San Diego Prep Basketball : Vista, Torrey Pines Fuel Playoff Race

Undefeated Poway High School has virtually clinched the top spot in the Palomar League, but there is an exciting race for second place.

On Wednesday night, Vista edged Mt. Carmel, 54-53, at Vista; and Torrey Pines beat Fallbrook, 77-49, at Torrey Pines.

Vista and Torrey Pines are tied for second at 6-4, and Mt. Carmel dropped to 5-4. The second-place team in each league qualifies for the playoffs.

In Vista’s victory over Mt. Carmel, Ron Howard scored a field goal with 25 seconds to play, and teammate Chris Hayes hit both ends of a one-and-one free-throw situation with eight seconds left to give the Panthers a 54-51 lead over the Sundevils. Scott Zimmer made two foul shots before time ran out on the Sundevils.

Howard scored 20 points, Mike Jones had 13 and Hayes 12 for Vista. Edgar Camerino had 12, Jim Tecjek 10 and Scott Boggins 9 for Mt. Carmel.

In other Palomar League play:

Torrey Pines 77, Fallbrook 49--The Falcons outscored Fallbrook, 18-4, in the third quarter to coasted to victory. Scott Kennedy scored 28 points, Scott Cameron added 15 and Jeff Steffen had 10 for Torrey Pines (6-4, 10-11). James Black led Fallbrook (2-7, 2-15) with seven points.

In Metro League play:

Sweetwater 79, Montgomery 65--Five Sweetwater players scored in double figures to lead the Red Devils to their 49th consecutive league victory, in a game at Montgomery. Mahlon Williams scored 17 to lead the Red Devils (10-0 in league, 21-2 overall). Montgomery (5-5, 9-8), which trailed 39-37 at halftime, was led by Rudy Rodriguez, who scored 22.

Bonita Vista 85, Mar Vista 48--The Barons (7-3, 11-8) stormed to a 41-14 halftime lead in the victory at Mar Vista (1-9, 3-15). Doug Piper and David Woodhouse each scored 14 points to lead Bonita Vista, which moved two games ahead of Montgomery in the race for the final playoff berth in the Metro-Mesa League.

In Avocado League play:

San Pasqual 71, San Marcos 45--The Eagles (5-4, 13-9) outscored San Marcos, 25-7, in the third quarter of their victory at San Marcos. Bill Brennan scored 16 points and Tom Noonan had 15 to lead the winners. Greg Helms led San Marcos (0-10, 3-16) with 12 points.

Oceanside 55, Escondido 42--Tim Prim scored 12 points, Junior Seau added 11 and Henry Quintero 10 to pace the 10th-ranked Pirates (8-2, 14-6) to a victory at Oceanside.

Oceanside led 25-18 at halftime. The closest the Cougars got was six points with five minutes to play. Darin Sommer led Escondido (1-8, 2-15) with 22 points.

“Physically, they just wore us down,” said Escondido Coach Mike Williams.

El Camino 77, Ramona 67--Ken Crawford scored 25 points to lead the eighth-ranked Wildcats to victory at Ramona. League-leading El Camino raised its record to 19-2 overall and 9-1 in league. Ramona (5-5, 11-8) was led by Mike Pendel’s 19 points.