High School Basketball : Bohannon Is There to Pick Up Madison

All eyes were focused on Robby Robinson as Madison High’s all-everything dribbled 43 seconds off the clock, setting up a final shot in the San Diego Section Division II boys’ quarterfinal game against San Pasqual Saturday.

The score was tied, and there was Robinson, the county’s second-leading scorer, awaiting a chance to bury one of his stylish jump shots.

Nobody noticed Monte Bohannon.

Bohannon, a 6-foot-4 junior forward, had anonymously slid into rebounding position--just in case.

With 5 seconds left, Robinson let loose a 12-foot jumper. It was off the mark, but Bohannon grabbed the rebound on the right side of the rim and put up a beautiful reverse layup that banked off the glass and through the hoop.

The Madison High gymnasium, known as the Madhouse, erupted into one.

With 1 second still remaining, the court was cleared, and San Pasqual was allowed one final play. Roger Hills’ full-court pass sailed out of bounds, just over the outstretched hand of 6-foot-9 Erik Meek.

Madison, the defending Section Division II champion, had defeated San Pasqual, 73-71. The Warhawks improved to 16-12 and advanced to the semifinal against City Eastern League rival Point Loma.

San Pasqual, which had upset No. 2 El Camino Thursday, finished 13-12.

Afterward, Bohannon fielded reporters questions as nonchalantly as he had assumed rebounding position just moments before.

“I saw the rebound coming, and I went for it,” he said. “That’s my specialty, underneath the basket. Everybody gets a chance to win a game. I was the one today.”

He added, “If (Meek) fouled me, I knew I would make the free throws.”

With 2:17 left, it looked as if San Pasqual would be doing the celebrating. Behind the play of Meek, the Eagles had built a 70-64 lead.

Then Madison, with Robinson and Brad Eaddy, took over. During the next 55 seconds, Robinson made a three-pointer. Eaddy had a steal. Robinson made two free throws. Eaddy had a steal. Robinson made a 15-foot jump shot. Madison had a 71-70 lead.

Meek then made one of two free throw to tie the game, 71-71, with 48 seconds left. Madison rebounded Meek’s second free throw, then stalled to set up the last shot.

Robinson finished with 30 points (on 10-for-27 shooting). Kirk Bannister, 5-feet-7, added 17. Bohannon, who scored seven in the first half, had just the game-winner in the second half.

Meek, San Pasqual’s sophomore all-everything, finished with 39 points, 20 rebounds and six blocked shots. In the third quarter, when San Pasqual turned a 37-33 halftime deficit into a 55-50 third quarter lead, Meek made nine of nine shots, had seven rebounds and three blocks. Bryan Banner added 13 points.

But Saturday, Madison had Bohannon.

In another boys’ Division II playoff game:

Torrey Pines 91, Crawford 43--Courtie Miller had 23 points, 13 rebounds and six blocked shots to lead No. 1 Torrey Pines (29-1).

Kevin Flanagan had 15 points and nine rebounds for host Torrey Pines, Kyle Armstrong had 19 points and Darren Cox 18. Armstrong made four of five three-point attempts, and Cox made two of two. Torrey Pines outrebounded Crawford, 49-23.

Division IV semifinals

Coronado 78, Army-Navy 59--Jesse MacNeil scored 25 points as the Islanders opened playoff play with a victory at home. Derek Wastila and James Stark added 15 and 14 points for Coronado (11-15). Alex Salido paced Army-Navy (11-10) with 22 points and teammate Phil Parks added 16. MacNeil had 10 rebounds and Wastila recorded 10 of Coronado’s 15 blocked shots.

Division V semifinals

Imperial 52, Marian 45--Brian Williams had a game-high 14 points to lead second-seeded Imperial (12-9) at third-seeded Marian (6-16). For the host Crusaders, Jerry Conlin and Teo Rosales had 13 and 11 points. “We heard they were very patient and we tried to get them out of that and rush them,” said Imperial Coach Kerry Legarra.

Girls

Division II Quarterfinals

Vista 72, Fallbrook 44--Chris Enger’s 39 points, 18 rebounds and 10 blocked shots helped lift the host Panters (24-3). Jennifer Tippit led Fallbrook (17-10) with 16 points. Dana Christofferson and Kelly Schott added 13 and 11 points for Vista, who shot out to a 38-11 halftime lead which it maintained.

San Marcos 59, La Jolla 40--Susie O’Brien, the county’s leading scorer, had 37 points and Shantell PaoPao added 11 to lead San Marcos (20-6) over La Jolla (19-8).