2018-19 Week 10: League Champions Step Up to Playoffs
Twenty-one San Diego Section league champions were crowned this week, although such a feat means nothing when it comes to the playoffs, pairings of which were announced today.
But league championships represent a lot more than a playoff seeding,or divisional placement. Just ask the Mira Mesa Marauders and San Diego Cavers, who clinched Eastern and City loop titles, respectively, on the last night of the regular season.
Visiting Mira Mesa nipped Scripps Ranch, 52-51, and San Diego defeated host University City, 62-56. The winners celebrated on their opponents’ floors. It doesn’t get much better than that.
DONS TAKE IT TO SAINTS
There was no league title at stake but a standing room only crowd of more than 2,000 persons jammed the St. Augustine gym, where the Saints were hoping to close out a 12-0 league season against 8-3 rival Cathedral.
There were almost 150 banners signaling league championships since 1960 hanging in the high reaches of the beautiful, almost-new St. Augustine arena, but the night belong to the Dons.
Cathedral won the junior varsity game on a basket in the final 20 seconds, 48-46, and the Dons’ varsity outscored the Saints in every quarter, pulling away to a 62-52 victory.
Sweetwater, Escondido, Southern California Yeshiva, Chula Vista Learning Community, and Calexico Vincent Memorial ran the table, completing undefeated seasons in their respective leagues, noted below.
Others receiving votes: Carlsbad (19-5, 16), Vista (18-8, 11), Francis Parker (15-8, 5), Vista Rancho Buena Vista (21-3, 15 points), Francis Parker (13-7, 15) San Marcos (15-9, 4), Sweetwater (20-6, 4), Valhalla (24-4, 4).
Voters: John Maffei, The San Diego Union-Tribune; Terry Monahan, Freelance; Steve Brand, San Diego Sports Association; Carlton Hoggard (CIF San Diego Section), Adam Paul, Ramon Scott, EastCountySports.com; John Kentera, Braden Suprenant, 97.3 FM, The Fan; Rick Smith, partletonsports.com; Bodie DeSilva, sandiegopreps.com; Steve Dolan, Mountain Country 107.9 FM; Christian Pedersen, S.D. Preps Insider; Aaron Burgin, Fulltime Hoops; Brad Enright, L.A. Court Report.
1971-72: Drollinger Leads Foothillers to Championship
No one could replace Bill Walton, so Ralph Drollinger just succeeded him.
The 7-foot Drollinger, an inch taller than the legendary Walton, played at Grossmont, arch rival of Walton’s Helix.
Drollinger posted San Diego County’s second highest, one-season scoring total, 878 points, to Walton’s 958.
Drollinger won a San Diego Section championship, to Walton’s two.
Drollinger attended UCLA and won two national collegiate championships, to Walton’s three.
Drollinger’s senior season at Grossmont concluded with a 29-3 record, to Walton’s 33-0 and 49-game winning streak in his last two seasons.
Walton is remembered as one of collegiate basketball’s all-time great players. Drollinger is remembered as a steady contributor, whose career ended with a strong, off-the-bench performance in the NCAA championship game at the San Diego International Sports Arena.
Drollinger, one of only six players employed in Bruins coach John Wooden’s last game, played defense and kept the Kentucky Wildcats off balance with a powerful, 13-rebound performance in a 87-82 UCLA victory.
HIGHLANDERS IN WAY
Post-Walton, Helix had a “down” year with a 21-9 record in 1970-71 but not surprisingly Bill Finley of the Evening Tribune declared the Highlanders No. 1 in his preseason poll, a tribute in part to coach Gordon Nash and his teams’ 109-21 (.846) record in Nash’s four years.
Helix also benefitted from the arrival of Crawford transfer Wilbert Olinde, a 6-foot-5 junior who averaged 18.3 points and whose 568 points would be fifth highest in the County.
The Scots posted a 24-7 record and made it to the finals again, but they came up short in three meetings with the Foothillers, who won the two Grossmont League matchups, 59-56 and 80-60, and the championship encounter, 58-56.
The Highlanders, who trailed by as much as 11 points, led the title game, 56-55, with 16 seconds remaining, but Helix’ 6-foot-9 Gary Ely fouled Drollinger.
