequent breaths of success, after coach Duane Maley retired following the 1959 season.

The Cavers are enjoying a renewal.  Since that 4-26 start they are 29-4 and James now has an above water, 33-30 record.

Things will get tougher for the erstwhile Hilltoppers, beginning with a City League home game against 7-0 Scripps Ranch this week.

The Cavers moved up from Division IV to D-III this season and are 5-1, including a  reality-check, 41-7 loss to the Central League’s D-IV Serra, which has won five straight  after opening with losses of 18-0 to Scripps Ranch and 30-14 to Santana.

The San Diego Union-Tribune Week 8 poll:

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

First-place votes in parenthesis. NR–Not ranked. *Includes forfeit loss.

RANK	TEAM	RECORD	POINTS	PREVIOUS
1.	Helix (31)	7-1	310	1
2.	Cathedral	7-1	264	2
3.	St. Augustine	6-1	253	3
4.	Carlsbad	6-1	211	4
5.	Steele Canyon	7-0	188	5
6.	Mission Hills	5-2	157	6
7.	Grossmont	6-1	82	9
8.	La Costa Canyon	4-3	59	10
9.	Oceanside	4-3	51	9
10.	Madison	4-3	44	7

Others receiving votes: Vista (5-2*, 37 points), The Bishop’s (7-0, 19), Santana (7-0, 6),  Lincoln (4-3, 4), Scripps Ranch (6-0, 2), Granite Hills (4-3), Montgomery (6-1), Rancho Bernardo (5-2), 1 each.

Voting panel of 31 sportswriters, sportscasters, various County football honchos:

• John Maffei, San Diego Union-Tribune
• Jim Lindgren, Rick Hoff, Terry Monahan, Don Norcross, Thomas Gutierrez, freelance contributors.
• Paul Rudy, Brandon Stone,Ted Mendenhall, KUSI Chl. 51
• Adam Paul, ECpreps.com
• Ramon Scott, EastCountySports.com
• Bodie DeSilva, sandiegopreps.com
• Taylor Quellman, The Mighty 1090
• Steve Brand, San Diego Hall of Champions
• Troy Hirsch, Kaylyn McMakin, Tabitha Lipkin, Fox 5, San Diego
• Rick Smith, PartletonSports.com
• Jerry Schniepp, John Labeta, Ron Marquez, CIF San Diego Section
• Joe Heinz, Coordinator, Athletics, Sweetwater School District
• Raymond Brown, sdfootball.net
• Bob Petinak, free lance.
• John Kentera, Brandon Suprenant, 97.3 FM The Fan
• Steve (Biff) Dolan, Mountain Country 107.9 FM
• Mike Dolan, John Carroll, San Diego Section Tournament Directors.
• Christian Pederson, SoCal Prep Insider.
• Joe Heinz, Athletics Director, Sweetwater School District.
• Eric Williams, WBK Sports/San Diego Friday Night Lights Magazine.

AS OTHERS IN CALIFORNIA SEE SAN DIEGO’S TOP 10

Team	Record	Cal.Preps.Com	Max Preps	Cal-Hi Sports
Helix	6-1	60.1/59.6	10/8	9/9
Cathedral	7-1	64.6/64.2	7/7	13/14
St. Augustine	6-1	51.6/48.3	18/16	20/21
Carlsbad	6-1	45.6/38.1	31/30	40/40
Steele Canyon	7-0	38.1/35.8	50/40	50/Bubble
Mission Hills	5-2	40.7/27/1	43/57	Bubble/Bubble
Grossmont	6-1	30.3/26.5	98/115	NR
La Costa Canyon	4-3	36.2/36.2	62/53	NR
Oceanside	4-3	31.7/29.7	84/90	NR
Madison	4-3	36.7/35.8	60/56	Bubble/NR

The second set of numbers or scores in the three columns to the right represent last week’s rankings. Cal Preps.com and Max Preps ratings are based on computer algorithms.  Cal-Hi Sports ratings are product of publisher Mark Tennis’ eye test and information from Tennis’ correspondents throughout the state..

Ron Hamamoto’s crashing the top five in San Diego Section coaching ranks wasn’t the only significant career achievement last week.

–Grossmont’s Tom Karlo became the 42^nd to reach 100 wins.

Hamamoto, whose Monte Vista squad defeated Chula Vista, 34-17, now has 229 victories, tying the 35-season mentor with Morse’s John Shacklett, who won 229 at Morse from 1971-2002.

