SAN DIEGO HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL ROUNDUP : Tarver Plays at His Best as Santa Clara Romps

Shon Tarver, Santa Clara High of Oxnard’s answer to Sean Elliot, showed San Diego County Monday night what most of the college basketball coaches around America already know.

That he is indeed the real thing.

Although not at his best Saturday night against Valhalla--he scored just 22 points while playing with a sprained ligament in his foot--Tarver was on his game in Santa Clara’s 70-46 romp over the University of San Diego High School.

He scored 36 points, grabbed six rebounds, dished out four assists, blocked four shots and, oh yes, made one spectacular show-stopping dunk for the USDHS fans to remember him by.

With Santa Clara (7-0) clinging to a 62-42 lead, Tarver went back door at the top of the key, took off from just inside the paint, caught the ball left-handed about a foot above the basket, and about two feet above an admiring USDHS player, and jammed the ball through the hoop.

USDHS Coach James Tomey shook his head and Santa Clara Coach Lou Cvijanovich, in his 32nd year of coaching basketball, just leaned back and smiled.

Whichever college coach lands Tarver, will being doing the same for four years. Tarver has taken trips to Notre Dame, Syracuse, UCLA and is expected to visit UNLV and Arizona or Arizona State soon.

Cvijanovich said Tarver is leaning toward Jim Harrick and UCLA.

After playing forward most of last year, Tarver, 6-feet-5, has switched to point guard this season.

“We’re trying to prepare him for college,” Cvijanovich said. “He’s not real sure of himself yet, but by the end of the year, he’ll be all right.”

USDHS was actually with Santa Clara at 17 after the first quarter--Tarver scoring 15 of Santa Clara points--but the Dons were outscored 18-9 in the second quarter. Tarver finished the half with 26.

Lt. James Mitchell Tournament

(At San Dieguito)

Torrey Pines 54, Fallbrook 48--Fallbrook led 39-29 with 6:17 remaining before Torrey Pines went on a 25-9 surge to push the Falcons into the championship against the Dana Hills/San Dieguito winner. Torrey Pines tied Fallbrook at 45 with just over two minutes to go when Kyle Armstrong sunk two free throws. Carter Brown, a 5-foot-10 senior point guard, led the fourth-quarter onslaught with 11 points, nine of which came on three-point shots. Brown also had three steals and three assists in the quarter. As a team in the final quarter, Torrey Pines was six of 10 from the floor and 11 of 15 from the line; Bart Brandenburg went seven of eight from the line.

El Camino 69, Carlsbad 60--Only five players scored for El Camino, but all had double figures. For the Wildcats, Glenn Ankton and Travis Gilley had 16 points apiece and Sean Scurry added 15. Carlsbad’s Calvin Coleman led all scorers with 26. The Lancers outscored El Camino, 46-35 in the second half, but were held to 14 points in the first two quarters.

Trabuco Hills 88, Valencia 69--Randy Criech (26) and Beau Hossler (25) led Trabuco Hills while John Wilson and Richard Tibbey scored 20 apiece for Valencia.

Newport Harbor 93 San Clemente 80 (double OT)--This game was tied, 65-65 after regulation, then at 76 after the first overtime. Eddie Morgan led San Clemente with 27 points. Newport Harbor’s Eddie Martinez had 23.

Serra 58, Madison 47--Serra led from the end of the first quarter on and was paced by Rod Alexander’s 21 points.

Kiwanis Tournament (At Serra)

Patrick Henry 70, Mt. Miguel 57--Jason Lonsdales’ 23 points led the Patriots and Shannon Lefever’s 20 paced Mt. Miguel.

Monte Vista 60, La Jolla 36--The sixth-ranked Matadors improved to 6-1 with the victory. Monte Vista’s Joe McNaull had 20 points.

Lincoln 78, Mission Bay 46--Senior forward Daryll McMillan scored 30 points to lead eighth-ranked Lincoln. Victor Dean added 17 and Brian Parks had 10.

Kiwanis Tournament (At Hoover)

Point Loma 75, Valhalla 70--The Pointers led, 49-48, going into the final quarter then outscored the Norsemen, 26-22, in the last period to preserve the victory. J.J. Stokes’ 24 points led Point Loma (2-4). Teammate Paul Roberson added 17. Valhalla dropped to 5-4.

University City 63, Southwest 49--Southwest made a temporary recovery in the third quarter, outscoring University City 15-8, but the Centurions prevailed in the other three quarters. Jerome Price had 25 points for the winner.

Chula Vista Spartan Tournament

Oceanside 76, Santana 42--After having their academic eligibility restored Friday, Jerry Garrett and Marlin Jenkins were in uniform playing their first game of the season Monday. Garrett came off the bench for the Pirates, played two quarters and had 17 points, 11 assists, four steals and five rebounds. Garrett has been ineligible for high school athletics since the 1988-89 basketball season. Oceanside Coach Steven Kinder said he knew Garrett’s recent academic progress had been positive and that his Grade Point Average is above the minimum 2.0 “While we were practicing, he was in study hall,” he said. “I think once he saw what he was missing out on, that this team was going to be successful, it was an incentive for him.” Kinder said the addition of Garrett and Jenkins is welcome. “They have tremendous scoring input,” he said. Jenkins added 12 points. Oceanside improved to 4-2; Santana dropped to 2-3.

Chula Vista 48, Coronado 44--Carnell Penn had 10 of his 12 points in the fourth quarter, when the Spartans outscored the Islanders, 15-5. Shane Howell also scored 12 points to lead Chula Vista (5-2). Coronado dropped to 9-3.

Crawford 66, El Cajon 51--Tracy Halton scored 36 points for the Colts. Teammates Tito Singleton and Berry Randall contributed 12 apiece. For El Cajon, Jamal Purnell had 14.

Mira Mesa 73, Hilltop 66--The Lancers never trailed tenth-ranked Mira Mesa by much, but Hilltop couldn’t close the gap. J.J. Rowlett’s 21 points and Mark Ziegler’s 14 led the Marauders. Chris White had 22 for Hilltop.

Coca Cola/Sweetwater Tournament

St. Augustine 83, Mar Vista 74--The Mariners dropped to 1-5 with the loss. Tim Page led Mar Vista with 18 points.

San Diego 80, Granite Hills 66--Clark James’ 37 points lifted the Cavers. For Granite HIlls, Scott Georgens scored 25 points.