The Preps / Scott Howard-Cooper : Crescenta Valley Takes Best Shots

The bombers were rolled out at Crescenta Valley Air Force Base again Friday night, with the older models proving they can still do damage and the newest long-range shooter doing damage only to himself.

The reunion was great for target practice. A gunner’s delight with shots being launched from all flanks. It seemed as though breaks were taken just to give each side enough time to reload.

And the crowd loved it. The fans packed the gym at Crescenta Valley High in La Crescenta to see alums Greg Goorjian and Brad Holland, two of the greatest scorers in Southern California prep basketball history, shoot it out again with Coach John Goffredo’s current team, led by returning All-Southern Section guard Harvey Mason, in the second annual fundraiser.

While the scores didn’t quite match the first game--Mason scoring 57 in a 101-100 loss--no one on either side played any easier as the alumni scored a 75-65 victory. Goorjian, the third-best scorer in Southern Section history with an average of 30.6 points a game and the all-time single-season leader at 43.4 in 1977-78, finished with 22. Holland, who averaged 34.5 as a senior in 1974-75, put in 25. Each played the whole game.

“They were tough,” Goffredo said. “I can’t get too mad at my guys. Look who who’s out there. They (the alumni) were shooting from long range, driving in deep and making behind-the-back passes. The gym was sold out and the people were going crazy.

“I played it like a regular game. I told my kids to put their hands in the other person’s face when he is shooting. But those guys (the alumni) were shooting from 30 feet and having them go in. We played to win, but I understand who we’re up against.”

Mason, who averaged 25.7 points a game last season and has signed with the University of Arizona, had 11 rebounds, 5 assists and 23 points Friday, but did not look particularly sharp on 6-of-21 shooting from the field. But that’s not the bad news.

He is scheduled to have a bone scan examination today for a possible stress fracture of the left ankle. If he has a stress fracture, Goffredo said, Mason could be out six weeks.

The season starts next week.

To the surprise of many, no doubt the players included, the Montclair football team is very much alive as the playoffs head into the quarterfinal round Friday. This is in contrast to the first four games of the season, when the Cavaliers were outscored, 93-0, and had an 0-3-1 record.

The turnaround came after the fourth game, a 24-0 loss to defending Southeastern Conference champion Diamond Bar. Coach Bill Patrick went to the wishbone offense and got immediate results--177 points in the last six games of the regular season, while the defense gave up 31, to finish second in the Hacienda League.

They haven’t lost since the Diamond Bar game, including last week’s opening-round victory over Brawley. But the best team in the conference, Covina Charter Oak, is the next opponent.

Prep Notes Running back J.J. Flannigan of Pomona, the No. 9 rusher in the Southern Section in the regular season, has been named the football Player of the Year in California by Gatorade. The 51 winners, one from each state and the District of Columbia, are eligible to win other awards for the region and the nation. Those will be announced next month. Gatorade is also planning to honor players from boys’ and girls’ basketball, boys’ and girls’ track, soccer and baseball. . . . Flannigan finished with 1,530 yards, but played in nine games, one less than most others. He averaged 9.2 yards per carry, which ties him with Chuck Weatherspoon of La Habra for second behind Ray Singleton of Gardena Serra, who had a 10.5 average. Ray Pallares of Placentia Valencia was the No. 1 ground-gainer with 1,784 yards. . . . American League Cy Young Award winner Bret Saberhagen returns to his alma mater, Cleveland High, for a basketball game between former players and Bob Braswell’s current team Wednesday night at 7:30. . . . A new publication, “The College Recruiter’s Newsletter” will assist college coaches looking for athletes and athletes in search of college scholarships. According to the organizers, the newsletter, which will be published four times annually and mailed to colleges around the country, will list and give descriptions on 500 male and female athletes in all sports who can then be contacted direct by interested coaches. Anyone wishing to be included may request a questionnaire by writing to the newsletter at P.O. Box 2045, Sioux City, Iowa, 51104. . . . Nine local girls’ volleyball teams have advanced to the Southern California Regionals beginning tonight. Manhattan Beach Mira Costa will play host El Cajon Granite Hills; Clovis plays at Palisades; Roosevelt will have a home match against Newport Harbor of Newport Beach; Marlborough travels to Poway; Rim of the World of Lake Arrowhead plays host to San Joaquin Memorial of Fresno; Nordhoff is at La Jolla; Southern California Christian of Anaheim has a home match against Woodlake and Brentwood plays at San Diego Francis Parker. . . . Long Beach Poly’s 15-13 loss to Millikan in the final regular season game dropped the Jackrabbits from fifth all the way out of the USA Today Super 25 national poll. . . . The 120-page Southern Section record book is available for $10 at the office in Cerritos or $10 plus $1.25 for postage and handling (no cash) by mail at CIF-SS, P.O. Box 488, Cerritos, 90701. . . . The Kinney cross-country championships Dec. 14 in San Diego, the only national championships on the high school level, will be broadcast on ESPN in January.