Alex Gunito of Monte Vista sets-up the South offense
while being guarded by Corey Robinson of Santana for the North in
Senior All-Star Game action. |
2003-04 EAST COUNTY PREP BOYS BASKETBALL |
All-Stars hold court for final time at West
Hills
EastCountySports.com
SANTEE - Bryon Wesley of Rancho Buena Vista
poured in 16 of his 18 points in
the fourth quarter Saturday (June 4), allowing the North to avoid
the upset
bid of the South, 106-103, in the annual San Diego County Senior
All-Star Game,
held at West Hills High. Wesley connected on 6-of-8 shots over
the final 10
minutes, sharing team most valuable player honors with Justin
Armstrong of El
Camino, who scored a team-high 24 points.
The South was paced by USDHS's Rico Tucker,
the University of Minnesota bound
guard, who collected a game-high 37 points. Included was an 18
-point
outburst in the second quarter, allowing the South to rally from
a 10-point
deficit.
Tucker also claimed the slam dunk competition at halftime.
Utilizing a new format, the game consisted
of the Top 20 prospects who will
graduate later this month. The first game of the doubleheader
consisted of
players rated among the county's Top 40 prospects, as the North
also claimed
victory in an 85-73 decision.
Rancho Bernardo point guard Andrew Olson
was tabbed North MVP by registering
team highs of 20 points and five assists, while ranking second
in rebounds
with eight. The South was led by Lamar Thomas of Southwest, who
nailed an
All-Star Game record eight 3-point shots as part of his game-high
28 points.
In the Top 20 game, the East County was
represented by J.R. GRIFFIN of Mount
Miguel (4 points, 3 boards), MARLON PIERCE of Helix (2 assists,
2 steals) and
TYLER VICKERS of Grossmont. The Top 40 affair included LEVI KIPP
of the host
Wolf Pack, who scored six points on 3-for-5 shooting, with three
boards, a
steal, one assist and a blocked shot.
(06-04-04)
SAN DIEGO COUNTY SENIOR ALL-STAR BASKETBALL GAMES (At West Hills) TOP 20 GAME NORTH 106, SOUTH 103 NORTH ALL-STARS (106) -- Armstrong (El Camino) 24, Wesley (Rancho Buena Vista) 18, Pomare (El Cam) 23, Daniels (El Cam) 6, Rielly (Valley Center) 14, Williams (Escondido) 11, Alkazin (El Cam) 7, Perram (Ramona) 2. Totals 44 11-21 106. SOUTH ALL-STARS (103) -- Tucker (USDHS) 37. Wiseman (San Diego) 17, Palmer (SD) 6, Cunningham (Morse) 2, Gates (USDHS) 12, Barker (Clairemont) 4, Cortez (Southwest) 6, Jackson (Eastlake) 11, GRIFFIN (Mount Miguel) 4, Hall (Hoover) 4, Maye (Hoover) 2. Totals 41 13-15 103. NORTH 29 28 26 23 -- 106 SOUTH 27 31 24 19 -- 103 Four 10-minute quarters. 3-point goals -- North 7 (Alkazin 2, Wesley 2, Williams 1, Rielly 1, Daniels 1), South 8 (Wiseman 5, Tucker 3). MVPs -- North: Armstrong (El Cam) and Wesley (RBV); South: Tucker (USDHS). Slam Dunk Contest -- Champion: Tucker (USDHS). TOP 40 GAME NORTH 85, SOUTH 73 NORTH ALL-STARS (85) -- Olson (Rancho Bernardo) 20, Sammons (Carlsbad) 5. Martinez (Crls) 9, January (Crls) 9, T. Moore (San Marcos) 11, Kisner (RB) 12, Sweeney (Mount Carmel) 6, Jovanic (Escondido) 13. Totals 31 14-25 85. SOUTH ALL-STARS (73) -- Ekweozor (Point Loma) 15, Littleton (San Diego) 1, Kipp (West Hills) 6, Milke (Coronado) 7, West (Crawford) 8, Thomas (Southwest) 28, Kargas (Scripps Ranch) 5, Hamilton (Eastlake) 3. Totals 28 5-12 73. NORTH 18 26 20 21 -- 85 SOUTH 9 19 23 22 -- 73 Four 8-minute quarters. 3-point goals -- North 9 (Olson 5, Kisner 1, T. Moore 1, Martinez 1, January 1), South 12 (Thomas 8, West 2, Kargas 1, Milke 1). MVPs -- North: Olson (RB); South: Thomas (SW). (06-04-04)
Alex Gunito of Monte Vista sets-up the South offense
while being guarded by Corey Robinson of Santana for the North in
Senior All-Star Game action.
South runs its game past North behind Griffin,
Pierce
East County Sports.com
6th Annual EAST
COUNTY SENIOR ALL-STAR BASKETBALL GAME
EL CAJON - Mount Miguel forward J.R. GRIFFIN and Helix guard MARLON PIERCE took honors at individuals contests, then teamed up to pace a collection of seniors from the Grossmont South League past a squad from the Grossmont North League, 106-88, in the 6th annual East County Senior All-star Game, hosted Friday (Apr. 23) at Cuyamaca College.