“I had to make those foul shots,” understated Drollinger, who scored 34 points and had 12 rebounds. “We’d been working so hard. It really would have been a letdown if I hadn’t made ‘em.”
A basketball version of Honest Abe Lincoln, Drollinger questioned the official’s call on Ely, declaring, “I can’t remember him actually fouling me.”
Wilbert Olinde missed a short jump shot on the ensuing final possession and thought he was fouled by Tom Foulds. “I thought he hit me on the way up,” said Olinde. “I thought they’d called it. I thought I heard a whistle.”
It was a bitter loss for Helix, arguably having created the best athletic program in the area.
Drollinger loomed over all he surveyed.
Grossmont, however, became the first school in the 12 years of the San Diego Section to win a football and basketball championship in the same school year.
RIVALRY
Olinde was a welcome addition at Helix.
Helix led the all-time series with Grossmont, 27-16, entering this season and had never lost three in a row or been beaten so convincingly by the Foothillers as they were in the 20-point loss in the second round of Grossmont League play.
Drollinger had 34 points, 12 rebounds, blocked five shots, and altered the trajectory on several others.
“I’ve never been so high for a game,” Drollinger told Jack Williams of the Evening Tribune. “I don’t think I played my best game, but if I say that people will probably think I’m really high on myself or something.”
Helix became frustrated and was assessed three technical fouls. “The Highlanders couldn’t play their game,” wrote Jack Williams, “and when that became apparent early their poise went out the window.”
SCORING
The trend to higher scores and higher averages topped 1970-71 performances but fell short of the Walton-paced 1969-70 season.
There was one player this season with more than 700 points, four over 600, and 14 over 500. Those numbers compared with five over 700, 11 over 600, and 15 over 500 in 1969-70 and one over 600 and seven over 500 in 1970-71.
Ten players averaged 20.1 points a game or better, compared to four in 1970-71, and 10 in 1969-70, when 10 averaged at least 23.0 and 20 averaged at least 20.0.
An all-time high of 31 players scored at least 400 points this season, compared to 28 in 1969-70 and 29 in 1970-71.
John Fairchild of San Dieguito scored 428 points and was the only player with at least 400 in 1960-61, the first year of the San Diego Section.
1971-72 leaders:
Ralph Drollinger
Grossmont
32
878
27.4 (1)
Marty Mayer
Clairemont
30
628
20.9 (7)
Steve Copp
Hilltop
28
625
22.3 (5)
Geoff Hinkle
Santana
24
616
25.7 (2)
Wilbert Olinde
Helix
31
568
18.3
Mark Dobransky
Mount Miguel
25
565
22.6 (4)
Dan Schmidt
El Capitan
27
564
20.9 (7)
Dana Blalock
San Dieguito
24
554
23.1 (3)
Mike Liedike
Chula Vista
27
549
20.3 (9)
Tom Lines
Bonita Vista
31
549
17.7
Steve Seidler
Point Loma
23
505
22.0 (6)
Zeke Sanchez
Morse
27
503
18.6
Geno Dente
Coronado
27
497
18.4
James Robinson
San Diego
30
493
16.4
Bob Russell
Mission Bay
25
483
19.3
Bob McIver
St. Augustine
24
482
20.1(10)
Rock Lee
Madison
31
481
15.5
Jim March
Bonita Vista
31
475
15.3
David Ross
El Capitan
25
474
19.0
John Hurlburt
El Cajon Valley
25
474
19.0
Stan Rosendahl
Bonita Vista
31
470
15.2
Pete Weichert
Mar Vista
28
468
16.7
Genero Hukins
Montgomery
27
462
17.1
Ron Coppess
Orange Glen
25
454
18.2
Sam Pecktol
Castle Park
25
449
18.0
Willard Scott
San Diego
28
448
16.0
Williams
Escondido
23
426
18.5
Mark Schenewerk
Mar Vista
28
420
15.0
Claudie Henry
Hoover
24
419
17.5
Lou Faust
University
29
414
14.3
Henry Arviso
Santana
26
402
15.5
Bruce Coldwell
Madison
29
401
13.8
Carl Zemlick
Monte Vista
26
400
15.4
John Oakes of Borrego Springs had a reported 23-point average but final averages and results for all games for small schools players, including Ramona’s John Schneider and Christian’s Dan Kirby, who reportedly averaged 19 points, were omitted by newspapers.
