San Diego High School Basketball : Morse Goes Cold and Mira Mesa Pulls Off Win

The No. 1-ranked Morse High School boys’ basketball team went cold Friday night, and the result was a 39-38 loss to City Eastern League rival Mira Mesa at Mira Mesa.

The Tigers (6-1 in league, 16-2 overall) made 14 of 87 shots (16%) from the field and lost for the first time this season to a San Diego County team. Morse’s only other loss this season came against Pasadena Muir.

Mira Mesa (5-2, 17-4) hit only 16 of 51 shots (31%) but that was enough to avenge two losses earlier this season to the Tigers.

With both teams cold from the floor, the game stayed tight throughout. Morse led 17-15 at halftime and upped its advantage to 26-20 late in the third quarter.

But Mira Mesa, ranked seventh in the county, rallied behind Ray Rowe’s team-high 10 points. Mira Mesa overcame 21 turnovers to take a 39-38 lead with 15 seconds left on Scott Cummings’ 12-foot jumper.

Morse had three shots in the final 10 seconds but none fell. Guy Henry scored 16 points to lead the Tigers.

CITY EASTERN LEAGUE Point Loma 49, Patrick Henry 45--Bob Brasher scored 12 points and Arlando Hill added 11 to lead Point Loma (3-4, 10-12) past Patrick Henry (2-5, 9-10) at home. The Pointers jumped to a 12-0 first-quarter lead and led throughout. Charles Russell scored 17 points to lead Patrick Henry.

Briefly--Madison 77, Serra 43.

CITY CENTRAL LEAGUE

St. Augustine 37, Crawford 35--Charlie Applegate scored from half court at the buzzer to give St. Augustine (3-4, 11-7) the victory. Tony Coronado led Crawford (2-5, 5-14) with nine points. Crawford had the ball with 10 seconds remaining but turned it over. Applegate had 13 points to lead all scorers.

Lincoln 82, Hoover 76--Roger Johnson scored 23 points and Ken Thompson added 18 to lead first-place Lincoln (7-0, 14-5). Hoover’s Mike Walker led all scorers with 24 points. Tyrone Bell added 19 for Hoover 4-3, 9-13).

Briefly--Christian 58, San Diego 42.

PALOMAR LEAGUE

Torrey Pines 60, Vista 47--Sophomore center Kevin Flannigan scored 22 points and had 22 rebounds to lead Torrey Pines at home. Scot Thompson added 11 for Torrey Pines (6-3, 16-6). Vista is 4-5, 9-11.

San Dieguito 52, Poway 41--Chris Bahr scored 16 points and Jack Minger added 14 to lead San Dieguito (7-1, 13-6) at Poway. Gary Anderson scored 14 and Dave Delaney added 13 for Poway (1-8, 8-11).

Briefly--Mt. Carmel 47, Orange Glen 42.

AVOCADO LEAGUE

San Marcos 59, Carlsbad 46--Mike Francis led San Marcos (5-4, 13-9) with 12 points. Shaun Stoll led Carlsbad (2-7, 5-13) with 18.

Oceanside 55, San Pasqual 49--Junior Seau scored 24 points and Darren Noble added 11 as No. 4-ranked Oceanside (8-0, 14-6) pulled away to an early lead. It was the Pirates’ 14th victory in their last 15 games. Reed Fenner scored 13 points to lead San Pasqual (0-9, 2-17).

Briefly--El Camino 61, Escondido 47.

CITY WESTERN LEAGUE University City 55, La Jolla 50--Murray Peller and John Pippen scored 15 points apiece to lead University City (3-4, 7-8) Sean Rodgers scored 13 points and had 11 rebounds to pace La Jolla (3-4, 12-8).

Mission Bay 56, USDHS 39--Ernest Johnson scored 18 points and Rick Hurley added 15, include 9 of 11 from the free-throw line in the fourth quarter to pace Mission Bay (3-4, 8-9) James Wilson scored 14 to lead USDHS (4-3, 7-11)

Clairemont 65, Kearny 53--Vic Bayer scored 14 points, had 13 rebounds and 7 blocked shots to lead Clairemont (4-3, 14-6) past No. 5-ranked Kearny. The Komets (5-2, 16-5) have lost two straight. LaMont Jackson added 14 points and Ray McDavid had 13 for Clairemont which put the game away by outscoring Kearny 18-5 in the third quarter. Tim Garlin scored 21 points for Kearny.

GROSSMONT LEAGUE Granite Hills 59, El Capitan 54--Brad Halte scored 15 and Jon Tenney added 13 to lead Granite Hills (7-6, 8-11). Danny Curtis scored 16 and Brian Palmer 14 for El Capitan (4-8, 8-10).

Monte Vista 74, Santana 53--Wayne Hallman and Feliz Parra scored 14 points each for Monte Vista (10-2, 13-4) at home. Santana (5-7, 9-11) had 18 points from Andy Heacock.

Briefly--Grossmont 55, Helix 52; Mount Miguel 46, El Cajon Valley 36.

METRO CONFERENCE Sweetwater 65, Hilltop 60--Joe McDowell scored 18 points and Brent Lawrence had 14 to lead 10th-ranked Sweetwater (8-1, 11-9) at Hilltop. The Lancers are 4-5, 11-12. Bryan Brooker scored 19 points and Jud Rachow had 18 to lead Hilltop.

Castle Park 72, Marian 54--Javier Nunez scored 22 points and Vince Bucca added 20 to lead No. 9-ranked Castle Park (9-0, 16-4) at home. Chris Hazeltine led Marian (4-4, 8-9) with 15 points.

GIRLS

CITY CENTRAL LEAGUE

Crawford 81, Our Lady of Peace 38--Full-court pressure led to a 21-3 first-quarter lead at St. Augustine. Carmella Hicks had 22 points and 21 rebounds, Cassandra Tex had 20 points and 11 rebounds and Karla Salmi added 19 points and 15 rebounds for league-leading Crawford (7-0, 19-1).

GROSSMONT LEAGUE Santana 47, Monte Vista 45--Leslie Ellis scored 20 points as Santana held at Monte Vista. The Sultans led 46-40 with four minutes left. Melissa Smith scored 17 points to lead Monte Vista.