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.

One San Diego County team, Lincoln, made it to a state championship final, but there were two Hornets at the Oakland Coliseum Arena.  Lincoln’s were joined by the Hornets of Calipatria, 140 miles to the East in Imperial County and since 1980 members of the San Diego Section.

Scores and some recollections from the longest-ever playoff season, inclusive of 78 boys and 69 girls games, stretching almost a month, from Feb. 23 until March 19:

BOYS PLAYOFFS

(Seeds in italics).

DIVISION I

FIRST ROUND

16 Mount Miguel 69, 17 San Dieguito 54 (10-15).

13 Mira Mesa 88, 20 Bonita Vista 40 (1-22)

14 Hilltop 62, 19 Orange Glen 58 (5-19)

18 Monte Vista 72, 15 Chula Vista 44 (12-16).

SECOND ROUND

6 Patrick Henry 59, 11 Vista 47 (13-11).

4 Mt. Carmel 67, 13 Mira Mesa 54 (11-14).

12 Point Loma 74, 5 Montgomery 63 (13-9).

7 Morse 112, 10 Sweetwater 50 (12-13).

2 Poway 73, 18 Monte Vista 58 (10-13).

3 Valhalla 94, 14 Hilltop 62 (13-15).

1 Santana 61, 16 Mount Miguel 57, OT (11-13).

8 Granite Hills 54, 9 Southwest 37 (15-10).

QUARTERFINALS

3 Valhalla 65, 6 Patrick Henry 59 (15-10).

1 Santana 59, 8 Granite Hills 49 (14-11).

4 Mt. Carmel 61, 12 Point Loma 52 (14-13).

7 Morse 69, 2 Poway 67, OT (19-6).

The Tigers’ Willie Davis scored with five seconds left in overtime.

SEMIFINALS

7 Morse 64, 3 Valhalla 54 (16-8).

1 Santana 58, 4 Mt. Carmel 40 (17-10).

CHAMPIONSHIP

1 Santana 67, 7 Morse 62 (19-10).

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REGIONAL

QUARTERFINALS

2 Santa Clarita Simi Valley (27-4) 92, 7 Santana 67 (25-3).

D-II

FIRST ROUND

17 San Marcos 69, 16 Serra 66 (8-20).

12 University City 51, 21 Hoover 39 (2-23).

13 Oceanside 60, 20 El Capitan 54 (6-18)

14 Mission Bay 61, 19 San Pasqual 51 (4-18).

11 San Diego 69, 22 Mar Vista 34 (3-18).

15 Fallbrook 69, 18 Carlsbad 55 (6-16).

SECOND ROUND

2 Madison 63, 15 Fallbrook 48 (13-14).

3 El Camino 63, 14 Mission Bay 48 (11-16).

8 Helix 78, 9 Crawford 69, 2 OT (13-10).

Lamont Grove, averaging 28.1 points, scored 12 of his 25 in the fourth quarter to get Crawford to a 60-60 deadlock before fouling out with 1:47 remaining in regulation play.

12 University City 75, 5 Castle Park 69 (17-8).

11 San Diego 59, 6 La Jolla 49 (17-9).

1 Torrey Pines 71, 17 San Marcos 49 (8-12).

7 Escondido 81, 10 Grossmont 69 (11-13).

The Foothillers’ Jason Foggiano (35) and Lance Williams (24) combined for 59 points, not enough as Paul Baldwin (27), Brooks Barnhard (22), and Tim Bone (17) countered with 66 for Escondido.

4 Kearny 64, 13 Oceanside 55 (13-12).

QUARTERFINALS

2 Madison 96, 7 Escondido 70 (20-6).

1 Torrey Pines 71, 8 Helix 44 (16-9).

3 El Camino 47, 11 San Diego 40 (14-9).

4 Kearny 49, 12, University 41 (14-10).

SEMIFINALS

2 Madison 79, 3 El Camino 72.

4 Kearny 68, 1 Torrey Pines 59.

The Komets reversed a 71-62 loss to Torrey Pines in the December Baron-Optimist tournament.

CHAMPIONSHIP

2 Madison 54, 4 Kearny 53.

Robby Robinson’s team got the nod over Randy Robinson’s.  Robbie had 24 points and 11 rebounds, Randy 19 points and eight rebounds.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REGIONAL

QUARTERFINALS

2 Madison 75, 7 Tustin 50 (24-6).

The Tillers actually led, 35-31, early in the third quarter.  “I think we can go to the finals,”  said Madison center Jeff Flanagan, who had 21 points and 16 rebounds,

6 Irvine Woodbridge 59 (Southern), 3 Kearny 49 (24-6).

4 La Palma Kennedy 71 (Southern), 5 Torrey Pines 68 (27-3).

1 Bakersfield Foothill (Central) 68, 8 El Camino 66, 2 OT (22-6).

SEMIFINALS

2 Madison 67, 6 Irvine Woodbridge 64 (23-7).

The Warhawks overcame 6-foot, 9-inch Adam Keefe, who had 34 points and 19 rebounds, with balanced scoring by Andre Mitchell (20), Robby Robinson (17), Jeff Harper (13), and Jeff Alexander (8).

CHAMPIONSHIP

1 Bakersfield Foothill 62 (26-4), 2 Madison 60 (27-3).

Madison trailed, 41-40, but the Trojans scored a 3-point basket with one second to play in the third quarter.  “That three-point play killed us,” said Warhawks coach Jim Thompson, whose team saw its 19-game winning streak come to an end.