TRIPLE FIGURES
The 100-point game was becoming less of a rarity.
Teams passed the century mark nine times in 1968-69, including six by Helix. It happened twice in 1970-71, and 11 times this season:
El Capitan 105, Sweetwater 44.
Madison 102, El Cajon Valley 43.
Bonita Vista 114, Vista 50.
Ramona 104, Mountain Empire 43.
Christian 113, Borrego Springs 59.
Bonita Vista 102, Montgomery 57.
Hilltop 101, Coronado 68.
Hilltop 116, Castle Park 63.
Ramona 101, Borrego Springs 46.
Helix 115, Granite Hills 65.
Bonita Vista 113, Madison 56.
CLOSE, BUT NOT
Coached by Bill Foley, a star at Chula Vista in the late ‘fifties, the Bonita Vista Barons almost ran the table.
An early-season, 77-74 loss to Madison was their only defeat and their 26-1 record was better than any of other three playoffs semifinalists. The Chula Vistans were averaging 84 points a game.
Hilltop’s Steve Copp, who scored 628 points, was considered second only to Drollinger. in the San Diego Section
Helix knocked out the Barons, 59-57, in a taut defensive struggle that went a playoff record two overtimes before Helix’ Jim Aunan hit an eight-foot runner six seconds before a third extra session.
“I can replay the game one hundred times and find a hundred different ways we could have won,” said Foley.
The Bonita coach picked Grossmont to win the next night. “Ralph Drollinger can control the tempo of the game and the boards by himself.”
DO WE HAVE TO?
John Hannon, coach of the 24-6 Warhawks, found himself coaching in the third place game for the fourth time in six years after the 74-63 loss to Grossmont in the semifinals. “It’s getting a little old,” said Hannon.
Hannon’s team did not seem interested. Foley was determined not to have his team lose twice before the big crowd at the Sports Arena.
“We were rated number one by some people and we’d look awfully bad if we turned out to be number four,” said Foley.
The Barons (29-2) got after it early and ran the Warhawks off the floor, 113-56.
Bonita Vista led, 45-3, with 6:15 remaining in the first half and at one point scored 34 consecutive points.
John Hannon said he let the team decide whether it wanted to play to win or whether it preferred letting every one play. “They voted to let everyone play,” said Hannon, who used various combinations of players and never included the five who had won 24 games including 77-74 over Bonita Vista in the Baron-Optimist Tournament.
NEW PLAYOFF FORMAT
CIF bosses loosened their rules on the playoffs, which still were one week in duration but allowed for a Wednesday day off for the four teams that would go to the semifinals.
The previous, four-games-in-four-days was under fire from coaches, some claiming it was nothing more than an endurance test. “We had to do something,” said CIF honcho Don Clarkson.
DREADED ADMINISTRATIVE GLITCH
In a long history of CIF and school administrative goofs, this was a whopper, circumstances of which are reprinted in part from the Evening Tribune Feb. 23, 1972:
“Last night’s second-round game between Hilltop and Madison was supposed to be played at Grossmont College.
“It wasn’t.
Even when it was not his fault, Clarkson usually received the blame.
“As several hundred prospective customers learned when they arrived at an empty gym, the site had been changed.
“Not Sunday or Monday…but roughly seven hours before the game.
“It seems county commissioner Don Clarkson, whose job it is to coordinate the playoffs, neglected to reserve the facility.
“He made a tentative reservation…but he never filed a facilities request,” said a Grossmont College spokesman.
“Clarkson said he didn’t know such a form was required.
“The Evening Tribune was told last night that Clarkson had been informed in writing of the procedure 14 months ago.
“Hilltop and Madison were not aware of the problem until midmorning yesterday.
“Hilltop vice principal William Darton drove to the college…and learned on arrival the gym was unavailable.
“…the two schools began searching for what Clarkson termed ‘a large, neutral gym.’”
“They settled on Castle Park High, one of the smaller gyms in the County and one eight blocks away from Hilltop.
Madison coach John Hannon was incensed and Hilltop, which rented booster buses for the trip to Grossmont, wasn’t delighted by the move…
“Clarkson blamed ‘a mix-up in communication’ for the problem.”
Madison won, 61-49.
KIWANIS TOURNAMENT
–Forty-four teams participated in the 25th annual event, oldest and largest in the state.