Griffin, who captured the slam dunk competition
at halftime, scored a
game-high 21 points, including eight when the South rolled up
32 points in the third quarter to mount an 84-67 advantage.
Meanwhile, Pierce, one of four players from
the South scoring in double
figures, collected 10 points and seven assists. He earlier captured
the 3-point shooting contest, nipping COREY ROBINSON of Santana
in the final.
Griffin claimed a nearly insurmountable
lead during the slam prelims with a near-perfect 29.5-point effort,
then punctuated the victory with a two-handed,
behind-the-head dunk for an additional 29 points, outdistancing
Monte Vista's BOBBY PURVEY in the final.
However, Purvey ignited the South in the
first period with an in-game slam,
rising well above the basket to grab an offensive rebound and
throwing the ball
back down to break open the contest to claim the lead for keeps.
JANSSEN
BARBER of Mount Miguel added 18 points, while DAVID JONES of Helix
had 16.
Griffin and Pierce shared game MVP laurels
for the South, as selected by the
media, while TYLER VICKERS of Grossmont earned North League honors
after
collecting team-highs of 14 points and 7 rebounds.
The North also received 13 points each from
LEVI KIPP of West Hills and BRYAN
WICKENS of Santana, while LYONELL DOUGLAS of Grossmont and JESSE
LEATHERMAN
of El Capitan poured home 10 points each.
(04-23-04)
West Hills' Levi Kipp tried to dribble
past defender Janssen Barber of Mount Miguel during second half
action of the 6th annual Senior All-Star Basketball Game at Cuyamaca
College. The South pulled away to post a 106-88 triumph. (4-23-04/Photo
by Nick Pellegrino).
Gunito guns a baseline jumper
for two of his 8 points. (4-23-04/Photos by Nick Pellegrino).
FRIDAY - APRIL 23, 2004 EAST COUNTY SPORTS.COM presents 6th Annual EAST COUNTY SENIOR ALL-STAR BASKETBALL GAME AT CUYAMACA COLLEGE SOUTH 106, NORTH 88 NORTH ALL-STARS 19 24 24 21 - 88 SOUTH ALL-STARS 21 31 32 22 - 106 NORTH - Vickers (Grossmont) 14, Wickens (Santana) 13, Kipp (West Hills) 13, Douglas (Grossmont) 10, Leatherman (El Capitan) 19, Roys (El Cajon Valley) 8, Small (Grossmont) 6, Robinson (Santana) 6, Cook (Grossmont) 4, Rosales (El Cajon Valley) 4. SOUTH - Griffin (Mount Miguel) 21, Barber (Mount Miguel) 18, Da. Jones (Helix) 16, Pierce (Helix) 10, Guinto (Monte Vista) 8, De. Jones (Valhalla) 8, Roberts (Mount Miguel) 7, Bailey (Steele Canyon) 6, Robinson (Helix) 6, Purvey (Monte Vista) 3, Martinez (Steele Canyon) 3, Rothlisberger (Valhalla) 0. MVPs - South: J.R. Griffin (Mount Miguel) and Marlon Pierce (Helix); North: Tyler Vickers (Grossmont). 3-point Shooting Contest - Final: Marlon Pierce (Helix) df. Corey Robinson (Santana). Slam Dunk Contest - Final: J.R. Griffin (Mount Miguel) df. Bobby Purvey (Monte Vista), 86 points to 82 points. (04-23-04)
Raymond
Williams (5) completes a breakaway with an underhand lay-up for
Steele Canyon to cut Centennial's lead to 56-49 with 44 seconds
left in the 3rd quarter. (3-9-04/photo by Adolfo Villanueva)
Regionals end of successful season for Steele
Canyon
SoCal CIF Championships - 1st Round
EastCountySports.com
RANCHO SAN DIEGO -Not since the fifth game of the season has Steele
Canyon been treated so rudely. Underdogs as they were, the Cougars
were being cuffed around on their home court by visiting Compton
Centennial, which compiled an 18-0 run over a four-minute stretch
of the second quarter to take a 40-21 bulge in Tuesday night's
(March 9) Southern California CIF Regional playoff opener. Credit
the Cougars for closing in a rush. Steele Canyon, in fact, trailed
only 76-72 after RICHIE WILLIAMS hit a long range 3-pointer with
0:15 remaining. That's as close as the Cougars would get, as Centennial
eliminated upstart Steele Canyon 78-72.
"The mark of this basketball team is we can push anyone to
the limit, even if we get behind by 20," Steele Canyon coach
BRAD LEAF said of his youthful, yet experienced band of Cougars
(25-6). "I'm so proud of these kids; they can play ball.
They have the heart of champions. We are all frustrated because
we thought we could win this game. We just got a little too far
behind."
One of Steele Canyon's newest and biggest fans is Compton Centennial
senior guard Arron Afflalo, who came into this contest with a
UCLA basketball scholarship and a 23.7 scoring average in hand.
