County’s Best High School Basketball Players on Display Tonight

The top boys’ and girls’ senior basketball players in San Diego County will make their final local appearances in high school games tonight at Serra High School.

County girls will play a team of city players at 5:30, and Division 2-A boys’ all-stars will play a 3-A team at 7:30.

The games, which traditionally have been played in June, have been moved closer to the end of the basketball season to generate more interest. Admission is $4 for adults, $3 for students.

The 2-A boys defeated the 3-A team, 116-101, last year. It was the first 2-A victory since the format was changed from city playing county in 1986. The county girls easily defeated the city, 72-56.

This season’s boys’ game features a couple of interesting matchups. Torrey Pines forward Courtie Miller, two-time San Diego Section player of the year, and teammate Kevin Flanagan (a center) will play for the 3-A team, and swingman Joe Temple and center Aaron Wilhite of Lincoln are expected to play for 2-A. Torrey Pines was ranked No. 1 in the county and Lincoln No. 2, but the teams never met during the regular season.

Also eligible are All-County players Robby Robinson of Madison and Will Tate of Southwest for the 3-A team and Ray McDavid of Clairemont for the 2-A.

Bill Pederson of Kearny and Dennis Kane of San Diego will coach the 2-A boys, and David Ybarra of Sweetwater and John Farrell of Torrey Pines will coach 3-A.

The county girls include four All-County players, led by center Chris Enger of Vista. Others include Dana Christofferson of Vista, San Marcos guard Susie O’Brien (the county’s leading scorer with a 29.9-point average) and Mesega Johnson, a forward from Southwest.

The city team will be led by Point Loma guard Monica Filer, section player of the year.

The county girls are coached by Vista’s Joe DeMaria and Bob Kellison of San Marcos, the city by Lori Schwalbach of La Jolla and Mira Mesa’s Gary Blevins.