–El Capitan (15-12) broke the single-game scoring record of 104 by Newhall Hart in 1954-55 with a 105-44 win over Sweetwater (1-23).
–Helix won the Unlimited Division championship, 60-53, over San Diego (17-12), which led, 49-47, with 3:41 remaining.
–Poway (22-3) upset undefeated (7-0) Hilltop (23-5 overall), 76-71 for the Limited Division title. “I was over confident,” said Hilltop coach Paul Pruitt. “The kids were, too.”
–Bonita Vista topped Coronado (14-13), 88-63, for the Classified crown.
UNIVERSITY
–All games in the 16-team event were played at the University of San Diego. Mission Bay (10-17) and Lincoln (22-7) squared off in the first game at 8 a.m. on Day I, the Buccaneers winning, 53-51, on John Vales’ basket at the buzzer.
Madison’s Mike Haworth affects pirouette in transplanted playoff game against Hilltop defender Dale Tussing at Castle Park.
–Ralph Drollinger scored 34 points, but University (20-8) edged Grossmont, 57-53, and followed with a 58-52 win over Clairemont (22-9) for the championship.
–Drollinger’ 130 points in 4 games bettered the record of 121 by Kearny’s Wilburn Strong in 1968-69.
EL CENTRO ELKS
–Las Vegas Rancho edged Morse (14-13), 61-59, in the Unlimited Division and Calipatria outscored Coronado, 55-51, for the Limited title.
CHINO
–After an 82-60 win over Duarte, San Dieguito (12-12) dropped a 79-53 decision to Covina South Hills and 58-56 to Claremont in the fifth place semifinals. Escondido (4-20) and Chula Vista (12-14) went out in the early rounds.
NEWPORT HARBOR
Oceanside (15-10) led, 19-8, after one quarter but then was ushered into the consolation bracket by Las Vegas Clark, 84-63. The Pirates recovered to win the consolation crown, 69-58 over Gardena and 65-62 over Las Vegas Western.
COVINA
Poway upset Los Angeles Fairfax, 67-56, in the first round, but lost to Pasadena Muir, 57-55, the following day.
BARON-OPTIMIST
–The host Barons opened with a 37-8 first quarter against Vista (4-19) and went on to set a team record in the 114-50 triumph. They had scored 98 in 1970-71 vs. Mar Vista.
–A Bonita Vista-Helix final was short circuited when San Diego upset Helix, 74-72. Madison then knocked off the 9-0 Barons, 77-74, for the championship.
FOULED
Ramona (17-8) defeated Christian (19-5), 71-66, for the Class A title at La Jolla High, where whistles could be heard all the way to Bird Rock.
There were 54 personal fouls called, with six players, three on each team, fouling out. A total of 73 free throws were attempted. Ramona converted 19×35 and Christian 18×38.
John Schneider led the winners with 27 points, Don Kirby with 23 for the losers.
Two up, two down, as Coronado’s Geno Dente (left) and Jim Skaalen try not to stumble over Mission Bay’s Pete Brady and Islanders’ Kip Locher.
LET’S STALL
San Diego (17-12) was scoreless in the third quarter and beat Crawford (2-19), 30-28. Crawford, which held the ball in the first half, outscored the Cavers, 2-0, in that quarter after San Diego did not shoot the last 6:39.
THEY’RE FREE
Geoff Hinkle of Santana (12-14) had games in which he scored 17, 15, 14, and 14 from the free throw line. “He’s so darned quick with his shot you’ve got to play him tight and then he drives by you and you’re grabbing for him,” said Grossmont coach Jack Shawcroft.
JUMP SHOTS
The 6,724 persons who attended the championship game at the Sports Arena bettered the record of 6,479 at the 1970-71 final…a crowd of 5,870 in the round of four semifinals on Friday night brought the two-night total to 12,594…Drollinger’s 41 points in a 70-51 win over La Jolla tied the school record, set by Bill Biggs in 1962-63…Grossmont took a 20-8, first-quarter lead in its 59-56 win over Helix that ended the Highlanders’ 40-game home streak, which stretched to 1968-69…Morse, 1 for 18 from the field in the second quarter, was 13×13 in free throws in the fourth quarter and upended Lincoln, 62-57…”If it hadn’t been for Mike Liedike we’d have blown ‘em out,” said Grossmont coach Jack Shawcroft of the Foothillers’ 61-55 win over Chula Vista (12-15)…Liedike’s 28 points, 8 rebounds, five blocks and 13×25 shooting from the field couldn’t overcome the 27 points, 15 rebounds, 5 blocks, and 11×17 shooting by Drollinger….
