Division II Boys’ Basketball Playoffs : Torrid Torrey Pines Roasts Helix, 71-44

With his Helix High School boys’ basketball team trailing Torrey Pines by 22 points at halftime, Coach John Singer vented his frustration on referee Rod Miller.

“How much are they paying you to throw the game?” Singer yelled at Miller on the way to the locker room.

The remark earned Singer an early exit, but it’s just as well. He would have been all the more frustrated by sticking around.

Top-seeded Torrey Pines led by as many as 31 points in the second half and went on to rout Helix, 71-44, Saturday night in the quarterfinals of the San Diego Section Division II playoffs.

The Falcons, 28-1 and ranked No. 1 in the county all season, advanced to the semifinals Tuesday against Kearny. Helix finished 16-9.

Singer’s comment notwithstanding, Torrey Pines hardly needed help from the officials.

The Falcons blended the heady leadership of guards Kevin Friel and Tom Underwood with the powerful inside play Courtie Miller, Kevin Flanagan and Neal Pollard to quickly dispose of Helix.

“We just got hot early and the ball went in for us,” Torrey Pines Coach John Farrell said. “We have a good team. Helix has nothing to be ashamed of.”

Flanagan started the ball rolling with two three-point plays in the first two minutes. Underwood followed with a three-point shot, Miller scored twice and just like that Torrey Pines led 15-3.

Helix tried to play a patient passing game on offense, but Torrey Pines countered with an aggressive defense that hounded the Highlanders into numerous turnovers.

Early in the second quarter, Torrey Pines went up by 17 points, 25-8, but Helix put on a short spurt with Mike Siepert scoring 6 straight to narrow the gap to 11 points. The Falcons quickly made another surge, however, and when Underwood hit another three-pointer, the Falcons led 40-22 at halftime.

Friel and Pollard combined for 8 quick points at the start of the second half to help put Torrey Pines up, 57-26. From that point on, reserves mopped up.

--DENNIS BROWN

Madison 96, Escondido 70--Madison’s running game took its toll in the second half as the second-seeded Warhawks set their season scoring high. Jeff Harper scored 21 points and Robby Robinson added 20 for Madison (23-2). Andre Mitchell had 19 points and 10 rebounds for Madison. Brooks Barnhard led Escondido (20-6) with 24 points.

Kearny 49, University City 41 (2 OT)--Kearny scored all eight points in the second overtime period after tying the game with two seconds remaining in the first overtime on a layup by John Williamson. University City outscored Kearny by six in the final quarter to force overtime. Each team scored only two points in the first overtime. Williamson scored a game-high 22 points, and forward Randy Robinson added 13. Pat Tabor scored 21 and John Pippen had 14 for University City.

El Camino 47, San Diego 40--Lee Cobb’s basket with 3:51 to play gave El Camino the lead for good at San Dieguito High. San Diego (15-9) twice held one-point leads in the fourth quarter, but David Hill’s basket at 7:09 gave El Camino a 36-35 lead and Cobb’s shot put the third-seeded Wildcats up 41-40. Cobb had 18 points, 8 rebounds and 3 blocked shots for El Camino (22-4) and Scott Oatsvall had 17 points and 7 rebounds. Clark James had 11 points for San Diego. El Camino plays Madison in a semifinal game Tuesday night.