"They little, but they play hard," said Afflalo, who
helped the Apaches (29-3) escape an ambush in Cougar Canyon by
scoring six of Centennial's final 9 points in the final four minutes.
"We play in one of the toughest leagues (Bay League) in the
state, and these guys could definitely compete. They took us to
the wire."
Afflalo totaled a game-high 28 points, 11 rebounds, 8 assists
and 3 steals as Centennial won the 24th time in its last 25 starts.
The Cougars, meanwhile, were losing for only the third time in
26 outings.
The Apaches, who would have secured the Division III No. 1 seed
had they not been upset by Harvard Westlake 74-63 in their section
final, are a strong rebounding team, especially on the offensive
glass.
"I'm sure people out there thought we'd get our butts kicked,"
Leaf said. "But we are used to being the underdogs. Most
of those same people said (USDHS) guard Rico Tucker was going
to tear us apart, and he didn't."
Afflalo on the other hand is much bigger and stronger and still
has a keen eye for the long-ball shot.
"No question he's the best we've faced," Leaf said.
"I'm proud of these kids. We just pushed the No. 1(-ranked)
Division III team in the state of California to the limit."
It was Steele Canyon that was close to being pushed off the edge
in the early going. After CAMILLO MARTINEZ hit the first of his
four 3-pointers to give the Cougars a 4-2 lead, the visiting Apaches
went on a 13-0 run to take the lead for keeps.
Richie
Williams (left) led the Cougars with 21 points - 17 in
the second half.
"The first half it seemed like we were breaking down on defense."
Williams said. "They were able to see the open man every
time (hitting 14 of 26 shots-54 percent). They are the best passing
team I've ever seen. They play together so well. No wonder they're
ranked as high as they are."
Williams admitted that Compton Centennial boasts as much team
speed as Steele Canyon.
"We played our hearts out against the best team in our Division
(III) in our gym," Williams said. "We just happened
to come up short.
"I think we were over-excited in the first quarter and started
forcing things. We had too much intensity."
Nevertheless, the Cougars remained in contention until the final
minute.
Centennial made a third major run to begin the final quarter.
After the Cougars closed to 58-51 on back-to-back buckets by RAYMOND
WILLIAMS and a short jumper by Richie Williams to close the third,
the Apaches embarked on a 9-0 run in the first 90 seconds of the
final period to regain the momentum.
"They are the No. 18(-ranked) team in the nation for a reason,
right," Leaf said. "I really think we are a No. 4 or
5 team in the state before tonight, and I think we proved it."
Leaf admitted that Compton Centennial's overall size was intimidating
to his smaller Cougars at the outset.
"It took awhile for us to adjust and spread the game out
on their size," Leaf said. "Richie and Raymond got more
used to their size in the second half. We were being more patient,
making three or four passes on offense to where they couldn't
stop us."
The Cougars scored 46 points after intermission, hitting 17 of
30 shots (57 percent).
But they connected on only 16 for 31 free throws, which contributed
to their downfall.
"Early in the season I was struggling making my shots,"
said Martinez, a senior who hit 5 of 11 shots from the floor and
4 of 5 from the foul line to equal his season high of 18 points.
"But these last two playoff games (28 points) I've been on
the mark. My shot was falling, so I just kept on shooting."
JASON BEAUCHAMP shared the unsung hero role with Martinez. The
6-foot-3 junior forward hopped off the Steele Canyon bench to
help reverse the tide for the Cougars. He scored 5 of SC's 13
points in the first quarter and finished with 13 markers and a
team-best 9 rebounds.
"They are definitely one the biggest and most physical teams
we've played," said Beauchamp, who is also a hard-nosed linebacker
on the Cougars football team. "I felt I owed it to our seniors
because they've worked so hard since the day I've been here."
Beauchamp compared the post-game feeling he experienced in football
after the Cougars lost by a single point in overtime to Mission
Bay in the Division III quarterfinals.
"I saw everybody's face in football - everybody was crying,"
Beauchamp said. "Just that memory and the senior presence
we had in basketball made me play better and harder."
Not to be overlooked was junior GEORGE CUNNINGHAM, who contributed
12 points and 8 rebounds for Steele Canyon.