2018-19 Week 9: Races Coming Down to Wire; Agbo Goes off for Saints.
The San Diego Section regular season will end Feb. 8 and championships in at least three of the 19 basketball-playing leagues will come down to the final week.
Rancho Buena Vista (6-1) and Vista (5-2) will meet at Vista for the Avocado League title. RBV edged the rival Panthers, 62-61, in the teams’ first meeting.
University City (7-2) and San Diego (7-2) are on a collision course to settles matters in trhe City League at San Diego.
Victory Christian (8-1), coached by former San Diego State star DJ Gay, will try to avenge a 75-73 loss to San Diego Academy (9-0) in the Citrus loop.
League standings as of Wednesday, Jan. 30:
LEAGUE
TEAM
RECORD
WON-LOSS
DIVISION
Avocado East
Rancho Buena Vista
6-1
22-3
2
Avocado West
Torrey Pines
5-1
18-6
1
San Marcos
5-1
15-7
1
Citrus
San Diego Academy
9-0
20-2
5
City
University City
7-2
16-9
3
San Diego
7-2
14-8
3
Coastal
Foothills Christian
5-2
17-5
1
La Jolla Country Day
5-2
16-8
1
Desert
Imperial
2-1
14-8
4
Eastern
Point Loma
5-2
16-7
2
Scripps Ranch
5-2
14-8
2
Lincoln
5-2
12-14
2
Grossmont Hills
Helix
5-1
15-9
1
Grossmont Valley
Valhalla
6-1
22-3
3
Imperial Valley
El Centro Southwest
3-0
10-12
3
Manzanita
Calexico Vincent Memorial
7-0
10-10
4
Mesa
Mater Dei
6-0
14-8
1
Ocean
Del Lago
4-1
13-11
5
Calvin Christian
4-1
9-8
4
Pacific
Orange Glen
6-0
12-10
1
Palomar
Poway
5-0
20-5
1
Patriot
Southern California Yeshiva
8-0
11-4
5
Pioneer
Bonsall
8-0
10-7
5
Chula Vista Learning
8-0
9-7
5
South Bay
Sweetwater
8-0
17-6
3
Summit
High Tech San Diego
5-1
11-9
4
Valley
Escondido
6-0
14-10
3
Western
St. Augustine
10-0
21-5
1
St. Augustine completed a 10-0 run through the Western League on Jan. 29, topping host Mission Bay, 72-55, behind Chibuzo Agbo’s 40 points.
Agbo made 8 of 11 three-point field goal attempts. Mission Bay played without star Rajean (Boogie) Ellis, sidelined with an announced sore ankle.
Union-Tribune Week 9 poll as of Monday, Jan. 28:
Rank
Team
Record
Points
Last Week
1
St. Augustine (10)
20-5
135
1
2.
Foothills Christian (3)
16-5
121
5
3
Torrey Pines
18-6
114
2
4
Mission Bay (1)
14-8
94
3
5
Santa Fe Christian
16-6
78
6
6
La Jolla Country Day
16-7
63
4
7
Poway
20-5
50
9
8
San Marcos
15-7
40
7
9
Cathedral Catholic
16-8
20
NR
10
Carlsbad
18-5
17
NR
NR–Not ranked.
Others receiving votes: Rancho Buena Vista (21-3, 15 points), Francis Parker (13-7, 15) Montrgomery (18-3, 5), Vista (16-8, 2).
Voters: John Maffei, The San Diego Union-Tribune; Terry Monahan, Freelance; Steve Brand, San Diego Sports Association; Carlton Hoggard (CIF San Diego Section), Adam Paul, Ramon Scott, EastCountySports.com; John Kentera, Braden Suprenant, 97.3 FM, The Fan; Rick Smith, partletonsports.com; Bodie DeSilva, sandiegopreps.com; Steve Dolan, Mountain Country 107.9 FM; Christian Pedersen, S.D. Preps Insider; Aaron Burgin, Fulltime Hoops; Brad Enright, L.A. Court Report.