Cathedral’s Sean Doyle won his 200th a couple weeks ago.

Another milestone will be in sight Friday night.

–Valley Center’s Rob Gilster has 228 victories and could gain a share of fifth, although No. 229 will require the Jaguars getting past the tough La Costa Canyon Mavericks.

Karlo, 56-31 at Grossmont since 2012 and 44-31-2 at Mount Miguel from 2005-11, tied Monte Vista’s Ed Carberry, 100-59-3 in two stints and 14 seasons, in the Foothillers’ 49-14 romp over Valhalla

For a complete list of 100-game winners through 2018 search the home page “Football” menu and scroll down to “Coach 100 Club.”

QUICK KICKS

Rob Gilster’s Valley Center teams are 0-3 against La Costa Canyon since Gilster opened the Jaguars program in 1998…they lost to the Mavericks, 38-10, in 2000, 13-8 in ’01, and 30-19 in 2018…a San Pasqual victory this week will advance the Golden Eagles to 7-0 for the first time since 2013…Blythe Palo Verde Valley, 4-2 for the first time since 2015, will try to break a 19-game losing streak against Brawley, also 4-2…the Yellow Jackets have not beaten the Wildcats since the schools joined the San Diego Section in 2000…Brawley, as usual, will be a heavy favorite…Cathedral closes the regular season with 3 games on the road, beginning this week at Madison….

The San Diego Union-Tribune Week 7 poll:

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

First-place votes in parenthesis. NR–Not ranked. *Includes forfeit loss.

RANK	TEAM	RECORD	POINTS	PREVIOUS
1.	Helix	5-1	310	1
2.	Cathedral	6-1	273	2
3.	St. Augustine	5-1	253	3
4.	Carlsbad	5-1	217	4
5.	Steele Canyon	6-0	185	5
6.	Mission Hills	4-2	133	8
7.	Madison	4-2	127	9
8.	Oceanside	4-2	58	6
9.	Grossmont	5-1	40	NR
10.	La Costa Canyon	3-3	37	NR

Others receiving votes: Vista (4-2*, 33 points), Lincoln (4-2, 23), The Bishop’s (6-0, 5), Santana (7-0, 4), El Camino (3-3, 3), Scripps Ranch (6-0), San Diego (4-1), Serra (4-2), & Torrey Pines (3-3), 1 each.

Voting panel of 31 sportswriters, sportscasters, various County football honchos:

• John Maffei, San Diego Union-Tribune
• Jim Lindgren, Rick Hoff, Terry Monahan, Don Norcross, Thomas Gutierrez, freelance contributors.
• Paul Rudy, Brandon Stone,Ted Mendenhall, KUSI Chl. 51
• Adam Paul, ECpreps.com
• Ramon Scott, EastCountySports.com
• Bodie DeSilva, sandiegopreps.com
• Taylor Quellman, The Mighty 1090
• Steve Brand, San Diego Hall of Champions
• Troy Hirsch, Kaylyn McMakin, Tabitha Lipkin, Fox 5, San Diego
• Rick Smith, PartletonSports.com
• Jerry Schniepp, John Labeta, Ron Marquez, CIF San Diego Section
• Joe Heinz, Coordinator, Athletics, Sweetwater School District
• Raymond Brown, sdfootball.net
• Bob Petinak, free lance.
• John Kentera, Brandon Suprenant, 97.3 FM The Fan
• Steve (Biff) Dolan, Mountain Country 107.9 FM
• Mike Dolan, John Carroll, San Diego Section Tournament Directors.
• Christian Pederson, SoCal Prep Insider.
• Joe Heinz, Athletics Director, Sweetwater School District.
• Eric Williams, WBK Sports/San Diego Friday Night Lights Magazine.

AS OTHERS IN CALIFORNIA SEE SAN DIEGO’S TOP 10

Team	Record	Cal.Preps.Com	Max Preps	Cal-Hi Sports
Helix	5-1	60.7/59.6	8/9	9/9
Cathedral	6-1	63.9/64.2	7/7	14/17
St. Augustine	5-1	51.0/48.3	16/21	21/21
Carlsbad	5-1	44.4/38.1	30/39	40/42
Steele Canyon	6-0	39.5/35.8	40/44	Bubble/Bubble
Mission Hills	4-2	35.8/27/1	57/89	Bubble/Bubble
Madison	4-2	35.9/28	56/74	Bubble/Bubble
Oceanside	4-2	29.7/32.9	90/60	NR
Grossmont	5-1	26.5	115	NR
La Costa Canyon	3-3	36.2	53	NR

The second numbers or score in the three columns to the right represent last week’s rankings. Cal Preps.com and Max Preps ratings are based on computer algorithms.  Cal-Hi Sports ratings are product of publisher Mark Tennis’ eye test and information from Tennis’ correspondents throughout the state..