D-III

QUARTERFINALS

4 Rancho Buena Vista 51, 5 Clairemont 50 (5-19).

3 St. Augustine 68, 6 University 51 (7-16).

“We had a malicious mind,” said Mark Strawbridge of the Saints, who closed with a 22-7 run.

SEMIFINALS

1 Lincoln 85, 4 Rancho Buena Vista 55.

2 Ramona 56, 3 St. Augustine 51 (6-18).

CHAMPIONSHIP

1 Lincoln 71, 2 Ramona 63 (14-16).

“We played horrible,” said winning coach Ron Loneski of the Hornets’ first championship, boys or girls, in the school’s 33-year history, including time in the Southern Section.

Ramona, trailing, 46-32, fought back to a 56-56 tie before Carl Gaines, who had 23 points, answered with two straight baskets.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REGIONAL

SEMIFINALS

1 Lincoln 88, 4 Visalia Golden West 64 (Central, 16-10).

“Lincoln killed us on the boards and with their up-tempo game,” said losing coach Rex Robertson. “In the second quarter they just ran up and down the court.  Our kids wilted.”

After establishing a 24-18 lead in the first quarter, Lincoln coach Ron Loneski leaned over to writer Steve Brand and said, “Watch what happens now.”  The Hornets went on a 25-7 run in the next eight minutes.

2 Lemoore 69 (Central), 3 Ramona 57 (14-17).

CHAMPIONSHIP

1 Lincoln 80, Lemoore 68 (17-10).

STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

Daly City Jefferson 76 (Central Coast, 33-1), Lincoln 71 (26-3).

Lincoln led, 49-33, with 15 minutes remaining, but the usually rapid Hornets suddenly were run into submission by the Indians in a 29-17 third quarter that that left them only one point behind.

Jefferson, alma mater of football Hall of Fame coach John Madden, led, 76-69, with three minutes remaining in the game.

“We won the first half; they won the second half,” said Hornets coach Ron Loneski.

Lincoln averaged 82.9 points, passed 100 points four times this season, and had 19 games above 80.

D-IV

QUARTERFINALS

4 Holtville 78, 5 Marian 71 (5-17).

3 Coronado 92, 6 Army-Navy 53 (7-16).

SEMIFINALS

4 Christian 70, 1 Holtville 60.

5 Mountain Empire 70, 2 Coronado 69.

CHAMPIONSHIP

4 Christian 54, 5 Mountain Empire 50.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REGIONAL

QUARTERFINALS

1 Banning 97 (31-0, Southern), 8 Holtville 55 (14-11).

2 Easton Washington Union 86 (28-2, Central), 7 Mountain Empire 40 (17-8).

3 Beaumont 79 (24-5, Southern), 6 Christian 57 (12-13).

D-V

FIRST ROUND

8 Julian 52, 9 Calvin Christian 46 (7-14).

5 Imperial 68, 12 Borrego Springs 31 (5-14).

6 Lutheran 53, 11 Calexico Vincent Memorial 48 (5-17).

7 Midway Baptist 58, 10 Santa Fe Christian 57 (6-13).

QUARTERFINALS

5 Imperial 56, 4 La Jolla Country Day 45 (14-9).

3 Francis Parker 85, 6 Lutheran 73 (12-10).

1 The Bishop’s 60, 8 Julian 45.

“We played like the Lakers at the start, then we went into daze,” said the Knights’ Kamal Assaf of The Bishop’s 18-0 run in the first quarter. “We had a shot to win by 40.”

2 Calipatria 95, 7 Midway Baptist 51.

SEMIFINALS

 1 The Bishop’s 57, 8 Imperial 39 (12-14).

“Dynasty with a view” is how Mike Jensen of The San Diego Union described the 22-0 Knights, whose campus is yards from the Pacific Ocean.

2 Calipatria 90, 3 Francis Parker 64 (13-10).

CHAMPIONSHIP

6 Calipatria 52, 1 The Bishop’s 51, OT (22-1).

The Hornets’ view is of the more prosaic desert and they ruined The Bishop’s view of an undefeated season.

The Bishop’s, fat with a 29-9 lead at the half, were stunned, 43-22, in the final 19 minutes, the clinching points coming on Andre Zendejas’ free throw with five seconds remaining in the extra session.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REGIONAL

QUARTERFINALS

4 The Bishop’s 51, 5 Reedley Immanuel (19-9, Central) 48.

SEMIFINALS

2 Calipatria 103, 3 Hesperia Christian 85 (23-4, Southern)

4 The Bishop’s 46, 1 North Hollywood Oakwood 44 (25-3, Southern).

Mitchell Butler’s 32 points weren’t enough to overcome balanced The Bishop’s, led by Maurile Tremblay (13), Kamal Assaf (12), Bob Peterson (11), and Chris McKenna (10).

CHAMPIONSHIP

2 Calipatria 56, 4 The Bishop’s 47 (24-2).

STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

Ripon Christian (28-8, Sac-Joaquin) 67, Calipatria 63, 2 OT (25-6).

It’s what happened during regulation play.

The Hornets’ Robert Romero, who scored 34 points, fouled out with seven seconds remaining, sending the Knights’ Mike Vander-Molen to the free-throw line and his team trailing, 59-56.