(03-09-04)
Steele Canyon's George Cunningham (1) tips
the ball in as Jason Beauchamp (33),
Ricky Bailey (31) and Raymond Williams (5) stand by. (3-9-04/photo
by Adolfo Villanueva)
TUESDAY - MAR 9, 2004 SoCal CIF Championships - 1st Round EastCountySports.com DIVISION III Compton Centennial 78, Steele Canyon 72 Centennial (29-3) 22 20 16 20 Steele Canyon (26-5) 13 13 25 21 Centennial scoring: Afflalo 28, Thompson 19, Berry 12, Nichols 6, Jer.Johnson 6, Mallory 4, Woodand 3. Steele Canyon scoring: Richie Williams 22, Camillo Martinez 18, Jason Beauchamp 13, George Cunningham 12, Raymond Williams 4, Wes Davis 3. (03-09-04)
Steele Canyon's Jason Beauchamp (33) goes
up for a shot against the block of Centennial players in Tuesday's
Southern California CIF Regionals. (3-9-04/photo by Adolfo
Villanueva)
Steele Canyon's George Cunningham (1-hidden)
flies above the pack to grab the rebound from La Jolla's Grayson
Moyer (40) and Cougar teammate Jason Beauchamp (33) in Tuesday's
SDCIF semifinal game. (3-2-04/photo by Adolfo Villanueva)
CIF Champions at last - already - as Steele
Canyon wins section title in just second varsity season
SDCIF Championships
EastCountySports.com
SAN DIEGO - RAYMOND WILLIAMS might not even get a look from some
high school coaches, given that he's only 5-foot-5. But Steele
Canyon's BRAD LEAF is a firm believer in what the pintsize
power-pack guard can do. Might want to add USDHS scoring machine
Rico Tucker to the Raymond Williams fan club. The sophomore Williams
and his junior brother RICHIE WILLIAMS made life miserable for
Tucker and the Dons as Steele Canyon captured the San Diego CIF
Division III crown with a 60-52 victory over top-seeded USDHS
Saturday (March 6) at SDSU's Cox Arena.
"Everybody thought Raymond was too small, but I didn't,"
Leaf said. "I've always had a lot of confidence in Raymond.
I knew he was going to cause people problems and that's what he's
done."
No question the Dons (25-6) were well versed on the talents of
Richie Williams, the Grossmont South League Player of the Year.
By the same token, they seemed stunned by the rapidity of the
younger Williams.
He stuck to Tucker like glaze to a donut. Despite giving away
six inches to the Dons' 5-foot-11 Minnesota-bound guard, Ray Williams
was able to force Tucker to play at an uncomfortable tempo. At
times Tucker was tailed by both of the Williams brothers.
"They are quick - probably the quickest guards we've faced
all season," said USDHS coach DEMETRIUS LAFFITTE. "I
have to give them credit for how hard they play. And they speed
through a problem."
To his credit, Tucker did lead his team with 18 points, 7 assists
and 7 steals. But he failed to make a single 3-point shot and
committed seven turnovers.
"Tucker played an OK game," said Laffitte of his senior
leader who came in averaging more than 27 points per game. "But
it wasn't one of his best games."
The Williams boys also accounted for 38 points, including a career
high 20 for Raymond, who was averaging 7.5 points on the season.
"The scoring, well, that's just a bonus, baby," Leaf
said of the younger Williams, who nailed 8 of 17 shots. He was
3-for-7 from beyond the arc, which sent the Steele Canyon crowd
into delirium.
Richie Williams finished with 18 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists.
Senior CAMILLO MARTINEZ added 10 points and 9 boards, while 6-foot-6
junior post GEORGE CUNNINGHAM collected a game-best 12 caroms.
Senior RICKY BAILEY was a physical warrior for the Cougars against
the taller Dons. He banged the boards for 7 rebounds, pilfered
2 passes and tallied 5 points.
"I think they under-estimated us a little bit," the
older Williams said modestly. "But we showed them how good
we are - that we can play this game, too."
Martinez did all of his scoring in the first half, making 5 of
his 6 shot attempts.
"I was just trying to do my part to help us win a championship,"
Martinez said. "I was trying to hustle, be in the right place
at the right time. I got some nice passes that led to lay-ups."
After missing his first five shots, Raymond Williams found a groove
on the offensive end. He netted 4 of his last 5 shots in the second
quarter, helping push the Cougars into a 29-20 halftime lead.
Williams wasted little time picking up where he left off, using
a better-than-NBA fake to freeze a USDHS defender and flew by
to complete a lay-up to make it an 11-point spread in the opening
minute of the second half.
"Raymond was able to relieve a lot of pressure off other
people, because he was able to step up and score," Richie
Williams said.
Tucker and Co. scrambled back to cut the deficit to 38-35 with
1:48 left in the 3rd period. The Cougars countered on a bucket
by JASON BEAUCHAMP and a 3-pointer by Richie Williams.
The Dons kept hanging on, though, refusing to buckle. But a clutch
3-pointer by Ray Williams and a driving lay-up from Richie Williams
in the final minute helped the Cougars claim an SDCIF title in
just their second year of varsity competition.
"The key for us was Rico picked up two quick fouls, so he
couldn't be as aggressive on defense," Richie Williams said.
"And they had to drop back in a zone and we just picked them
apart."
Steele Canyon (25-5), winner of 23 of its last 25 starts, is eyeing
a No. 2 seed in the Southern California Regionals. The Cougars
are guaranteed a 1st round home game on Tuesday night (March 9).
"I think we deserve to be no less than a No. 2," said
Leaf, who was presented a game ball signed by all of his players
immediately following the SDCIF title-clinching victory at Cox
Arena.