Sweetwater, the San Diego Section’s International team.

After trips to Hawaii and Canada in recent years, Coach Gary Zarecky’s Red Devils visited the Continent this season.

They played four games in Yugoslavia after Christmas, meeting some of that basketball-savvy nation’s top junior teams.

The roadrunners from National City also found time to set a San Diego Section record for most points in one game.

Sweetwater’s 136-48 victory over Coronado in the season opener represented the 10^th highest score by any team in the history of California high school hoops.

The 48 points in one quarter was the second highest and the 79 points in one half tied for fourth.

STATE SINGLE-GAME HIGHS (through 1984-85 season, courtesy Cal-Hi Sports)

YEAR	TEAM	OPPONENT	SCORE
1966-67	Geyserville	Middletown	150-81
1965-66	L.A. Jefferson	L.A. Washington	147-87
1952-53	L.A. Jefferson	Gardena	144-34
1964-65	L.A. Jefferson	Gardena	140-67
1971-72	L.A. Jefferson	L.A. Washington	140-70
1980-81	Gardena Serra	L.A. Salesian	140-59
1971-72	L.A. Jefferson	L.A. Washington	139-64
1972-73	San Bernardino Aquinas	Riverside Sherman Indian	138-60
1971-72	L.A. Daniel Murphy	Lennox	137-39
1984-85	Sweetwater	Coronado	136-48

BELGRADE INVITATIONAL CHALLENGE

Sweetwater 79, Belgrade Zvezda 67.

The Yugoslavian team, with a 19-2 record and a front line measuring 6-feet, 8 inches, 6-8, and 6-6, had trouble defending Mahlon Williams and Howard Scott, who each had 20 points.

KK Crvena Zvezda 94, Sweetwater 89.

The Reds Devils lost to a 26-1 team that, according to Coach Gary Zarecky, will play 90 games this season and has a starting lineup measuring 6-10, 6-9, 6-7, 6-6, and 6-1.

The Yugoslav team didn’t take control “until the referees fouled out four of our starters in the last four minutes of the game,” said Zarecky.

Guard Howard Scott was the lone ‘Devil starter to last through the final whistle.

Sweetwater 86, Prvi Partizan 65.

Mahlon Williams led Sweetwater with 17 points.

Sweetwater 90, Tito Vio Uzice 65.

Mahlon Williams’ 18 points led 11 Red Devils scorers.

The Red Devils won the final game, leaving with a 4-1 record, when they defeated another team from Yugoslavia, 116-114.

Sweetwater fired a season-opening shot to remember on Nov. 21, exploding for 136 points against Coronado in the first game (Seach 1984-85: Zarecky’s Red Devils Runnin’…andTravelin’), but the Red Devils came up short again in the playoffs as Poway, now a team of mostly juniors, ran away with the San Diego Section 3-A title.

Other moments  from a long season:

11/28/84

Poway cemented its status as the team to beat come late February with a first week, 89-51 rout of Morse, an Eastern League stalwart and expected postseason contender.

The Titans outscored the Tigers, 50-23, in the second half.  Jud Buechler scored 26 points.

12/12/84

“He told us if we kept playing like we had in the first half, we could watch the second,” said Poway center John Colborne.

Trailing, 31-30, at halftime, the Titans straightened out at Point Loma and eased to a 75-63 victory, punctuated by a 25-6 third quarter.

“Poway is the best team I’ve seen in San Diego since Bill Walton was at Helix and, because of their guards, Poway might be better than that Helix team,” said Pointers coach John May.

Colborne, hearing Coach Neville Saner loud and clear, led with 26 points and 14 rebounds.

12/14/84

Sixteen days after a blowout loss to Poway, Morse defeated No. 3-ranked and 9-0 Sweetwater, 80-71, as Paul Bryant scored 22 of his 28 points in the second half.

Perhaps the Red Devils were looking ahead, far ahead.  They would leave in two days for a Christmas Vacation trip to Europe and play in a major event in Yugoslavia.