Vander-Molen missed the first free throw and then purposely hoisted a hard shot that caromed off the backboard into the hands of Vander-Molen, who stepped back and drained a three-pointer for a 59-59 tie, forcing overtime.

GIRLS PLAYOFFS

DIVISION I

FIRST ROUND

16 Granite Hills 52, 17 Hilltop 35.

19 Montgomery @14 Morse, no score.

18 Mount Miguel 41, 15 Sweetwater 35 (9-10).

SECOND ROUND

1 Point Loma 78, 16 Granite Hills 13 (6-17).

3 Vista 72, 14 Morse 35 (8-14).

Chris Enger scored 35 points and blocked 11 shots.

7 Poway 58, 10 Mira Mesa 51 (11-16).

4 Mt. Carmel 71, 13 Chula Vista 49 (8-15).

2 Santana 68, 18 Mount Miguel 34 (4-21).

6 Patrick Henry 81, 11 Orange Glen 58 (13-12).

The Patriots couldn’t stop Laura Hughes, who scored 41 points but had little help.

2 Helix 55, 15 Mar Vista 33 (13-9).

QUARTERFINALS

3 Vista 71, 6 Patrick Henry 57 (15-6).

Chris Enger was 15×19 from the field, scored 33 points, and added 16 rebounds for the Panthers.

4 Mt. Carmel 68, 5 Bonita Vista 37 (20-5).

1 Point Loma 67, 8 Monte Vista 33 (18-7).

2 Santana 51, 7 Poway 39 (13-11).

SEMIFINALS

2 Santana 50, 3 Vista 40 (22-7).

4 Mt. Carmel 55, 1 Point Loma 38 (26-3).

“I don’t know if I’m happier going to the (Sports) Arena or beating Point Loma,” 6-foot, 2-inch Sundevils center Lynda Jones said to writer Steve Brand.

“They played like they wanted to win; we played like we didn’t want to lose,” said Pointers coach Lee Trepanier.  “Give them credit, they played very well.

The Sundevils harassed high scoring Monica Filer and had raced to a 41-17 lead by the end of the third quarter.

CHAMPIONSHIP

4 Mt. Carmel 57, 2 Santana 47 (25-2).

“We don’t play setup basketball real well…our game is run and have fun,” Mt. Carmel coach Peggy Brose told Mike Jensen of The San Diego Union.

The Sundevils’ Kara Warner had seven fast-break baskets and 18 points.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REGIONAL

3 Lynwood 72 (29-4), 6 Mt. Carmel 42 (24-5).

4 Hanford 64 (25-1), 5 Santana 54 (25-3).

D-II

FIRST ROUND

17 El Cajon Valley @16 El Camino

12 Torrey Pines 56, 21 Valhalla 30 (3-24).

13 Crawford 58, 20 Carlsbad 55 (3-15).

Erica Kiser’s three-point basket came as the scoreboard clock clicked 0:00.

19 Kearny @14 El Capitan, no score.

11 Grossmont 66, 22 Hoover 34 (1-18).

“My girls are tired of getting beat,” said Hoover coach Mary McCarthy.  “If I had my choice we wouldn’t be in the playoffs.”

Athletic director John Johnson:   “I think we owed it to the kids to try.  Once you start something it’s critical to follow through.”

18 San Diego @15 Mar Vista, no score.

SECOND ROUND

9 Serra 49, 8 San Marcos 39 (12-12).

5 La Jolla 59, 12 Torrey Pines 47 (9-15).

4 Madison 74, 13 Crawford 66 (14-9).

6 Mission Bay 50, 11 Grossmont 33 (13-11).

3 Fallbrook 48, 14 El Capitan 41 (10-11).

10 Oceanside 40 7 Castle Park 31 (19-7).

Maybe the Trojans should have stayed on the road.  Castle Park played its first game of the season on their own floor, damaged in October when vandals left a fire hose running over night.

Oceanside sophomore Mildred Conston scored 13 points, blocked 11 shots, and had 12 rebounds.

Pirates coach Jimmy Stant said, “I talked to her three times this week and said, ‘Mildred, we go as you go.'”

1 San Pasqual 53, 16 El Camino 30 (9-16).

QUARTERFINALS

4 Madison 53, 5 La Jolla 47 (17-6).

1 San Pasqual 54, 9 Serra 26 (13-12).

8 Helix 57, 10 Oceanside 50, OT (13-13).

3 Fallbrook 49, 6 Fallbrook 44 (14-9).

SEMIFINALS

1 San Pasqual 59, 4 Madison 48 (13-11).

6 Fallbrook 54, 8 Helix 43.

A 20-5 run in the fourth quarter earned the Warriors a trip to the finals.

CHAMPIONSHIP

1 San Pasqual 45, 6 Fallbrook 40.

SOUTHERN CALIFRONIA REGIONAL

QUARTERFINALS

2 San Pasqual 38, 7 Helix 32 (17-7).

4 Los Altos 47 (21-4), 5 Fallbrook (17-10).

SEMIFINALS

1 Palos Verdes Peninsula Palos Verdes 44 (27-7, Southern), 2 San Pasqual 37 (27-3).

D-III

QUARTERFINALS

4 Our Lady of Peace 42, 5 Clairemont 35 (5-20).

“We’re excited about the new format, because it let us into the playoffs,” said OLP coach Carol Burnett to Karen Frawley of The San Diego Union.