(03-06-04)
SATURDAY - MAR 6, 2004 SDCIF Championships EastCountySports.com DIVISION III Steele Canyon 60, USDHS 52 Steele Canyon 13 16 14 17 - 60 USDHS 10 10 17 15 - 52 Steele Canyon scoring: Raymond Williams 20, Richie Williams 18, Camillo Martinez 10, Ricky Bailey 5, George Cunningham 4, Jason Beauchamp 3. USDHS scoring: Tucker 18, Gates 9, Hoenig 9, Jackson 8, Cano 6, Sumler 2. (03-06-04)
ARM LOCK /DOUBLE FOUL: Steele Canyon's Terrence
Davis (bottom) gets tangled up with La Jolla's Cooper Weddell
in a SDCIF semifinal game won by Steele Canyon. (3-2-04/photo
by Adolfo Villanueva)
Cougars finally get the best - and then
some - of La Jolla to advance to championship
SDCIF Semifinals
EastCountySports.com
RANCHO SAN DIEGO - To the visiting La Jolla Vikings, "Cougar
Canyon" must have seemed like "Box Canyon" in Tuesday's
(March 2) San Diego CIF Division III semifinal. A rainy night
usually fit for Vikings turned out to be dry gulch as the Cougars
had them cornered from the get-go. Jumping out to a 10-2 lead
in the opening four minutes, the Cougars led wire-to-wire leaving
the Vikings shipwrecked, 76-44.
Whether on offense or defense, everywhere the Vikings (14-13)
turned, the Cougars were planted in their collective faces. After
Steele Canyon's initial burst, the Vikes never sailed closer than
six points.
"We wanted to play well so we could go to back to Cox (Arena),"
said Steele Canyon junior GEORGE CUNNINGHAM, referring to the
Cougars' Division III title bout with top-seeded USDHS (25-5)
at San Diego State. Tipoff is Saturday (March 6) at 11:30 a.m.
This will mark the second time in Steele Canyon's two years of
varsity existence that the Cougars have made a run for the Division
III title. They succumbed to La Jolla 62-47 in last season's championship
encounter, and were beaten again by the Vikings in an early December
tournament this season.
Sure, the Cougars (24-5) wanted revenge for those setbacks. But
more than that was their desire to have another shot at the big
prize. La Jolla was merely a stepping stone in the path to that
opportunity.
La Jolla recently scouted the Cougars en masse during a late-season
Grossmont South League game at Helix. The Highlanders won that
night 50-47, which probably gave the Vikings a false sense of
confidence. Cunningham, the Cougars' tallest player (6-foot-6)
and leading rebounder on the season, got into early foul against
the Highlanders, finishing scoreless and on the bench the majority
of the evening.
"I guess I got lucky that they didn't see me do anything,"
said Cunningham who scorched the Vikings for 21 points (equaling
his career high) and 10 rebounds. The lanky pivot used the glass
to the max, banking in 9-for-12 shots from the field and tossing
in 3 of 4 free throws.
For the record, USDHS head coach DEMETRIUS LAFFITTE was also in
attendance that evening at Helix.
"I think I was in kind of a rut at that time," Cunningham
said.
Cunningham was in fluid motion against the Vikings and 6-foot-7
Grayson Moyer in Tuesday's semifinal.
"I don't think they even tried to block me once," said
Cunningham, who routinely received passes and reeled past man
coverage to score. "All I had to do was turn around because
my teammates were giving me good passes."
Cunningham scored 10 points in the opening half to support the
15-point scoring spree -by sophomore guard RAYMOND WILLIAMS, who
hit four 3-pointers that helped propel the Cougars in front 31-16.
The Vikings scored 5 points in the final minute of the 2nd quarter
to cut the deficit to 10 by halftime.
It didn't matter, though, as RICHIE WILLIAMS caught fire in the
second 16 minutes. The junior point guard - the Grossmont Conference
regular-season scoring champion - was a mere 1-for-10 from the
floor for 2 points in the first half.
"When I talked to the kids at halftime, I knew that if Richie
only had 2 and we're leading by 10 points, we were in good shape,"
Steele Canyon coach BRAD LEAF said.
Leaf's observation proved prophetic. Williams scored 19 in the
final half to share game high-point honors with Cunningham at
21. More than that, though, Williams helped harass La Jolla into
committing 27 turnovers by collecting 6 steals himself.
Richie Williams clicked on his first four shots of the 3rd quarter
and netted both of his 2 free throw attempts, while Cunningham
was 4-for-4 from the floor for 8 points as Steele Canyon fell
on La Jolla like an anvil.
"Our guards killed them," Cunningham said. "They
executed the game plan perfectly."
The Cougars led 53-28 with one minute left in the 3rd quarter.
While Steele Canyon's offense was truly impressive, the key to
the latest Cougars' blowout was defense.
Leaf praised CAMILLO MARTINEZ for slapping handcuffs on La Jolla's
Michael Stark, limiting the Vikings' hot-hand of late to 8 points.
"He (Stark) has been averaging 18 points a game lately, and
Camillo didn't let him breathe," Leaf said. "I asked
Camillo to shut him down and how many shots did he (Stark) get?"
Stark was 2-for-2 from the field and 4-for-4 from the foul line
for 8 points.
