City Western Season Ends, but Race is Still Undecided

Eight days ago, La Jolla High’s boys basketball team would have been satisfied to tie for second place and force a playoff game for the City Western League’s No. 2 playoff berth.

Today, the Vikings are co-champions of the league. But they may still have to win another game to qualify for the San Diego Section 2-A playoffs since La Jolla, Kearny and University finished in a three-way tie for first with 8-2 records.

The deadlock was created Wednesday on the final day of the regular season when La Jolla upset University, 47-39, at University, and Kearny defeated Mission Bay, 63-50.

A coin flip will be held today and the odd team out becomes the league’s No. 1 playoff representative. The other two teams will play Friday for the remaining berth.

La Jolla trailed University by two games with three to play, but Kearny’s 58-56 victory over University last Tuesday put the Vikings back in the title picture.

La Jolla took advantage of the situation by playing one of its better games of the season Wednesday. The Vikings never trailed and maintained a four- to seven-point advantage until University cut the lead to 33-31 with 3:58 left. But La Jolla scored seven straight points to put the game out of reach.

La Jolla guard Yancy “Lucky” Brown scored a game-high 16 points and teammate Tim Sneed added 13. Matt Seidlinger was the only Don in double figures with 10.

“I’m very pleased with the way things worked out,” Coach Rick Eveleth said. “We were undefeated in the second round (of league play). The difference (in the second round) was experience on our part. We improved every game and played better defense.”

The Vikings lost to University, 63-59, and Kearny, 64-60 in the first round. The defeated Kearny, 65-56, in their rematch.

In other City Western League play:

Kearny 63, Mission Bay 50--Center Steve Daley scored 32 points to help the visiting Komets tie for first. Kearny (8-2, 17-9) led 30-23 at halftime. Kevin Archer added 13 for Kearny. Kevin Barthel had 14 and Paul Williams had 11 for the Buccaneers (5-14, 4-6).

CITY CENTRAL LEAGUE Hoover 76, San Diego 49--The defending league-champion Cardinals (6-4, 11-13) got 26 points and 12 rebounds from Ken Matthews to beat the Cavers (2-8, 5-14) and earn a share of second place. Hoover will play at St. Augustine Friday night at 7 to determine which team qualifies for the 2-A playoffs. Tyrone Bell (17 points) and Tony Thomas (12 assists) paced the Cardinals.

Lincoln 78, St. Augustine 62--The Hornets (10-0, 15-6) had to rally in the second half for the win at home. Lincoln, trailed, 36-31, at halftime, but outscored the Saints, 22-11, in the third quarter. Shelby Hall led Lincoln with 22 points and Lamont Horne and Omar McDade each scored 16. Charley Applegate scored 21 for St. Augustine (6-4, 12-10) and Joe Shandley added 14.

METRO-MESA LEAGUE Sweetwater 72, Chula Vista 59--Matt Simmons scored 26 points and Sean Styles added 25 to lead the sixth-ranked Red Devils (11-1, 17-6) to their ninth straight victory at Sweetwater. Mahlon Williams, the county’s second-leading scorer, was ejected from the game in the second quarter and finished with only four points. Joe Klanchar scored 26 points to lead Chula Vista (6-6, 12-13).

Bonita Vista 64, Hilltop 58--Mike Mattarocci scored 17 points as the Barons (6-6, 10-11) eliminated the Lancers (6-6,12-14) from the playoff race at Hilltop. Doug Piper added 11 points for the Lancers. David Mossman scored 13 points for Hilltop, Brian Brooker added 12 and Judd Rachow had 10 points and 10 rebounds.

METRO-SOUTH BAY LEAGUE Marian 61, Mar Vista 57--Chris Hazeltine scored 19 points and Mark Cisneros added 18 as visiting Marian (4-8, 6-15) temporarily gained the inside track on the league’s No. 2 playoff berth. Jim McClusky had 24 points and 14 rebounds for Mar Vista (3-9, 5-16) and Robert Aquino scored 16 points.

Castle Park 82, Coronado 63--John Stanton scored 20 to lead the No. 4 Trojans past the Islanders (2-10, 4-17). Javier Nunez scored 16 for Castle Park (12-0, 21-1).

METRO CONFERENCE Montgomery 76, Southwest 60--The Aztecs (8-4, 12-8) outscored the host Raiders (2-10, 2-20), 23-12, in the third quarter to clinch a playoff berth. Montgomery’s defense caused Southwest to commit nine turnovers in the third quarter. Rudy Rodriguez had 16 and Daryl Crawford had 12 for the Aztecs. The Raiders’ Johnny Walker led all scorers with 17 and George Silva added 14.

Briefly--City Eastern: Patrick Henry 84, Madison 59; Mira Mesa 69, Pt. Loma 63. City Western: University City 57, Clairemont 53.