“Actually, I think it’s a joke,” said Clairemont coach Dan Miller.  “We were last in our league and I don’t see the value in going to the playoffs.”

3 University 52, 6 Rancho Buena Vista 35 (10-16).

2 Lincoln 54, 3 University 49 (11-8).

1 Ramona 54, 4 Our Lady of Peace 28 (12-15)

SEMIFINALS

CHAMPIONSHIP

1 Ramona 41, 2 Lincoln 23 (16-8).

SOUTHERN CALIFORNA REGIONAL

QUARTERFINALS

1 Lemoore 54 (Central), 4 Lincoln 37 (16-9).

3 Ramona 54, 6 Bakersfield Highland 38 (7-15, Central).

SEMIFINALS

1 Lemoore 50 (22-8), Ramona 35 (19-8).

D-IV

QUARTERFINALS

4 Christian 52, 5 Mountain Empire 25 (2-21).

2 Coronado 43, 3 Marian 30 (6-11).

SEMIFINALS

1 Holtville 48, 4 Christian 35 (7-17).

3 Marian 2 Coronado, no score.

CHAMPIONSHIP

1 Holtville 47, 2, Coronado 34.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REGIONAL

2 Cerritos Valley Christian 68 (26-2, Southern), 8 Coronado 35 (11-13).

5 Oxnard Santa Clara 54 (22-7, Southern) 4 Holtville 29 (16-10).

D-V

FIRST ROUND

8 Imperial 34, 9 Francis Parker 7 (3-15).

7 Borrego Springs 63, 10 Calexico Vincent Memorial 42.

QUARTERFINALS

3 Calvin Christian 43, 6 Calipatria 31 (7-9).

2 Lutheran 52, 7 Borrego Springs 41 (12-10).

1 La Jolla Country Day 42, 8 Imperial 37.

5 The Bishop’s 38, 4 Julian 35.

SEMIFINALS

1 La Jolla Country Day 48, 5 The Bishop’s 29 (9-9).

2 Lutheran 41, 3 Calvin Christian 39 (17-6).

CHAMPIONSHIP

1 La Jolla Country Day 48, 2 Lutheran 32

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REGIONAL

QUARTERFINALS

2 Avenal 41 (25-3, Central) 7 Lutheran 36 (17-8).

3 Lone Pine 61 (22-4, Southern) 6 Calvin Christian 37 (17-7).

5 Riverdale 51 (17-12, Central) 4 La Jolla Country Day 47 (20-5).

 

 

“We need a rest,” St. Augustine coach Mike Haupt was heard to utter after the Saints had played in three late November and mid-December tournaments and this was before the Torrey Pines Tipoff, one of the great events in the country.

The Saints (15-3) reached the New Year with 18 games already under their belts, league play looming, another tournament at Rancho Santa Margarita, and a solid standing as the top team in the resumed, weekly The San Diego Union-Tribune poll.

The Saints also rank 15th in the state, according to Cal-Hi Sports.  No other San Diego Section team made Cal-Hi‘s top 25 this week in what has essentially been an up-and-down season.

There were no great breakthroughs and that promises a competititve Division I playoff when the postseason gets under way in seven weeks.

First place votes in parenthesis.  NR–Not ranked.

Union-Tribune	Team	Record	Points	Last Week	Max Preps	Cal-Hi Sports
1.	St. Augustine (13)	15-3	130	1	18	15
2.	Foothills Christian	10-5	112	3	47	Bubble
3.	Cathedral Catholic	11-5	104	2	59	Bubble
4.	Torrey Pines	12-4	95	4	101	NR
5.	Mater Dei	11-3	77	5	64	NR
6.	Poway	13-4	56	6	33	NR
7.	Santa Fe Christian	10-6	41	7	90	NR
8.	Christian	14-2	35	NR	62	NR
9.	San Diego	10-4	19	NR	144	NR
10.	Mission Hills	12-3	10	NR	100	NR

Others receiving votes: 11. San Marcos (10-2, 9 points), 12. San Ysidro (8-7, 8), 13. Francis Parker (10-2, 3), 14. Helix (11-6, 2), 15. Otay Ranch (14-3, 1), 16. Army-Navy (11-3, 1).

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)

BOYS PLAYOFFS

3-A

Feb. 20, 1987.

LEAGUE PLAYOFFS TO QUALIFY AND FOR SEEDINGS

GROSSMONT

Monte Vista 54, Mount Miguel 47.

PALOMAR

Torrey Pines 41, San Dieguito 40.

FIRST ROUND
Madison 82, Hilltop 58 (15-14.)
San Dieguito 56, Patrick Henry 50 (11-12).
Mira Mesa 67, Valhalla 54 (15-8).
Mount Miguel 60, at Torrey Pines 53 (20-7).

Three steals by Anthony Rivera that resulted in layup baskets got Mount Miguel rolling in the third quarter. This after Rivera was issued a technical foul for hanging on the rim following a missed slam dunk.

“Coach (Art Edge) told me I didn’t need to play to the crowd,” said the 5-10 guard.

QUARTERFINALS

Morse 66, San Dieguito 39 (16-10).

“We weren’t so concerned with stopping them,” said Tigers coach Ron Davis.  “We were more concerned with stopping us.”

Mount Miguel 61, Sweetwater 55 (15-10).

The Matadors avenged an 88-48 loss to the Red Devils in the 1985-86 playoffs.

