SAN DIEGO ALL-COUNTY BASKETBALL TEAMS : More Than the Basics Are Needed to Choose Best of Talented Boys

In a year when talented players were abundant in San Diego County, it took a lot more than a high scoring or rebounding average to make The Times’ All-County boys’ basketball team.

Almost as eye-opening as the list of players who did make the 10-man team is the list of those who didn’t. Among them were the county’s scoring leader, Crawford’s LaMont Grove; the Metro Conference player of the year, Mark Dirksen of Hilltop, and point guard Jeff Harper of Madison, who triggered the Warhawks’ Division II championship season.

This was a year in which athleticism and team leadership weighed heavily on the selections. Kearny’s Randy Robinson and El Camino’s Lee Cobb were the only repeaters from last year’s team.

The players:

Jeff Alexander, 6-9 senior center, Madison

Alexander, player of the year in the City Eastern League, caused as many problems for opposing offenses as he did for defenses. Inside on offense, he was hard to stop and keep off the offensive boards. On defense, he made life tough for penetrating guards and front-line players who came inside.

“He was the one guy all of the other coaches in our league told me they feared the most,” Madison Coach Jim Thompson said. “He was the intimidator.”

Alexander played at Oceanside for a season before he transferred to Madison. In two years, he helped turn the once-downtrodden Warhawks into San Diego Section Division II champions.

Tim Barry, 6-1 senior guard, Santana

Barry was the Sultans’ top scorer (18 points per game) but, more important, he was the team’s leader.

Barry, a point guard, led Santana to the San Diego Section Division I title, its first section title since it won 2-A in 1977. He averaged four steals and seven assists.

He was named the Grossmont League’s offensive player of the year for leading Santana to the league title. He is an excellent all-around athlete, and his pitching helped Santana’s baseball team to the section 3-A final last spring.

Lee Cobb, 6-6 senior forward, El Camino

Cobb transferred to El Camino two years ago and made The Times’ All-County team in his junior and senior seasons.

Cobb, who came from Colorado, did most of his work (21.4 points, 11 rebounds per game) inside.

“He was our foundation,” El Camino Coach Ray Johnson said. “He worked hard, and when we needed to get the ball inside for a basket, he was always there.”

Cobb also developed a perimeter shot that made him even harder to defend.

Dave Delaney, 6-1 1/2 senior guard, Poway

Delaney didn’t begin quickly--he cracked a bone in his shooting wrist in the second game of the season--but he recovered to average 20.3 points. He was named the Palomar League’s player of the year and scored 30 against Morse in Poway’s playoff loss.

“David can score from both outside and in,” Poway Coach Neville Saner said. “In addition, he’s a good defensive player. He plays a complete game.”

In 22 games, Delaney had 55 assists, 63 steals and 79 rebounds and shot 49% from the field. He was named most valuable player in the Mt. Carmel tournament.

Kevin Flanagan, 6-9 junior forward, Torrey Pines

A physical force in the paint, Flanagan averaged 14.9 points and 11.9 rebounds per game.

Flanagan and junior teammate Courtie Miller, also an All-County selection, sacrificed their scoring averages to provide Torrey Pines with exceptional balance.

In the Bonita Vista and Mitchell tournaments, Flanagan was a first-team all-tournament pick. He also was named to the All-Palomar League first team.

Carl Gaines, 6-1 senior guard, Lincoln

Lincoln won the City Central League championship this season, thanks in part to the smooth play of Gaines, who averaged just fewer than 20 points a game and still was an unselfish player.

Gaines was able to push the ball up the floor as quickly as any county player; few teams were able to stop Lincoln’s fast break.

“Carl has been our leader all year,” Lincoln Coach Ron Loneski said. “He’s a winner--when the pressure is on, Carl’s the kind of player who wants the ball. He’s a fine, fine young man.”

Courtie Miller, 6-7, junior forward, Torrey Pines

When Torrey Pines needed a big basket, the Falcons turned to Miller.

Miller possesses a creativity from 12 feet that helped him average 18.2 points as Torrey Pines (28-3) won its first Palomar League title.

Miller also averaged 9.1 rebounds to help the Falcons to a No. 1 county and state ranking through much of the season. He was named first-team all-league and was MVP of the Bonita Vista and Mitchell tournaments.

Scott Oatsvall, 6-2, senior forward, El Camino

Oatsvall averaged 19.3 points and 10.0 rebounds, but what most impressed observers was his ability to score inside over taller players. Athletically, Oatsvall was one of the finest in the county, which he showed against talented Madison during the section playoffs.

“We made him go where we wanted him to go, and he still was able to score on us,” said Thompson, Madison’s coach, after Oatsvall scored 31 points and nearly led El Camino to an upset.

“People are amazed what he can do with his leaping ability,” El Camino Coach Ray Johnson said. Oatsvall is only 6-2, but his ability to work inside made him a baseline-playing forward in El Camino’s attack.

Randy Robinson, 6-6 senior forward, Kearny

Smooth and versatile, Robinson was City Western League player of the year for leading Kearny (24-6) to the league title and a second-place finish in Division II of the San Diego Section.

With good moves inside and a nice touch outside, he averaged 18.4 points. Though he needs to add muscle, Robinson is an excellent jumper and averaged 11.3 rebounds.

He is bound for the University of Colorado.

Robby Robinson, 6-4 junior forward, Madison

Robinson may have been the most versatile performer on a Madison team loaded with talent.

He could run the offense, pass well, play defense, rebound and score when needed. He had most of his big scoring games when it counted most, as in the Division II title game against Kearny, when he had 24 points and scored the winning basket with 10 seconds to go.

“He was our most consistent player,” said Thompson, his coach. “He could find what area we needed help in during each game and provide that for us.”

Dennis Brown, Rick Hazeltine, Tom Krasovic and Scott Miller contributed to this story.

1988 All-County Basketball Teams

ALL-COUNTY BOYS

Name School P Hgt Yr Key Stats (Per Game) Jeff Alexander Madison C 6-9 S 15 pts, 14 rbs Tim Barry Santana G 6-1 S 18 pts, 7 assists Lee Cobb El Camino F 6-6 S 21.4 pts, 11 rbs Dave Delaney Poway G 6-1 S 20.3 pts, 3 steals Kevin Flanagan Torrey Pines F 6-9 J 14.9 pts, 11.9 rbs Carl Gaines Lincoln G 6-1 S 19.8 pts Courtie Miller Torrey Pines F 6-7 J 18.2 pts, 9.1 rbs Scott Oatsvall El Camino F 6-2 S 19.3 pts, 10 rbs Randy Robinson Kearny F 6-6 S 18.4 pts, 11.3 rbs Robby Robinson Madison F 6-4 J 14 pts, 10 rbs