Sweetwater coach Gary Zarecky, his team buttressed by Castle Park transfers Mahlon Williams and Sean Styles, continued to showcase his team.

The Red Devils in previous years played in Canada, Hawaii, and at the prestigious tournament in Hobbs, New Mexico.

1/8/85

Devin Moran scored 34 points and Serra set a school record for points in a 92-72 victory over Mt. Carmel.

Point Loma made 6 of 7 free throw attempts in the last minute to edge Kearny, 76-72.

1/16/85

Patrick Henry improved to 15-0 with a 69-67 win over visiting Morse.  The Patriots called up sophomore Darren Thrower from the junior varsity on the day of the game and Thrower successfully handled the ball against the Tigers’ baseline-to-baseline press.

(Twenty days later the Patriots moved to 21-0 by surviving two overtimes and winning at Morse, 63-60).

–Monte Vista led, 17-3, and 38-20 but El Capitan rallied for a 69-64, overtime victory in a game that matched teams with 7-0 Grossmont League records.

–El Camino’s Sharon Turner set a girls San Diego Section record with 60 points in the Wildcats’ 121-16 win over Ramona. Turner, 29×36 shooting from the field, brought her recent, four-game total to 197 points

–John Colborne was sidelined with an ankle injury but 6-6 Dominick Johnson, son of legendary San Diego High athlete and 16-season major league baseball standout Deron Johnson, scored 28 points and added 17 rebounds in an 80-65 triumph over Orange Glen.

1/23/84

The Point Loma girls set a San Diego Section record with their 45th consecutive win, 62-33 at Patrick Henry.

Fallbrook held the record of 44 in the 1977-78 and ’78-79 seasons.

1/25/84

Chula Vista, loser of its first four, won its 13^th game in 14 with a 95-44 rout of San Diego Southwest as it prepared for a February battle with blood rival Sweetwater.

“I coach the talent,” 13-year Spartans coach Mike Collins replied to a compliment from Jeff Savage of the Evening Tribune.  “We were taller last year and this year we’re shorter but quicker.  We do what we have to.”

–John Colborne was back after a two-game injury but Poway struggled to get to 17-0 and 7-0 in the Palomar League with a 62-59 victory at Vista.

Dominick Johnson set a career high with 30 points and Jud Buechler added 14 for the Titans.

–Hoover came within two points of the school record in a 103-68 win over St. Augustine.  The Cardinals defeated Christian, 105-46, in 1981-82.

2/2/85

Oceanside was 5×14 from the free-throw line, El Camino 11×12, including eight in a row in the final 1:21, to lock a 51-47 victory in a battle of Avocado League rivals.

“That’s the way it’s gone all season,” noted Oceanside coach Bill Christopher of the team’s lack of success at the line.  “No, make that all decade.”

2/8/85

Poway’s John Colborne missed another game because of flu and Torrey Pines sprung the upset of the season, 55-53, in the Falcons’ gym.

The victory elevated Torrey to 11-11 on the season and reduced  the Titans to 19-1, leaving only Patrick Henry undefeated, 22-0.

–El Capitan clinched a playoff spot with a 46-36 win over Helix in a game that erupted with 1:32 left.

–A Helix foul touched off a melee in which both benches emptied and about 100 fans, players, and peace-keepers swarmed the court.

–No one was ejected.  Game officials couldn’t determine who the instigator was.

BOYS SCORING LEADERS

NAME	TEAM	GAMES	POINTS	AVERAGE
Ron Howard	Vista	26	520	20.0 (10)
Howard Wright	Patrick Henry	25	501	20.04 (9)
Bill Donley	Christian	22	500	22.7 (1)
Jim Tatum	Santana	23	497	21.60 (3)
Brad Milhoan	Kearny	24	496	20.66 (5T)
Sam Aguirre	Hoover	24	475	19.8
T. Shawcroft	Granite Hills	23	465	20.2 (8)
Mahlon Williams	Sweetwater	28	473	16.9
Williams	Hoover	24	465	19.4
Paul Bryant	Morse	22	459	20.86 (4)
Dean	Madison	21	455	21.67 (2)
Dominick Johnson	Poway	25	451	18.2
Steve Burroughs	El Capitan	24	438	18.2
Edgar Harvey	Chula Vista	26	441	16.96
Larry Willson	Sweetwater	22	448	20.36 (7)
Robert Jones	El Cajon  Valley	21	434	20.66 (5T)
Demetrius Lafitte	Monte Vista	24	430	17.9
Bay Dean	Chula Vista	26	426	16.4
White	Carlsbad	22	406	18.5
Darnell Woods	Chula Vista	25	406	16.24
Markowitz	Army-Navy	21	395	19.75
Jeff Barry	Santana	23	399	17.3
John Colborne	Poway	23	390	16.95
Pelletier	Valhalla	23	390	16.95
Sommer	Escondido	20	387	19.3
David Fulmer	Bonita Vista	23	382	16.6
Kennedy	Torrey Pines	23	382	16.6