Mt. Carmel 56, Mira Mesa 39 (19-7).
Monte Vista 59, Madison 38 (17-8).

SEMIFINALS

Monte Vista 44, Mt. Carmel 43 (22-4), @Serra.

The Sundevils’ John Krainock missed a 22-foot shot at the buzzer. Cue celebration on Monte Vista bench.

Not so fast.

Referee Mike Morrow whistled a foul on a Monte Vista player and went to the scorer’s table.  Convinced that the foul took place after the buzzer, Morrow signaled a Monte Vista win.

Cue a second Monarchs celebration.

Morse 58, Mount Miguel 54 (17-9), @Serra.

Reserve Chris Prather, who entered the game when starter Rey Parson fouled out with less than a minute to go, converted three free throws in the final 58 seconds to preserve the Tigers’ victory.

SEASON LEADING SCORERS, BY AVERAGE

NAME	TEAM	GAMES	POINTS	AVERAGE
Phil Holoubek	La Jolla Country Day	25	651	26.04
Edmund Johnson	El Camino	22	569	25.86
Junior Seau	Oceanside	22	500	22.72
Charley Applegate	St. Augustine	24	543	22.62
Johnny Walker	Southwest	16	329	20.56
Shaun Stoll	Carlsbad	20	411	20.55
Lee Cobb	El Camino	22	445	20.22
Vince Bucca	Castle Park	26	500	19.23
Tim Barry	Santana	23	430	18.69
Mike Walker	Hoover	17	317	18.64

CHAMPIONSHIP

Morse 59, Monte Vista 51 (19-6), @San Diego Sports Arena.

–“The last group we had was a little intimidated by the big crowd,” said Davis of an 87-63 finals loss on the same Sports Arena floor to Poway in 1985-86.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REGIONAL

Santa Monica (19-9) 71, Morse (22-3) 57, @San Diego State.

–“We couldn’t keep them off the boards,” said Morse’s Rey Parson of the first quarter.  “They killed us inside. They got two and three shots each time.”

Morse actually out rebounded the visitors, 27-25, and, after shaking off an 11-0 Santa Monica run in the first quarter, battled back to trail, 47-43.

“When we got it down to four we had a shot at them,” said Parson.  “But we came down and took some bad shots and that was it.”

The Vikings, who won their 10^th game in a row, went on a 14-0 run to lead, 61-43.

2-A

Feb. 20, 1987.

CENTRAL LEAGUE PLAYOFF

St. Augustine 66, Christian 62.

–Lincoln’s Ken Thompson had been named Central League player of the year, inspiring St. Augustine boosters to hoist a sign that said, “Applegate the REAL Player of the Year.”

–Charlie Applegate responded with 40 points and 16 rebounds for the Saints, who won  14^th game in the last 17.

MESA LEAGUE PLAYOFF

Hilltop 67, Bonita Vista 58 (9-14).

–Future Chula Vista football coach Judd Rachow had 19 points and 19 rebounds for the Lancers.

–The Barons had forced the extra game by defeating Hilltop in the regular-season finale, 66-62.

FIRST ROUND

St. Augustine 54, San Marcos 49 (15-11).

Oceanside 48, University City 37 (9-11).

La Jolla 58, Southwest 57 (7-16).

The Vikings scored the game’s first 13 points.

Christian 49, at Clairemont 47 (16-8).

David Jeremiah’s late basket saved the day after Clairemont had rallied from 17 points behind.

QUARTERFINALS

Kearny 60, @St. Augustine 58 (16-8).

Oceanside 59. @Lincoln 52 (16-9).

“I knew if they kept us in the ‘fifties we’d be in trouble,” declared Lincoln coach Ron Loneski.

Castle Park 75, Christian 63.

The Patriots were feeling good, leading by five points after a 25-11 third quarter but the No. 2 seed Trojans rebounded with a 25-8 fourth quarter.

El Camino 79, La Jolla 76, OT. Steve Carr’s only two points came with four seconds remaining and gave the Wildcats a three-point lead.

SEMIFINALS

Oceanside 66, Castle Park, 62 (21-5) @Mira Mesa.

Junior Seau, playing in pain with an inflamed navel, was 13×18 from the field and scored 28 points.

–“I pulled him out in the third quarter and said, “You’re done, big guy,” recounted Pirates coach Don Montamble to Mark Zeigler of The San Diego Union.

“Junior looked back and said, ‘No, I’m not done, coach.’”

–Seau played.

El Camino 70, Kearny 48 (19-7).

The Wildcats went on 13-2 spree in three minutes of the first quarter and never looked back, assuring an “Oceanside Bowl” final.

CHAMPIONSHIP

Oceanside 53, El Camino 51 (23-4), at San Diego Sports Arena.

The Pirates led, 29-18, at the half, outshooting city neighbor El Camino, 47 per cent to 19 per cent, but the Wildcats hit back, converted 16×24 from the floor for 67 per cent, and tied the game at 45 with 5:29 to play.

–Junior Seau, who was 10×11 from the floor for 91 per cent and scored 23 points, scored with 34 seconds left to get the Pirates to the finish line.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REGIONAL

Saugus (23-9) 47, Oceanside 39 (21-8), @Newhall College of the Canyons.

Junior Seau bowed out with 22 points and Saugus coach John Clark declared, “He’s probably the best player we’ve seen all year and we’ve seen the best.”

1-A

COASTAL LEAGUE SEMIFINALS

La Jolla Country Day 81, Army-Navy 50 (8-11).