2018-19, Weeks 7-8: League Races Take Shape
Have team league championships lost their cachet?
Shrinking newspaper space, computer and newsletter rankings, weekly “classics” and “challenges” all appear have diminished a once-cherished achievement.
Not quite.
Go to a game and notice the commemorative patches and chevrons adorning the athletes’ letter jackets. Read a coach’s resume and list of accomplishments. Hear the reaction of players and students when their team clinches.
The league championship still is an important part of the season and several are in play as the 120-odd San Diego Section teams eye the pivotal month of February and the upcoming playoffs.
Playoff-qualifying teams will compete in their respected divisions, while select Division I clubs will comprise an eight-team Open division bracket.
Division brackets will change once the CIF state playoffs begin.
Leaders in the San Diego Section’s 21 leagues, comprising the 120-odd teams playing basketball, as of Monday, Jan. 21:
LEAGUE
TEAM
RECORD
WON-LOSS
DIVISION
Avocado East
El Camino
3-1
12-9
1
Vista
3-1
14-8
1
Rancho Buena Vista
3-1
19-3
2
Avocado West
Torrey Pines
4-0
17-5
1
San Marcos
4-0
14-6
1
Citrus
Victory Christian
6-0
13-8
4
City
University City
6-1
15-8
3
Coastal
La Jolla Country Day
4-0
15-6
1
Desert
Imperial
2-0
13-6
4
Eastern
Point Loma
4-1
15-5
2
Grossmont Hills
Steele Canyon
3-1
5-13
2
Grossmont Valley
Mount Miguel
3-0
16-5
2
Manzanita
Calexico Vincent Memorial
4-0
7-9
4
Imperial Valley
El Centro Southwest
3-0
8-12
3
Mesa
Mater Dei
4-0
12-7
1
Ocean
Calvin Christian
2-0
8-6
4
Pacific
Orange Glen
4-0
8-10
1
Palomar
Poway
3-0
18-5
1
Patriot
Southern California Yeshiva
7-0
9-4
5
Pioneer
Bonsall
6-0
8-7
5
South Bay
Sweetwater
6-0
14-6
3
Summit
High Tech San Diego
4-0
10-7
4
Valley
Ramona
4-0
12-9
3
Western
St. Augustine
7-0
18-4
1
St. Augustine and Foothills Christian will participate in this week’s big event, the Nike Extravanza Saturday at Santa Ana Mater Dei.
The Saints, No. 13-ranked in the weekly Cal-Hi Sports newsletter and No. 13 in Max Preps, will take on San Juan Capistrano JSerra, ranked 56th by Max Preps.
Foothills Christian, 24th by Max Preps,will play Orange Lutheran, 15th by Max Preps and 17th by Cal-Hi Sports.
St. Augustine is the only area squad in Cal-Hi‘s top 20. Foothills Christian, La Jolla Country Day, Mission Bay, and Torrey Pines are on the bubble.
Voters: John Maffei, The San Diego Union-Tribune; Terry Monahan, Freelance; Steve Brand, San Diego Sports Association; Carlton Hoggard (CIF San Diego Section), Adam Paul, Ramon Scott, EastCountySports.com; John Kentera, Braden Suprenant, 97.3 FM, The Fan; Rick Smith, partletonsports.com; Bodie DeSilva, sandiegopreps.com; Steve Dolan, Mountain Country 107.9 FM; Christian Pedersen, S.D. Preps Insider; Aaron Burgin, Fulltime Hoops; Brad Enright, L.A. Court Report.
2018-19 Weeks 1-6: State Top 20 Eludes San Diego Squads
The San Diego Section’s Big Four, listed numerically in the weekly The San Diego Union-Tribune poll below, has beaten some very good intersectional teams but not gained traction with ratings experts.
Wins like Foothills Christian’s 83-74 over Sacramento Sheldon, the state’s No. 9 team according to Cal-Hi Sports and St. Augustine’s 64-49 victory over No. 12 Orange Lutheran have been sandwiched around missed opportunuties against other formidable opposition.
Make no mistake, San Diego’s best annually take on the best. Winning league championships and section titles are foremost but coaches also have an eye on the state playoffs and try to steel their squads for the challenges in March.