Even more impressive was Steele Canyon's ability to neutralize
Moyer, who finished with 15 points - more than 10 below his season
average.
"Keeping the ball out of Moyer's hand was our defensive game
plan," Leaf said. "And I think it worked."
Moyer connected on only 25 percent of 16 shots from the floor
and was an inconsistent 7-for-13 from the free throw stripe.
Steele Canyon, which has won 23 of its last 25 games, takes on
Minnesota-bound guard Rico Tucker and the Dons of USDHS.
Tucker has been a scoring machine all season, which is why the
Golden Gophers have handed him a scholarship.
"I want to match myself up against Rico," said SC's
Richie Williams. "I want to see how good I am."
That certainly will be the tale of the tape in this bout. For
SC to have any kind of shot at a ring, Richie Williams must contain
Tucker to some degree.
(03-02-04)
TUESDAY - MAR 2, 2004 EastCountySports.com San Diego CIF Semifinals Steele Canyon 76, La Jolla 44 La Jolla 6 15 11 12 - 44 Steele Canyon 14 17 22 23 - 76 La Jolla scoring: Moyer 15, Stark 8, Peterson 8, Zbacnik 6, Weddell 4, Abelowitz 2, Haskett 1. Steele Canyon scoring: Richie Williams 21, George Cunningham 21, Raymond Williams 15, Camillo Martinez 7, Ricky Bailey 6, Corey Morfey 4, Jason Beauchamp 2. (03-02-04)
Helix freshman David Jefferson (35) soars
for a rebound against San Diego in Friday's SDCIF quarterfinal
game won by the Cavers. (2-27-04/photo by Travis Downs)
Highlanders can't escape crowded cave; Cougars
easily advance
SDCIF Quarterfinals
EastCountySports.com
SAN DIEGO - Some times you just have to say "uncle."
The tradition-rich Helix Highlanders, who were riding an eight-game
winning streak fresh off a five-game second round sweep of the
Grossmont South League, had high hopes against a veteran San Diego
High squad in Friday's (Feb. 27) San Diego CIF Division I quarterfinal.
Those hopes turned to wishful thinking in the 2nd half as the
Cavers claimed a 59-46 victory.
Helix coach JOHN SINGER, who ranks fifth among San Diego County
boys basketball coaches for career victories with 424 wins in
23 seasons, conceded that his team was outmanned by the 3rd-seeded
Cavers (26-4).
"Across the board they are a better team than we are,"
Singer said. "I told our kids that sometimes you just have
to accept that the other team is better. Not that our kids ever
gave up. I'm not disappointed because our kids played hard all
night. San Diego is just a little bit better physically."
And more experienced. The Cavers' starting five includes four
seniors and a blue chip junior in Antwon Hollingsworth. It was
the elder statesmen, however, who tore up the Highlanders (20-8)
in The Cave Friday night.
Senior strongman Chauncey Wiseman and hard-nosed guard Anthony
Palmer scored 18 points apiece for San Diego.
"Helix is a real competitive team and not easily intimidated,
San Diego coach Curtis McGlown said. "Coach John Singer's
teams have been like that for years. Over and over, they are always
in the running. They matched our intensity here tonight."
The talent level was another story. Defensive-minded San Diego
held Helix to its second-lowest offensive output in 28 games.
"They were able to neutralize our guards, who are the strength
of our team," Singer said. "Part of it was physical,
part of it mental. But the bottom line is what they did was effective."
Helix's MARLON PIERCE, ERIC ROBINSON and LANCE HURDLE came in
averaging nearly 40 points per game. Against San Diego's
physical bump-and-run defense, the Helix trio settled for 27 points.
More than that, though, is they were erratic handling the ball
and unsteady playing defense.
Trailing by as many as 7 points in the first half, the Highlanders
forged in front 30-29 on back-to-back buckets by Pierce and DAVID
JEFFERSON in the opening minute of the 3rd quarter. Wiseman returned
the lead to San Diego with a 3-pointer and Pierce countered with
a trey of his own to hand the Highlanders a 33-32 edge.
From that point on, however, Helix struggled offensively. The
Highlanders, who shaved a 50-39 deficit to 52-46 on a pair of
Jefferson baskets and 3 points from Robinson, were blanked over
the final 3:46.
Palmer was a hawk on defense, collecting 5 steals for the fleet-footed
Cavers. More than that was his offensive input of 9 points in
the 4th quarter.
"We isolated him one-on-one after he convinced us to turn
him loose," McGlown said. "He made some key steals,
baskets and free throws down the stretch."
San Diego was efficient in its shooting with an uncharacteristic
accuracy of 59.5 percent (22-for-37) .The Cavers also claimed
a 30-20 rebounding advantage.
A major bright spot for Helix was the ever-improving play of the
6-foot-3 freshman Jefferson, who led the Highlanders with 13 points
and 8 rebounds. He scored 31 points in Helix's two playoff games.
