Prep Review : Leading Contenders Have a Down Week Before the 3-A Conference Playoffs Begin

If entering the playoffs on a roll truly is an advantage, then the Monte Vista boys basketball team should be the odds-on favorite to win the San Diego CIF 3-A Conference title.

Five of the top six 3-A Conference teams suffered losses in the regular season’s final week. Only Monte Vista, which beat El Capitan, 50-42, on Friday to win the Grossmont League title, avoided a loss.

Top-rated Patrick Henry was San Diego County’s only unbeaten team until it was upset by Madison on Wednesday, 71-68.

“The loss to Madison alleviated some pressure,” Patrick Henry forward Howard Wright said. “Obviously, it would’ve been nice to be able to say we had a perfect season.”

The Patriots (22-1) are the only team to have beaten Monte Vista (21-1) this season. They beat the Monarchs by one point in the Kiwanis Tournament championship game in January.

“That was the closest game we’ve played mentally and physically,” Wright said. “We’re just two teams very much alike.”

The team Wright fears most, however, is Morse. The Patriots beat Morse twice this season, but both games were decided in the final minutes.

“I do not want to play Morse again,” Wright said.

Morse (13-6) lost its final game of the season to Point Loma on Wednesday, 77-73. Morse Coach Ron Davis said his team didn’t suffer a letdown after an emotional loss to Patrick Henry the week before.

“Point Loma just outplayed us,” Davis said. “I don’ want to take anything away from them. But my kids seem excited to be in the playoffs. What happened during the regular season is behind us.”

Morse plays at Monte Vista on Wednesday. Patrick Henry plays host to Vista (14-10) on Tuesday.

No. 2 Poway (21-1), which was upset by Torrey Pines, 53-52, on Feb. 8 will entertain Bonita Vista (14-8) on Wednesday. Sweetwater (23-3), which was upset by Bonita Vista, 93-88, in double overtime last Wednesday, will entertain El Capitan (17-5) on Wednesday.

In the 2-A, on Tuesday, El Camino (21-2) plays host to Hilltop (16-9) and Hoover (20-4) entertains Oceanside (16-6). On Wednesday, Mission Bay (17-5) entertains Crawford (11-10) and Chula Vista (18-6) plays host to Kearny (18-6).

Final boys statistics: Christian’s Bill Donley rallied to win the scoring title. Donley scored 36 points in Christian’s, 67-58, double overtime win against Crawford on Wednesday to finish the season with a 23.2 point-per-game average. Morse’s Paul Bryant and Madison’s Jimmy Dean tied for second, averaging 21.7. Santana’s Jim Tatum, who led San Diego County in scoring most of the season, dropped to fourth (21.6) after scoring 31 points in his final two games.

Monte Vista finished as the county’s best defensive team, allowing 43.6 points-per-game. Sweetwater had the best offense at 93.4 points.

They know the score: The girls 1984-85 basketball season was a good one for nine San Diego County players who averaged more than 20 points-per-game. Eight of those players will have the opportunity to showcase their talents in the playoffs, which begin on Tuesday.

Sharon Turner, who led the county in scoring with a 34.7 poins-per-game average, will lead El Camino (23-1) when it plays host to Clairemont (10-11) and Karen Chariker (21.5) on Tuesday in the 2-A Conference playoffs.

Also in the 2-A, Vickie Williams (25.2) will lead Southwest (12-5) when it plays at University (19-3) on Tuesday. Julie Evans (23.1) and Hilltop (18-4) will play host to Crawford (16-5) on Wednesday. And Lincoln (9-5) plays host to San Marcos (20-6) on Wednesday.

In the 3-A, Point Loma (22-0) and Terri Mann (25.1) play host to Grossmont (14-5) and Madison (12-6) plays at Fallbrook (18-4). On Wednesday, Bonita Vista (17-5) and Michelle Wilkes (20.3) will play host to Mount Carmel (16-7) and Santana (22-0) and Chris Sherman (21.5) will play host to Sweetwater (16-6) and Karen Taeatafa (20.3).

Monte Vista’s Paula Mascari, who finished third in scoring with a 23.9 average, will not participate in the playoffs.

Wrestling playoffs: The Poway High School wrestling team scored 248 points on Saturday to win the San Diego team 3-A Conference wrestling championships at San Dieguito High.

Mount Miguel was second with 141 points and Monte Vista was third with 135 1/2. Jeff Eskridge of Grossmont High won the 115-pound division and was named the meet’s Most Valuable Wrestler. Grossmont finished fourth (130 1/2).

Valhalla (237) won the team 2-A championships at Orange Glen High. Orange Glen (186) was second and San Diego (109 1/2) was third. El Camino (226 1/2) won the 1-A title at Escondido High. Escondido (152) was second and Ramona (110) was third.

The top five wrestlers in each weight class in the 1-A and 2-A and the top six in each weight class in the 3-A will advance to the Masters Tournament at El Camino High on Feb. 23.

The top three in each weight class at the Masters Tournament advance to the California state tournament to be held March 1 and 2 at Stockton.

Soccer playoffs: The unbeaten Granite Hills boys soccer team (21-0) will play host to Mar Vista (8-6-3) and Poway (20-1-1) will play host to Point Loma (15-7-2) in the first round of the San Diego 3-A Conference playoffs. There are 16 first round games, eight boys and eight girls, all scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Wednesday.

In 2-A boys pairings, 12 teams qualified for the playoffs (instead of the usual eight) and the top four seeds will receive first round byes. No. 1 University City (16-2-1), No. 2 Chula Vista (14-2-1), No. 3 Ramona (15-4-2) and No. 4 Saint Augustine (16-2-4) will play host to the first round winners in the second round of the playoffs on Feb. 22.

Also, Bishops (15-3-1) plays host to San Pasqual (15-4-2) and San Diego (13-3-4) plays host to La Jolla (13-4-2).

Top-seeded Bonita Vista (24-1-1) will play host to Serra (11-4-3) and Mission Bay (20-3) plays host to Escondido (8-10-3).