San Diego Prep Basketball Roundup : Sweetwater Is Upset by Hilltop

Hilltop High School broke open a tied game with 14 straight points late in the third quarter and went on to upset Sweetwater, 86-72, in the second round of the Hilltop Invitational boys’ basketball tournament.

Hilltop, 2-0 in its tournament and 2-1 overall, trailed, 20-15, after one quarter, but rallied to take a 45-40 halftime lead. Sweetwater, 1-1 in tournament play and 2-2 overall, scrambled back to tie, 52-52, midway through the third quarter.

The Lancers then scored 14 points in a row to take a 66-52 lead after three quarters. Hilltop’s lead was never fewer than 10 in the fourth period.

Judd Rachow of Hilltop led all scorers with 26 points. James McCurty added 21. Mahlon Williams had 17 and John Pippen 16 for Sweetwater.

In other Hilltop Invitational action:

Point Loma 55, Hoover 51--Jim Brasher hit two free throws late in the game to secure the Pointers’ victory, after Hoover rallied to within 51-48 with two minutes to play. Brasher led all players with 20 points. Hoover was paced by Tyrone Bell, who scored 18. The game’s result left both Point Loma and Hoover at 1-1 in the tournament.

Kearny 52, Chula Vista 46--Kearny led throughout the game, but the Spartans did come within one point of tying the score late in the game before the Komets pulled away. Kearny, 2-0 in the tournament, was led by Kevin Archer’s 23 points. Tim Garlin added 10 for the Komets. George Byrnd scored 12 to pace Chula Vista, 0-2 in tournament play.

Mira Mesa 71, Torrey Pines 36--The Marauders, 1-1 in the tournament, took a 12-1 lead and were never threatened. Sean Carter of Mira Mesa was high scorer with 17 points, including 11 in a third quarter that saw Mira Mesa outscore Torrey Pines, 15-5. Torrey Pines, 0-2 in tournament action, was led by Mike Radcliffe’s 10 points.

In nonleague action:

Poway 91, Lincoln 72--The Titans (3-0) carried an eight-point edge into the fourth quarter, then outscored the Hornets, 31-20, down the stretch to win at Lincoln. Dominick Johnson led Poway with 34 points. Jud Buechler added 28, and Andy Byrne scored 14.

St. Augustine 77, Mar Vista 54--The Saints (2-3) took a 22-12 lead after one quarter and continued to build their margin until the final buzzer against visiting Mar Vista. Charlie Applegate scored 23 points to pace the Saints, while Joe Shandley and Tony Evenson added 19 apiece.

In the Grossmont League:

Monte Vista 48, Valhalla 44--Trailing, 24-19, at halftime, the Monarchs (1-0, 2-2) outscored the Norsemen, 19-8, in the third quarter and held on to win at Valhalla in the Grossmont opener for both teams. Monte Vista’s Chris Marshall led all scorers with 19 points.