ALL STAR BASKETBALL : Barnhard Helps Stop a Late Rally as 2-A Tops 3-A

Brooks Barnhard, the Escondido High School basketball center, stood on the court shaking hands with a multitude of fans, most of whom he had never met, graciously accepting compliments on his play in the 2-A high school all-stars’ 93-90 victory over the 3-A stars Saturday night at Serra High School.

The 3-A stars just shook their collective heads after the team trailed nearly the entire game and rallied late but just fell short.

Barnhard had just nine points, but his intensity on the boards combined with a key block and a free throw down the stretch made his performance memorable. But while most players are looking to have fun at an all-star game, Barnhard was looking to show something.

“I was a little nervous before the game,” said Barnhard, who will play at the University of San Diego. “I guess I felt I had to prove myself. I didn’t think I’d be able to perform like that.”

Barnhard, who did not make The Times’ All-County team, succeeded.

The 2-A led most of the game until the 3-A put together a late, 15-0 run to erase an 81-67 deficit and take an 82-81 lead with 4:55 remaining. The teams stayed close, and the 2-A led 92-90 with 1:32 remaining.

Barnhard really made his presence known in the final minute. First, he blocked a shot by Kevin Flanagan, a close friend and all-county center who is heading to Arizona State, when Flanagan tried to tie it with a minute remaining.

Barnhard then hit the front end of a one-and-one with 12 seconds remaining to clinch the victory. It was the second in a row for the 2-A stars and tied the series at 2-2 since the format was changed from city-county.

The game looked as if it would be anything but exciting from the start. For 3 1/2 quarters, it looked just like an all-star game. Then things got serious.

The 3-A led, 4-2, before the 2-A took the lead it held until the 3-A run midway through the fourth quarter. An 81-67 lead was the biggest of the night for the 2-A team, but then the 3-A came back behind the play of guard Jermaine Jordan of Serra.

Jordan hit a 19-foot shot to start the 15-0 run, then followed with a three-pointer. After a basket inside by Flanagan, Jordan scored as he fell to his back to pull the 3-A within 81-76. Flanagan started to take control of the inside and scored on a slam from a lob pass from Torrey Pines teammate Courtie Miller.

Will Tate of Southwest and Flanagan then hit two free throws apiece as 3-A took its first lead since early in the first quarter.

“My shot was off in the first half, but my coach said all year to just keep shooting,” Jordan said. “When I miss I get frustrated, and then I don’t want to shoot, but I just kept thinking of what my coach said all year.

“I knew it would come around. The coaches said the guards would have to take over because our guys inside were getting beat up. I had to start hitting.

Joe Temple of Lincoln stopped the streak by hitting both ends of a one-and-one with 4:48 remaining to give the 2-A an 83-82 lead that was stretched to 85-82 on a runaway reverse slam by Ray McDavid of Clairemont. The 3-A was only able to take one more lead, 86-85, on a basket inside by Flanagan.