"He's an amazing player with a world of untapped potential,"
Singer said, noting that Jefferson is also a linebacker for the
Helix football team. "He just needs more time on the court,
more experience. Our kids known that he's a player. And I think
the success he's had in these two playoff games is making him
realize he is a better basketball player than football player."
Although Singer seldom discusses such matters, he is one of only
six coaches to own 400 victories on the boys basketball circuit.
He is only 10 triumphs short of retired Serra High coach Tom Williams,
who stands 4th all-time with 434 wins. El Camino's Ray Johnson
is the leader of the pack with 527 wins and still counting this
season. Retired Mike Collins of Chula Vista is 2nd with 490 wins
and retired Fritz Ziegenfuss of Patrick Henry is No. 3 with 465
wins.
Steele Canyon's Jason Beauchamp (33) goes up for the
lay-up in Friday's SDCIF quarterfinal playoff game against Brawley,
won by the Cougars 104-52. (2-27-04/photo by Adolfo Villanueva)
STEELE CANYON 104, BRAWLEY 52 - A year ago, the youthful Cougars - in their first
varsity season - clawed back from 14 points down to send Brawley
packing with a stunning 58-56 victory in the SDCIF Division III
semifinals.
There were few similarities to that wild night in Friday's (Feb.
27) quarterfinal rematch in Rancho San Diego. The Cougars (23-5)
- winners of 22 of their last 24 starts and seeded No. 2 in this
year's tournament - used a 35-point 2nd quarter to blow Brawley
(14-11) back to the Imperial Valley.
"We were really sharp and fresh," Steele Canyon coach
BRAD LEAF said after the Cougars pierced the 100-point barrier
for the second time this season. "We played with a lot of
energy, played our best game in the last three weeks. I just hope
we can keep this edge for a couple more weeks."
JASON BEAUCHAMP (16 points, 10 rebounds, 5 blocks) and WALTER
HALL (15 points) each established personal scoring highs for the
season as the Cougars qualified for a rematch of last year's Division
III championship game with La Jolla (14-12) in Tuesday's (March
2) semifinals at Steele Canyon. The Vikings won the 2003 title
tilt at Cox Arena, but this time must face the Cougars on SC soil.
Beauchamp led the Cougars' 2nd quarter offensive onslaught
against Brawley with 10 points. GEORGE CUNNINGHAM and RICKY BAILEY
added 8 points apiece.
Cunningham concluded the evening with 14 points and 12 rebounds.
Junior guard RICHIE WILLIAMS, who was the decisive factor with
5 points in the final 66 seconds of last year's playoff meeting,
bullied Brawley with 16 points and a handful of steals.
"We must have had 25 steals tonight," Leaf said.
Ten Cougars reached the scoring column, including CAMILLO MARTINEZ
who totaled 11 markers.
SERRA 47, MOUNT MIGUEL 46 - So much for the power
ratings. Mount Miguel, the top-seeded team in the San Diego CIF
Division II playoffs -- according to this so-called accurate computer
formula - fell on its face in Friday's (Feb. 27) Division II quarterfinals.
Senior Desi Burt launched a game-winning 3-pointer with 0:08 left
as Serra (13-16) pulled off the stunning upset of the 19-9 Matadors.
Even after Burt gave the Qs the one-point edge, Mount Miguel still
had a shot at dodging the upset. Following a time out, J.R.GRIFFIN
dribbled the length of the floor and just as he met resistance
at the free throw line elected to pass to teammate JANSSEN BARBER
in the corner rather than take the shot himself. The officials
whistle halted play, as Serra was called for fouling Griffin.
It was a non-shooting foul and only the 5th of the second half
for the Qs.
Ball awarded out of bounds to Mount Miguel with 0:03 left.
One more chance for Mount Miguel. The Matadors got the ball to
Barber in the corner for an uncontested 15-footer. But his shot
missed its mark and Mount Miguel was eliminated from the playoffs.
"We looked and played horrible," said Mount Miguel coach
JIMMY HURST. "What a way to end it. Too many dumb turnovers,
missed lay-ups and poor defense."
After race-horsing to a 25-10 lead midway through the 2nd quarter,
the Matadors' offense stalled and Serra - coached by former Granite
Hills mentor JIM GLEBOFF - gradually climbed back into contention.
A four-minute scoreless streak by the Matadors helped the Qs cut
the deficit to 27-17 by the close of the first half.
"We wanted to pound the ball inside - that was the game plan,"
Hurst said. "But after we got that 15-point lead we started
to stray from it. We began piling up turnovers, and kept them
in the game."
Burt led Serra with 21 points, while Barber topped the Mount Miguel
scoring column with 19 points. Griffin was the only other Matador
to reach double scoring digits with 10.
UNIVERSITY CITY 62, GROSSMONT 58 (OT) - Grossmont,
seeded No. 2 in the SDCIF Division II playoffs, missed a lay-up
in the final two seconds of regulation and eventually succumbed
to the visiting Centurions in overtime.
The Hillers (15-10) would like to believe in the adage - "No
man is an Island." In the case of University City (17-9),
Ricky Island is a reality. After a slow start Island came on to
score 30 points to lead University City into next week's Division
III semifinals.