The Bishop’s 52, Francis Parker 51.

Charles Bolton’s 20-foot jump shot with two seconds remaining earned the victory.

COASTAL LEAGUE FINALS

La Jolla Country Day 65, The Bishop’s 58, @University City.

CHAMPIONSHIP

Calipatria 63, La Jolla Country Day 55 (15-6), @Sports Arena.

The Hornets, whose only loss was to 2-A finalist El Camino, qualified by winning the Desert League championship.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REGIONAL

Cerritos Whitney 68, Calipatria (22-2) 61, @El Centro Central.

The Hornets could not overcome a 20-8 deficit in the second quarter.

GIRLS PLAYOFFS

3-A

FIRST ROUND

Fallbrook 68, Grossmont 43 (17-7).

Madison 60, Monte Vista 50 (15-11).

Mount Miguel 67, @Mt. Carmel 51 (20-5).

Helix 67, Chula Vista 45 (16-8).

QUARTERFINALS

Point Loma 81, Fallbrook 47 (18-8).

Terri Mann almost outscored the Warriors, with 47 points and added 24 rebounds for a San Diego Section career record of 633.

Santana 59, Madison 53 (15-7).

Vista 56, Helix 29 (17-5).

Mt. Carmel 77, Bonita Vista 45.

Lynda Jones led  the Sundevils with 29 points.

SEMIFINALS

Point Loma 67, Mt. Carmel 27 (21-4), @Serra.

It was 30 in a row this season and 55 straight over two, on Terri Mann’s 18^th birthday, punctuated by her 31 points, 24 rebounds, nine steals, and five assists.

Vista 64, Santana 34 (21-5), @Mira Mesa.

The Panthers shocked the Sultans, 39-12 in the middle two quarters after Santana took a 14-13, first-quarter lead.

CHAMPIONSHIP

Point Loma 52, Vista (26-3) 39, @San Diego Sports Arena.

“This was the best, because it came in my senior year,” Terri Mann told Linda Murphy of The San Diego Union.  “The last three years we won it for the seniors and this year it was for myself and the team.”

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REGIONAL

SEMIFINALS

Point Loma 56, Granada Hills Kennedy 50 (22-3), @Serra.

–A virtual home court advantage and a bye in the quarterfinals did not make it easy for the Pointers, who outlasted their tough Los Angeles City Section opponent.

–Point Loma had beaten Kennedy, 46-36, last year in the regionals but the Golden Cougar got its claws on the Pointers and had pulled ahead, 44-43, with six minutes to play and were in front, 50-49, with 1:03 remaining.

–At that point Terri Mann took a pass from Monica Filer and scored, was fouled, and added a free throw for a 52-50 lead.

–“The kids had to grow up,” Pointers coach Lee Trepanier said to Steve Brand of the Union.

–Trepanier thought “we might be in trouble when we called a time out with 1:06 left and turned the ball over.  However, we got the ball back, ran the same play and we scored.

–“When you have won as easily as we have, you don’t know how the players are going to react,” said Trepanier.  “We haven’t been in a game like this, but we didn’t get rattled.”

–Trepanier and Kennedy coach Craig Raub agreed that the absence of the Cougar’s leading scorer Diane DeCree for 14 minutes of the first half was a major factor.

–“If they’re going to let Mann push and shove and get away with that stuff, they ought to let my kid get away with a little shove now and then,” said Raub, who added, “The officials didn’t beat us.”

FINALS

Point Loma 58, Huntington Beach Edison 45 (31-2), @Los Angeles Sports Arena.

–Edison coach Dave White had assistant Mark Shannon play the role of Terri Mann in practice during days leading to the game.  “He played some college ball,” said White, “and I didn’t think she could play any better than him. I might have been wrong.”

–Mann had 19 points and 18 rebounds, statistically lower than her usual output, but Mann got strong support from Monica Filer and Liza Carrillo and took on the task of bringing the ball up court.

–Trepanier said he made the decision to inbound the ball  to Mann “after I saw Edison beat (Ventura) Buena (in the semifinals).  They ran Buena ragged.”

STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

Point Loma 60 (34-0), Sacramento Grant (33-2) 44, @Oakland Coliseum Arena.

–According to Mark Zeigler of the Union, Mann attracted several “oohs” and “ahhs” from the crowd of more than 8,000 persons.

–Mann scored 30 points, had 10 offensive rebounds of 25 overall, 6 blocked shots, 12×22 shooting from the field, and was 6×6 from the free throw line.

–Mann closed her career with four consecutive state titles, 59 wins in a row, and a four-season record of 122-1 (the loss, 62-43, to Pasadena Muir in a Santa Barbara Christmas tournament the previous year).

2-A

FIRST ROUND

Ramona 50, Castle Park (10-14).

Oceanside 50, at San Diego 45 (14-7).

San Marcos 51, Mission Bay 37 (8-13).

A 12-0 run in the last five minutes of the first half sealed the Buccaneers’ doom.

Crawford 69, Coronado 30 (11-12).

QUARTERFINALS

La Jolla 57, San Marcos 37.

Lincoln 61, Ramona 54 (17-6).

San Pasqual 37, Oceanside 28.

Crawford 53, @Southwest 52.

Karla Salmi’s free throw with three seconds left clinched for the Colts.                                            SEMIFINALS

San Pasqual 56, Crawford 51 (16-8), @Mira Mesa.