Billings, Mountain Empire, 16×285, 19.0.  Karl Rumpelhart, The Bishop’s 14×255, 18.2.

GIRLS

NAME	TEAM	GAMES	POINTS	AVERAGE
Sharon Turner	El Camino	29	863	31.7 (1)
Terri Mann	Point Loma	27	680	25.2 (2)
Paula Mascari	Monte Vista	25	599	23.96 (3)
Chris Sherman	Santana	24	518	21.58 (4)
Karen Chariker	Clairemont	22	471	21.4 (5)
Hranek	Vista	24	448	18.66
Evans	El Camino	27	441	16.3
Michelle Wilkes	Bonita Vista	23	431	18.7
Heidi Erpelding	University	24	424	17.7
Sheri Johnson	Santana	23	416	18.08
Donna Matthews	Hilltop	24	404	16.8
Julie Evans	Hilltop	18	402	22.33

PLAYOFFS

BOYS

3-A

QUARTERFINALS

Patrick Henry 80, Vista 58 (13-11).

Morse 76, Monte Vista 57 (22-2).

The third-ranked Monarchs had led the County with a defensive scoring average of 43.7.

The Tigers 5-foot, 11-inch Paul Bryant scored 29 points and said, “I’m used to playing under pressure, usually against cats taller than me.”

Poway 106, Bonita Vista 51 (14-9).

Dominick Johnson scored 27 points and the Titans, opening with a 35-7 first quarter, came within two points of the school record, set in 1973-74 against San Dieguito.

Sweetwater 77, El Capitan 69 (18-6).

SEMIFINALS

Morse 71, Patrick Henry 64 (23-2).

Overflow crowd of 2,700 persons at Serra saw the Tigers avenge two losses to Patriots as substitute Deshang Weaver, who played at Lincoln last season, scored 18 points and “gave us an emotional lift,” said Morse coach Ron Davis.

Poway 70, Sweetwater 64 (24-4).

The Titans’ Big Three of Dominick Johnson (23), Jud Buechler (17), and John Colborne (15) led an early, 17-8 run and the Red Devils never caught up.

–“If we play our game, hard to defense us,” said Johnson. “We’re a year older, we’re much more mature, and we’re not selfish.”

CHAMPIONSHIP

Poway 87, Morse 63 (15-7).

Johnson (23), Colborne and Buechler, 20 each, combined to match the Tigers’ total, before 7,618 persons at the Sports Arena.

“We’re not the Cinderella team we were last year.” said Coach Neville Saner.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REGIONAL

L.A. Crenshaw 79, Poway 61 (24-2).

A crowd of more than 2,500 at Mira Mesa watched Poway hang in, trailing only 40-35 in the third quarter.

“They just keep coming at you; they never rest,” said the Titans’ Andy Byrne.

“This is an excellent team,” said the Cougars’ Stevie Thompson.  “When we came here we didn’t think they’d be tough.  They were a three-A team from San Diego and we just didn’t think they’d be very good.”

2-A

QUARTERFINALS

Oceanside 51, Hoover 47 (20-5).

El Camino 72, Hilltop 60 (9-17).

Hilltop crept to 39-38, but “I didn’t think we were in any danger,” Wildcats coach Ray Johnson told Bud Maloney of the Evening Tribune.  “If you’ve seen our team play you would know we go to sleep at times.”

Chula Vista 62, Kearny 61 (18-7).

George Brynd’s two free throws with six seconds left climaxed the Spartans 11-point comeback in fourth quarter.

Mission Bay 56, Crawford 53 (11-11).

SEMIFINALS

Mission Bay 60, El Camino 52 (21-3).

Before Ray Johnson’s boys squad took the floor against and the underdog Buccaneers, Johnson coached the girls’ team to its win over San Marcos.  There would not be an El Camino double final in 2-A.

