Fight Helps Jacinto Beat Seahawks

A showdown between Harbor College and Mt. San Jacinto for first place in the Southern California Athletic Conference turned into a fight with 17:08 left in the game Wednesday night at Harbor and San Jacinto earned a double knockout.

An elbow from San Jacinto’s Jerry Robinson to the head of Harbor’s Mark Hill prompted Hill to retaliate with a grab to the throat. Both players were ejected, leaving Harbor without its top scorer.

San Jacinto went on to an 85-79 victory, but the incident didn’t end quickly. Hill had to be restrained by Co-Coaches Ken Curry and Jim White and escorted outside by security guards.

After trailing for most of the game, the Seahawks pulled within two points when they sank three of four free throws awarded because of the fisticuffs.

Three minutes later Harbor guard Bruce Turner nailed a three-pointer and the Seahawks led, 50-45.

Turner finished with 24 points after scoring just two in the first half, but his total was deceiving. Without Hill, Turner was forced to generate offense instead of expending energy in Harbor’s usually effective pressing defense.

“I thought the fight took us out of what we usually do well,” said a dejected Curry.

Turner was upstaged by San Jacinto’s Troy Truvillion, a sophomore from Detroit. Truvillion pumped in a game high 42 points, including 14 free throws in the final nine minutes after Harbor picked up its seventh team foul with 9:18 left.