SAN DIEGO SECTION BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP : 3-A Girls : Mann Leads Point Loma Past Vista to Fourth Straight Title

Vista’s girls’ basketball team played tough Saturday, but not tough enough to stop Point Loma and its two-time All-American, Terri Mann, in the San Diego Section 3-A final.

Mann, a senior, had 28 points, 18 rebounds and 4 blocked shots to lead Point Loma to a 52-39 victory in the Sports Arena for its fourth straight section title.

Point Loma (31-0), which has won 55 straight games, is ranked No. 1 in the state by Cal-Hi Sports and probably will receive a bye in the first round of the Southern California regionals.

The Pointers are expected to play a second-round game against an undetermined opponent Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at Serra High School.

As the Pointers aim for their fourth straight state title, Vista, which started three sophomores, will have to be content with thinking about next season.

“I think we’ll have a good shot at being back here next year,” Coach Joe DeMaria said. “They’ve had a taste of it. I know they’re not going to want anything less.”

Vista was led by two of its sophomores. Chris Enger, a 6-foot 4-inch center, scored 10 points and had 9 rebounds and 5 blocks. Forward Dana Christofferson had a team-high 13 points and 8 rebounds. Senior Jerri Richards added 10 points.

But as has been the case over the last four years, no one could offset the play of Mann, who dominated the game at will.

Mann scored 21 of her points in the first half as Point Loma took a 34-23 lead. The Pointers then outscored Vista, 14-6, in the third quarter to take a 48-29 lead.

The Pointers played a poor final period--scoring only four points--and Vista scored 12 to give Point Loma its closest game of the season.

“It’s like preparing for war and only working on defensive strategy,” DeMaria said of playing Point Loma. “(Mann) was pretty much killing us in the first half.”

Sophomore guard Monica Filer added 11 points for Point Loma.