Crawford was 22-2 on the court but had been hit with six forfeit losses because of the “Dreaded Administrative Glitch” involving  an ineligible player.

–The Colts, whose only other loss was to Point Loma, outscored the Knights, 16-4, in the fourth quarter after trailing, 52-35.

La Jolla 46, Lincoln 44, @Serra.

CHAMPIONSHIP

La Jolla 44, San Pasqual 40, @San Diego Sports Arena.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REGIONAL

D-II

Cerritos Valley Christian (26-2) 82, La Jolla 48 (18-6).

1-A

COASTAL LEAGUE SEMIFINALS

Calvin Christian 42, Lutheran 21 (10-14).

La Jolla Country Day 40, Julian 33 (13-8).

COASTAL LEAGUE FINALS

Calvin Christian 45, La Jolla Country Day, 41 (15-6).

CHAMPIONSHIP

Calvin Christian 38, Desert League champion Holtville 32 (15-7).

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REGIONAL

D-III

Woodlake 61, Calvin Christian 31 (20-5), @Visalia Redwood.

 

When it was all over, there was just one honor that eluded Terri Mann.

She was runner-up in voting for the Gatorade U.S. high school player of the year.

Go figure.

Mann hadn’t been second in anything during her four brilliant years and four consecutive state championships at Point Loma.

Mann was the Gatorade Circle of Champions player of the year in California and for the Gatorade Pacific Region, but the 6-foot, 2-inch Point Loma senior was nosed out for the national player–of-the-year award by Kris Durham, a 5-foot, 8-inch guard from Union Catholic in Scotch Plains, N.J.

Eastern bias?

Point Loma coach Lee Trepanier said he received a plaque honoring Mann as “national player of the year in big, bold letters”, but a Gatorade official told Trepanier that, no, the plaque was just for her state and regional honor.

DREADED ADMINISTRATIVE GLITCH   

”They just screwed up (with the plaque).  They should be embarrassed,” Trepanier told Mark Zeigler of The San Diego Union.

“Where they really screwed up is not choosing Terri in the first place,” said Trepanier.  “If there’s a better player in the United States, they’ve got her hidden under a rock somewhere.”

Durham averaged 28 points, eight rebounds, six assists, and five steals,and finished with a career total of 2,574 points.

Mann averaged 35.57 points with 1,174 this season.  Her career total of 3,188 was second all-time in California to the 3,446 of Riverside Poly’s Cheryl Miller.

Mann also holds San Diego Section career records for one-season rebounds (816), career rebounds (2,256), season steals (250), and career steals (652)

COACH EXONERATED

San Diego Section commissioner Kendall (Spider) Webb ruled that allegations of violations against Point Loma coach Lee Trepanier were unfounded.

Trepanier was investigated for allegedly recruiting star Terri Mann by visiting her home before she was in high school.

Trepanier also was cleared of spending what would have exceeded state CIF limits on state championship rings for the 1985-86 team.

“I have never done anything illegal.  I never intend to do anything illegal,” said Trepanier.

“I’’m glad Kendall came up with that decision,” Trepanier confirmed to Mark Zeigler.  “I know that it’s going to make some people unhappy, because if you’re winning there’s some people out there who think you’ve cheated….”

More moments of the regular season:

12/6/86

Mahlon Williams, who turned out late after playing linebacker for the football team, warmed up in his second game of the season with 36 points for Sweetwater in an 86-74 win over Hoover.

12/9/86

Sweetwater’s Mahlon Williams was declared academically ineligible and 6-5 center Sean Styles left the team. The Red Devils fell to Point Loma, 65-53. Days later, guard Scott Catlin was sidelined with a groin injury.

Styles would return. So would Catlin and Williams became eligible in early February.

–Liza Carrillo scored 29 and Monica Filer 22 as a sore back forced Terri Mann sit out a 55-24 win over Torrey Pines in the Point Loma 7-Up Classic.

VARSITY WOWED

12/10/86

Unusual for the era, Morse scheduled an alumni team and was surprised, 84-70, by the well-conditioned graduates.

“There was a lot of all-CIF talent out there,” noted Tigers coach Ron Davis.

David Gayden, class of 1984, scored 19 points.

12/11/86

Crawford actually led the Point Loma girls, 12-6, at the end of the first quarter.  Final score, Pointers 72, Colts 41.  Liza Carrillo (23) Monica Filer (21), and Terri Mann (18) roused Coach Lee Trepanier’s somambulant club.

12/17/86

Terri Mann was hit with a fourth personal foul and went to bench three minutes into the second quarter.  The opponent was 8-0 Vista, the second-ranked team in the County.

Not to worry. The 6-foot, 2-inch Mann returned after a 9-2 Vista run and led the Pointers to a 62-42 victory, scoring 23 points and avoiding a fifth personal.

MUST RETURN HOME

12/19-20/86

Morse and Sweetwater were co-hosts to Wilmington Banning of the Los Angeles City Section and Pasadena Muir of the Southern Section.

Morse was the home team on Friday night and defeated Banning, 66-53.  Sweetwater, jolted by the loss of three starters, was a 99-52 victim of Muir.

Banning could not stay overnight, so Madison played Sweetwater Saturday evening and scored a 70-52 victory.

A 23-10 third quarter was enough to offset a 24-11 fourth quarter by Morse as Muir went home a 75-69 winner.

