San Diego Prep Review / Steve Scott : Mascari May Be the County’s Best-Kept Secret

San Diego County’s leading scorer in girls’ basketball is not Point Loma High School center Terri Mann, nor teammates Chanelle McCoy and Michelle Collum.

Yes, girls’ basketball is played east of Point Loma. And the county’s best-kept secret may very well be Monte Vista’s Paula Mascari, who is averaging a county-leading 26.8 points per game.

Mascari, a 5-foot 6-inch senior guard, averaged 23.8 points last season and was named to The Times’ All-County team.

“Her strong point is her maturity,” Monte Vista Coach Manny Silva said. “She has a 4.0 grade-point average. She can take a concept and turn it into reality.”

Mascari’s intelligence is evident as soon as she speaks. With that intelligence, she has a keen understanding of the team concept. And passing out the credit keeps Mascari from receiving the credit she deserves.

Another factor is Point Loma, the two-time state champion.

“It’s true Point Loma overshadows everyone,” Mascari said. “They’re a powerhouse. They’re as good as a lot of guys’ teams.”

Point Loma’s publicity, however, doesn’t go over opposing coaches quite so smoothly.

“Look at where the kids live,” Silva said. “They have kids living in the Lincoln area and the Clairemont area going to Point Loma. They’re a great team. There’s no doubt about that.

“But, we’re a down-home type of team. Our kids all live in our area. We are overshadowed.”

Silva believes the Grossmont League is underrated as well. With Monte Vista (16-2), Mount Miguel (11-1) and Santana (11-5), the Grossmont League may be the county’s finest.

Monte Vista, after years of chasing the leaders, is in first place as league play has finished its first round. The Monarchs stopped Santana’s 41-game Grossmont League winning streak, 59-56, and beat Mount Miguel, 55-51.

In addition to Mascari, Monte Vista relies heavily on 5-9 senior forward Becky Aikin, who scored 22 points against Santana and 21 against Mount Miguel.

Should Monte Vista hold on, it will win its first league championship. And a definite step toward the county’s spotlight.

Add scorers: Behind Mascari in the scoring derby are Point Loma’s Terri Mann (25.6), Southwest’s Michelle Wilkes (21.5), Madison’s Lisa Glassford (19.8) and Point Loma’s McCoy (19.8). Point Loma’s third-leading scorer, Collum, is also among the county’s top scorers, averaging 14.9 points per game.

The Pointers’ impressive statistics go on. They lead the county in team offense (84.7) and team defense (29.6).

Any thought of the Pointers being challenged in the county this season may have been dashed last Thursday. Point Loma traveled to Southwest to take on the Raiders, who were 15-1 and considered by many to be the county’s second-best team.

Point Loma led Southwest, 49-11, after three quarters en route to a 73-33 win.

Just for kicks: The Point Loma girls’ soccer team added to the school’s accolades by setting a San Diego Section single-game scoring record. The Pointers beat Morse, 17-0, Tuesday at Point Loma. The old mark was 16 set by Madison in 1983, also against Morse.

Point Loma led, 8-0, at halftime. Rosie Shillinger and Lori Warren scored five goals apiece.

Hammerschmidt to sign: Helix High’s Jeff Hammerschmidt, a Times’ All-County defensive back last season, has announced he will attend the University of Arizona on a scholarship this fall.

Hammerschmidt, who was also Helix’s quarterback, said he will officially sign a national letter of intent on Feb. 12.

“He was recruited mainly as a defensive back and a special teams player,” Helix Coach Jim Arnaiz said. “Arizona already has two of our former defensive backs (Chuck Cecil and Allan Durden) who they’re very happy with.”

Hammerschmidt was chosen Grossmont League Player of the Year as a junior and senior. He threw for 1,636 yards and 19 touchdowns last season and rushed for 639 yards and 8 touchdowns. Hammerschmidt also handled Helix’s kicking chores.