Oceanside 42, Chula Vista 40 (19-7).

Junior Seau swatted George Brynd’s shot into the stands with one second left at Serra High to preserve the Pirates’ win.

CHAMPIONSHIP

Oceanside 63, Mission Bay 40 (19-6).

Pirates led only 23-21 at halftime.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REGIONAL

Easton Washington Union 50, Oceanside 32 (19-7).

The Panthers were of a Fresno suburb and members of the Central Section of the state CIF.

1-A

COASTAL LEAGUE PLAYOFFS

Army-Navy 73, La Jolla Country Day 52.

Lutheran 68, The Bishop’s 66.

SEMIFINALS

Lutheran 67, Army-Navy 57 (20-4).

CHAMPIONSHIP

Lutheran 61, Imperial 51.

“Once we got the ice off the rim we started hitting,” said Knights coach Michael Heidtbrink after the Mountain-Desert League playoff-winning Tigers took a 14-5 lead.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REGIONAL

Avenal 74, Lutheran 61 (21-5).

BOYS CENTURY CLUB

TEAM	OPPONENT	SCORE
Sweetwater	Coronado	136-48
Sweetwater	Mar Vista	123-54
Sweetwater	Yugoslavian Club Team	116-114
Sweetwater	Mar Vista	115-36
Sweetwater	Southwest	112-39
Sweetwater	Kearny	107-83
Chula Vista	Marian	107-67
La Jolla Country Day	Victory Christian	104-34
Hoover	St. Augustine	103-68
Poway	Bonita Vista	106-51
Sweetwater	Castle Park	100-68
Poway	Fallbrook	100-44
Sweetwater	Chula Vista	100-94

GIRLS PLAYOFFS

QUARTERFINALS

3-A

Point Loma 71, Grossmont 21 (14-5).

The 23-0 Pointers converted an astounding 24 steals into easy baskets, winning their 70^th in a row at home and 52^nd consecutive.

Fallbrook 68, Madison 48 (12-7).

Santana 56, Sweetwater 50 (14-7).

Chris Sherman’s 25 points and 11 rebounds helped Santana (23-0) stay undefeated.

Mt. Carmel 69, Bonita Vista 66 (17-6).

Donna Gutierrez’ two free throws with 33 seconds left closed out the Sundevils’ upset of the  10^th-ranked Barons.

SEMIFINALS

Point Loma 63, Mt. Carmel 29 (17-8).

The Sundevils committed four fouls in a rowdy first minute, “tactically” meaning to keep the Pointers from scoring field goals.  Point Loma was scoreless from the field in the first 4:33 but free throws put the Pointers ahead, 5-1.

Fallbrook 58, Santana 53 (24-1).

“We were scared of their record, but we also thought we wouldn’t be here if we didn’t deserve it,” said the Warriors Nicole Jann, who scored 23 points and pulled 10 rebounds.

CHAMPIONSHIP

Point Loma 86, Fallbrook 52 (20-5).

Terri Mann’s 31 points included 27 in the second half, plus 15 of her 27 rebounds.  Fallbrook, trailing, 40-25, at the half, called off its press.

–“I hoped it wasn’t Terri’s night, so we tried to stop some other things in the second half,” said Fallbrook Coach Buck White.

–“Then,” White added, “she went to work.”

–The move up to 3-A from 2-A this season mattered not to coach Lee Trepanier’s team.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REGIONAL

DIVISION I

Point Loma 63, L.A. Crenshaw 51.

“That number 52 is the best around, period,” gushed Crenshaw coach Major Dennis.  “She just intimidated us in the first half and by the time we realized she was just human, it was too late.”

Dennis was describing the Pointers’ Terri Mann to writer Steve Brand.  Mann had 27 points and 17 rebounds.

Point Loma 59, Delano 49.

Terri Mann sat out almost seven minutes of the third quarter with four fouls but finished with 20 points, 16 rebounds, eight blocked shots, and seven steals

“I wasn’t worried at all,” claimed Pointers coach Lee Trepanier.

STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

Point Loma 53 (28-0), S.F. Wilson 48 (26-3).

Terri Mann drained a free throw on the front end of a 1-and-1, spun, raised her fist, and smiled.  The point gave Point Loma a three-point lead with 16 seconds remaining.

The Pointers scored again and held off San Francisco Wilson for the championship at Oakland-Alameda Coliseum Arena.