12/22/86

Point Loma scored a 1-0 forfeit over the San Marcos girls.  The Knights’ bus broke down in Del Mar and the team could not get to the Pointers’ gym in time for a game.

12/23/86

Junior Seau, out to practice late from football, was tournament most-valuable player and scored 20 points as Oceanside edged crosstown rival El Camino, 37-31, for the championship of the Lt. Jim Mitchell event at San Dieguito.

12/28/86

Morse (Unlimited Division) defeated Mira Mesa 60-54; Seal Beach Los Alamitos (Limited) topped La Jolla, 68-48, and St. Augustine (Classified) nipped Clairemont, 68-65, for championships in the 40^th Kiwanis Tournament.

Reported tournaments:  Hilltop, Torrey Pines, Mt. Helix, Parker, Foothiller, Elsinore,  Kern County Shootout at Bakersfield, West Coast at San Jose, Mountain Empire, Don Volpi at Goleta, Jim Mitchell, Kiwanis, Rohr-Aztec at Montgomery, Santana, Point Loma 7-Up, Point Loma Ben Fisher,  Bonita Vista Baron Optimist.

MANN, OH MANN!

12/31/86

Terri Mann took over the Ben Fisher tournament on her home court with 65 points in a 109-35 win over Chula Vista and with 48 three days later in a 100-18 rout of Bonita Vista.

Mann broke the San Diego Section single-game record of 60 points by Hilltop’s Linda Nelson in a game against Southwest in the 1975-76 season and by El Camino’s Sharon Turner against Ramona in 1984-85.

MIND OVER MATTER

1/16/87

To the Evening Tribune’s Don Norcross, Junior Seau said, “I was just out there with my body,” after a 22-point game.

Concentration had become a difficult for the Parade Magazine football all-America as recruiters hounded the 6-foot, 5-inch Oceanside superstar.

So Seau told his coaches, “No recruiters for the rest of the week.”

Able to concentrate, Seau scored a season-high 32 points on 14×19 shooting, with 12 rebounds, 4 blocks, and a couple “Magic Johnson-like” assists in a 64-51 win over San Marcos.

–After a steal of an inbounds pass, Granite Hills’ Mark Phillips scored, was fouled, and converted a free throw for a 50-47 win over Helix, ending the Eagles’ 50-game losing streak to the Highlanders, dating to the 1960s.

NOT HAPPY CAMPER

1/24/87

Ron Davis wasn’t pleased after a 68-60 victory over 11-5 Madison.

“We were up by 16 points with four minutes to play (actually 3:25) and they got it down to six,” the 13-1 Morse coach complained to Bud Maloney of The Tribune.  “This is a senior ball club and that shouldn’t happen.”

–Clairemont ended six consecutive years of Western League losses to La Jolla, 47-46.

1/27/87

Terri Mann scored an almost routine 47 points as the Point Loma girls whipped Serra, 73-31.

1/30/87

A devastating threesome of Terri Mann (45 points), Liza Carillo (29), Monica Filer (15)  scored all but five points in Point Loma’s 94-29 win over Morse.

2/3/87

It wasn’t pretty but Mira Mesa persevered, 76-73, over Madison after 21 fouls were called in the first quarter, 56 for the game, and three Warhawks and two Marauders fouled out.

2/4/87

Mahlon Williams returned for Sweetwater after missing 17 games for academic malfeasance and scored 17 points in 19 minutes, with three blocked shots, and eight rebounds in the Red Devils’ 57-50 win over Chula Vista.

–Mira Mesa capped a big week with a 39-38 win over Eastern League front-runner Morse on Scott Cummings’ 15-foot, baseline shot with 15 seconds left.

2/10/87

Six-foot, 5-inch Charley Applegate scored 28 points to lead St. Augustine to an 80-76, overtime victory against Western League leader Lincoln.

Applegate also sent the game into overtime with two free throws with two seconds left and scored the clinching basket in the extra session.

–Terri Mann scored 51 points, Liza Carrillo 16, and Monica Filer 15 as Point Loma topped Madison, 95-36.

2/11/87

Castle Park kept alive a 23-game Metropolitan Conference winning streak by coming from behind in the final 40 seconds to defeat Bonita Vista, 64-62.

The Trojans’ Vince Bucca drained a pair of free throws with 15 seconds left.  “I was just telling myself, ‘Think about how many free throws you’ve made in your life…just relax…just let it flow,’” Bucca said.

2/12/87

Clairemont clinched a playoff spot for the first time since the 1975-76 season, 53-40 over La Jolla.

The Chieftains’ 16-6 record was the best since a 22-8 finish in 1971-72.

Coached by former UCLA star Greg Lee, the orange-and-blue-clad Chieftains of Ute Drive overcame a 1-22 record in 1985-86, Lee’s first season.

2/13/87

El Camino, routed by Oceanside, 67-52, in the first round of Avocado League play, knocked off the front-running Pirates, 65-61, snapping their 10-game winning streak.

Edmond Johnson led the way for the Wildcats with 21 points and 10 assists.

2/18/87

Clairemont’s 57-46 loss to University City allowed Kearny to claim the Western League title with a 76-63 decision against University.

2/20/87

Castle Park ended the regular-season with a Metropolitan Conference home-game winning streak of 25 games, 94-40 over Coronado.

–Madison teams earned playoff bids with 53-31 (girls) and 63-46 boys wins over Patrick Henry.