"We just couldn't match up very well with Island," Grossmont
coach FRANK FOGGIANO said. "He's a 6-4 kid, who jumps well.
After turning the ball over in his initial two touches of the
night, Island stomped on the Foothillers for a dozen field goals
- two of them threes - and 4-of-6 free throws.
Even so, Foggiano believed Grossmont had enough opportunities
to win.
"We missed a couple of key shots we should have made,"
he said.
Grossmont's TYLER VICKERS turned in his usual steady game, nailing
16 points and securing 15 rebounds. The 6-foot-6 senior center
concludes his high school career with 1,571 points and 884 rebounds
in 106 games over 4 varsity seasons.
Junior TYLER HAJOSY hammered down a Grossmont-best 20 points,
a dozen coming on 3-point shots. LYONELL DOUGLAS added 11 points
(9 on threes) in his final prep game.
"I feel badly for my 10 seniors," Foggiano said. "I've
known these kids since the 3rd grade. They've been a part of my
youth leagues all the way up. We wanted to go further into the
playoffs."
USDHS 85, SANTANA 58 - Minnesota-bound guard Rico
Tucker put on a clinic Friday night (Feb. 27) as top-seeded USDHS
registered a rout of the visiting Santana Sultans in a Division
III quarterfinal at the USD Sports Center.
Tucker, senior brother of Christian High freshman guard TYLER
TUCKER, nailed 9 three-pointers and netted 10 of 11 free throws
to finish with 41 points for the Dons (24-5).
"I have never seen a guard as good as Rico Tucker in San
Diego," said Santana coach TIM BARRY. "He was 9-for-11
from three-point distance. And one of his threes came from 27
feet out in the 4th quarter."
Tucker's nine treys is a USDHS record and ties him for 7th on
the all-time SDCIF annals.
Already playing without leading scorer and top rebounder BRYAN
WICKENS (injured in the regular season finale), the Sultans (11-14)
lost the services of senior point guard COREY ROBINSON to a broken
thumb three minutes before the end of the 1st half.
USDHS led 46-28 at halftime, but the Sultans scrambled back to
cut the Dons' advantage to 12 with 4:30 remaining in the 3rd quarter.
Then it was Tucker time again. The 5-foot-11 guard hit 3 consecutive
threes to rekindle the Dons' offense.
"You can't block his shots," Barry said.
In addition to sinking 13 three-pointers, the Dons' short-game
was pretty good, too. USDHS was 22 of 24 from the free throw line.
One consolation for Santana was the Sultans limited USDHS' 6-foot-7
post Severin Gates to 8 points.
ZACH SHEPARD led Santana with a season-high 16 points, connecting
on 6 of 13 floor shots and 4 of 7 free throws. RICKY MICHELMORE
added a dozen points, including a pair of threes.
(02-27-04)
FRIDAY - FEB 27, 2004 SDCIF Quarterfinals DIVISION I San Diego 59, Helix 46 - Helix 10 16 11 9 - 46 San Diego 14 15 14 16 - 59 Helix scoring: David Jefferson 13, Marlon Pierce 12, Eric Robinson 9, Lance Hurdle 6, David Jones 6. San Diego scoring: Wiseman 18, Palmer 18, Littleton 13, Butler 4, Hollingsworth 2, Wall 2, Harris 2. - Division II University City 62, Grossmont 58 (OT) University City 13 10 12 17 10 - 62 Grossmont 13 10 9 20 6 - 58 University City scoring: Island 30, Brechlin 15, Smith 7, Oliveira 5, Fowler 5. Grossmont scoring: Tyler Hajosy 20, Tyler Vickers 16, Lyonell Douglas 11, James Crooks 4, Mark Nicholson 3, Tyler Barbour 2, Casey Williams 2. - Serra 47, Mount Miguel 46 Serra 6 11 16 14 - 47 Mount Miguel 15 12 11 8 - 46 Serra scoring: Burt 21, Davis 9, Steinbrecker 8, Williams 7, Landrum 2. Mount Miguel scoring: Janssen Barber 19, J.R. Griffin 10, Kenny Key 8, James Roberts 5, Deviyon Carter 4. - Division III Steele Canyon 104, Brawley 52 Brawley 13 8 11 20 - 52 Steele Canyon 22 35 23 24 - 104 Brawley scoring: Haley 24, Cox 12, Taramo 5, Duran 1, Blackburn 1. Steele Canyon scoring: Jason Beauchamp 16, Richie Williams 16, Walter Hall 15, George Cunningham 14, Camillo Martinez 11, Ricky Bailey 9, Chad Belledo 7, Wes Davis 7, Raymond Williams 6, Terrence Davis 3. - USDHS 85, Santana 58 Santana 14 14 13 17 - 58 USDHS 17 29 17 20 - 85 Santana scoring: Zach Shepard 16, Ricky Michelmore 12, Greg Gobin 7, David Bass 7, Jon Hernandez 6, Kyle Reed 6, Corey Robinson 2, Jeremy Patterson 2. (02-27-04)