–The 6-foot, 1-imch sophomore Mann scored 30 points, collected 17 rebounds, six blocked shots, and had 3 steals.

2-A

QUARTERFINALS

El Camino 96, Clairemont 42 (10-13).

University 54, Southwest 34 (12-6).

Hilltop 55, Crawford 41 (14-7).

San Marcos 55, Lincoln 50, OT (8-6).

Robin Paladino scored 27 points, forced overtime with a layup with six seconds left, and clinched for the Knights with four free throws in the extra period.

SEMIFINALS

El Camino 65, San Marcos 35 (21-6).

University 53, Hilltop 49 (19-5).

Heidi Erpelding scored 22 of Uni’s 29 points in the first half and 34 overall as the Dons, 17-point losers to the Lancers earlier in the season, scored an upset.

CHAMPIONSHIP

El Camino 75, University 42 (21-4).

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REGIONAL

DIVISION II

El Camino 64, Easton Washington 58.

The Wildcats had to hold on after building a 53-35, third-quarter lead.

STATE CHAPIONSHIP

Chico Pleasant Valley 63, El Camino 49 (27-2).

The school that lost to Point Loma in the state D-II finals in 1983-84 had a 21-1 advantage at the free throw line.

“The real key though was they broke our press,” Wildcats Coach Ray Johnson told Steve Brand.  “We usually get a lot of points off turnovers.”

El Camino gave up the ball 26 times, compared to 17 for the Vikings.

The Wildcats were called for 25 fouls to 11 for the champions.

El Camino trailed, 49-43, with 6:17 remaining.

1-A

COASTAL LEAGUE PLAYOFFS

La Jolla Country Day 71, The Bishop’s 31.

Calvin Christian 45, Borrego Springs 33.

COASTAL LEAGUE SEMIFINALS

La Jolla Country Day 62, Calvin Christian 42.

CHAMPIONSHIP

La Jolla Country Day 41, Holtville 34*.

The Torres survived nine, first-quarter turnovers (the losing Vikings had 11) and remained undefeated with an 18-game winning streak.

*Won Mountain-Desert League playoff.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REGIONAL

DIVISION III

Woodlake 62, La Jolla Country Day 48 (18-1).

	TOURNAMENT SEASON There were at least 17 involving boys’ teams before and after the New Year and probably more, as many results were not reported or publishedThe majors were the 17th Lt. Jim Mitchell, hosted by San Dieguito; the 38th Kiwanis, and the so named Belgrade Invitational Challenge (Search: 1984-85: “Those Travelin’…) featuring global traveler Sweetwater and some of Yugoslavia’s top junior teams. Others included the Mt. Helix, Grossmont, Peninsula Classic, Santana, Hilltop, Bonita Vista Baron-Optimist, Rohr-Aztec, and Mountain Empire that were played locally, and out-of-town competitions Las Vegas Red Rock, Chino, San Jose Valley Christian, Wilmington Banning, Lake Elsinore, and Santa Barbara Don Volpi. LT. JIM MITCHELL Originally known as the Mustang Optimist in 1961-62, for the last 17 years the tournament honored the late San Dieguito High star who was killed in the Viet Nam war. Sixteen teams, including outsiders Yuma, Arizona, Burbank Burroughs, Saugus, and Playa del Rey St. Bernard. Poway 43, Playa del Rey St. Bernard 42. Poway stayed undefeated with a 10th straight victory in a cliffhanger finish to win the title. The Vikings took a 42-41 lead on a free throw with five seconds left. Poway called time. Jud Buechler missed a 10-foot shot, but 6-7 John Colborne, who had 23 points and 12 rebounds, tapped in the rebound for the decider. KIWANIS Twenty-eight teams, marked by entry of the first out-of-the-area contingent since the 1978-79, got play under way in the 38th annual. Patrick Henry 52, Monte Vista 51, Unlimited Division. Hoover 64, Serra 62, Limited. –Monte Vista outran the Las Vegas Wildcats, 65-57, and pushed its record to 9-0 in a 65-57 victory in the opening round of Unlimited Division play. –“I don’t know how we won,” exclaimed University coach Zach Peck after a 44-42 win over San Pasqual. The Dons were outrebounded, 33-27, and committed 24 fouls to the Golden Eagles’ nine. Two free throws by reserve John Turner clinched it for the Dons with 23 seconds left.