Mission Bay got most of the votes for No. 1 this week, although I voted for St. Augustine after having hung with Foothills Christian through most of December.
St. Augustine handled Mission Bay, 64-55, in in a physical, clean game in the first Western League showdown last night at St. Augustine.
The Buccaneers’ Boogie Ellis scored 14 points but did not shoot well. Ellis looked for open teammates and played his usual solid floor game, but was escorted everywhere by Saints defenders.
St. Augustine fell from its No. 18 position in Cal -Hi‘s weekly top 20 and now is a “bubble team”, along with Mission Bay, Torrey Pines, and Foothills Christian.
Max Preps ranks the Saints 16th in California, Foothills Christian 27th, Torrey Pines 37th, and Mission Bay 64th.
Union-Tribune poll through Monday, Jan. 7:
Rank
Team
Record
Points
Last Poll
1
Mission Bay (10)
8-6
131
1
2.
Torrey Pines (2)
13-5
125
3
3
St. Augustine (2)
13-4
109
4
4
Foothills Christian
10-4
98
2
5
Francis Parker
11-3
80
5
6
La Jolla Country Day
10-6
65
6
7
Santa Fe Christian
13-4
52
NR
8
San Marcos
10-6
43
7
9
Poway
15-5
29
8
10
Montgomery
12-2
10
9
Others receiving votes: Rancho Buena Vista (16-2, 8 points),Cathedral (11-7, 6). Vista (11-7, 4), Westview (15-4, 2), Valhalla (12-2, 1).
Voters: John Maffei, San Diego Union-Tribune; Terry Monahan, freelance; Steve Brand, San Diego Sports Association; Carlton Hoggard (CIF San Diego Section), Adam Paul, Ramon Scott, EastCountySports.com; John Kentera, Braden Suprenant, 97.3 FM, The Fan; Rick Smith, partletonsports.com; Bodie DeSilva, sandiegopreps.com; Steve Dolan, Mountain Country 107.9 FM; Christian Pedersen, S.D. Preps Insider; Aaron Burgin, Fulltime Hoops; Brad Enright, L.A. Court Report.
2018-19 Week 9A: Olive, Haupt Neck and Neck to 500
Torrey Pines’ John Olive and St. Augustine’s Mike Haupt each is bearing down on career victory No. 500.
Olive leads with 488 victories to Haupt’s 487.
Whenever they reach 500, Oliver and Haupt will join a club that has a membersship of three in the San Diego area.
El Camino’s retired Ray Johnson won 763 games. Helix’ John Singer is the leader among active coaches with 674 followed by El Camino’s Tom Tarentino with 582, according to figures provided by the Union-Tribune‘s John Maffei, partletonsports.com, and Max Preps.
Others active with at least 400 wins are Francis Parker’s Jim Tomey (456) and La Costa Canyon’s Dave Cassaw (429). Foothills Christian’s Brad Leaf has 384.
Corrections, additions, even complaints, are welcomed.
Union-Tribune poll through Monday, Jan. 31:
Rank
Team
Record
Points
Last Poll
1
Mission Bay (7)
7-5
133
3
2
Foothills Christian (6)
10-3
132
2
3
Torrey Pines
12-5
109
4
4
St. Augustine (1)
11-4
104
1
5
Francis Parker
10-3
68
7
6
La Jolla Country Day
10-6
60
5
7
San Macos
10-6
38
6
8
Poway
14-4
30
9
9
Montgomery
11-1
29
10
10
Vista
11-6
23
10
Others receiving votes: Santa Fe Christian (12-4, 18 points), Cathedral (10-6, 8). Ranmcho Buena Vista (16-2, 6), Carlsbad (13-2, 6), Rancho Bernardo (8-5, 5).
Voters: John Maffei, San Diego Union-Tribune; Terry Monahan, freelance; Steve Brand, San Diego Sports Association; Carlton Hoggard (CIF San Diego Section), Adam Paul, Ramon Scott, EastCountySports.com; John Kentera, Braden Suprenant, 97.3 FM, The Fan; Rick Smith, partletonsports.com; Bodie DeSilva, sandiegopreps.com; Steve Dolan, Mountain Country 107.9 FM; Christian Pedersen, S.D. Preps Insider; Aaron Burgin, Fulltime Hoops; Brad Enright, L.A. Court Report.
