San Diego Boys’ Basketball : Castle Park Recovers to Defeat University City

Before Wednesday’s game with University City started, Castle Park trailed, 1-0. The Trojans were assessed two technical fouls for dunking the ball in pregame warmups, and University City converted one of the two shots.

Because of the technicals, University City also was awarded the ball out of bounds at the outset of the game--instead of the traditional center jump--and scored to take a 3-0 lead. But it was all Castle Park after that. The Trojans surged to an 18-13 lead at the end of the first quarter, increased it to 41-25 at halftime, and coasted to an 86-57 win in a nonleague boys’ game played on the losers’ court.

“It was a strange beginning,” Castle Park Coach Forest Partch said. “Our kids know it’s against the rules to dunk in pregame, but no one saw any officials in the gym when it happened. The funny thing is, we’ve only got one kid who can dunk it.”

Eddie Moreno scored 26 points for the Trojans, who improved their record to 4-0, and Brian Cauley added 15.

Castle Park, which likes to work the ball inside, got University City in foul trouble early and converted 26 of 41 free throws. The Trojans shot 48% (30 of 62) from the field.

Metro Conference

Chula Vista 66, Marian 44--Chula Vista broke open a close game by outscoring the home team 24-7 in the final quarter. George Brynd scored 18 and Jeff Knight had 17 for the Spartans, who are 1-0 in league and 3-4 overall. Ricky Millan scored 16 for Marian, which fell to 0-1 and 1-3.

Hilltop 74, Coronado 45--Hilltop (1-0, 3-4) snapped a three-game losing streak by winning its conference opener at home. Sergio Sandoval led the winners with 17 points, and Judd Rachow added 10. Jay Malott scored 15 for Coronado (0-2, 2-6), and Mark Surber had 10.

Bonita Vista 74, Mar Vista 49--Bonita Vista jumped out to a 26-8 lead after one quarter and was never threatened. Kip Korzep scored 24 points, including 12 of 12 from the free-throw line to lead the winners. Doug Piper scored 15 points and Jaime Cranfield had 12 points and 10 rebounds for the Barons (1-0, 3-1). Jim McClusky scored 34 points for Mar Vista (0-1, 1-3).

Lt. James Mitchell Tournament

(at Torrey Pines High School)

El Camino 106, Fallbrook 61--The Wildcats, a 2-A semifinalist a year ago, rolled over the Warriors behind 26 points from Steve Heard and 19 from Kenny Crawford. El Camino built a 54-32 halftime lead and cruised to the victory. Paul Dixon led Fallbrook with 19 points.

Escondido 53, Torrey Pines 52--Jose Velasquez hit a jumper from the top of the key with eight seconds remaining to give the Cougars the victory over the host Falcons (3-4). Velasquez led Escondido with 20 points. Scott Thompson paced Torrey Pines with 16. Escondido will face El Camino tonight in a winner’s bracket game.

Hoover (Glendale) 39, Vista 38--Hoover scored only 11 points in the second half but hung on to defeat the Panthers. Black Risner had a chance to win it for Vista but his 15-footer fell just short in the final seconds. Hoover was led by John Aliamo who scored 12 points. Mike Jones and Mike Fleming each scored 10 to lead Vista.

San Clemente 48, San Pasqual 42--Gary Wade scored 19 points to lead San Clemente past San Pasqual. San Clemente opened a 37-27 lead after three quarters and then hung on despite 13 points from the Eagles’ Rich Prusinski. San Clemente will play Hoover (Glendale) in a winner’s bracket game tonight.

(at San Dieguito High)

Poway 89, Burroughs (Burbank) 49--Jud Buechler scored 29 points and Dominick Johnson and Gary Anderson added 17 and 15 points respectively to lead the county’s top-ranked team to an easy victory. Poway (4-0) opened up a 41-18 lead at the half and cruised to victory. The Titans forced 27 turnovers in the contest. Poway, the defending 3-A champions, will meet the defending 2-A champions, Oceanside, tonight in a winner’s bracket quarterfinal game at 6:30.

Nonleague

Madison 65, San Diego 47--Jimmy Dean scored 21 points as Madison had four players in double figures. Eric Jackson scored 18, and Todd Lance and Darell Watson added 10 each as the Warhawks improved their record to 3-1. Shawn Perkins scored 17 and Reggie Jones 16 for San Diego. Madison led 33-17 at halftime, but San Diego got within six early in the fourth quarter before the Warhawks pulled away again.