Johnson Has Surest Shot of Long Guns

Spectators at El Toro High School boys’ basketball games this season are virtually certain to witness plenty of three-point shots. Four El Toro players have taken 305 three-point shots this season, an average of more than 14 a game.

But among the Charger long-range shooters, Rob Johnson is the top gun.

Johnson, The Times’ Athlete of the Week, made seven of 16 three-point shots in scoring a career-high 40 points Wednesday in El Toro’s 78-60 victory over Irvine. He made 14 of 26 shots from the floor and had seven rebounds and five assists.

“If he gets on a roll, he can be pretty tough,” El Toro Coach Tim Travers said. “It was a game-long roll.”

This season, Johnson, a 6-foot-5 junior, has taken 128 three-point shots--52 more than the next Charger, Kevin Martin--and has made 45. He is averaging 20.8 points a game for the Chargers, who are tied for second place in the South Coast League standings.

But El Toro’s dependence on long-range shooting can cause problems, Travers said.

“You have to sometimes remind them that there is more to the game than that 19-9 arch out there,” Travers said.

Friday against Dana Hills, Johnson and the rest of the Chargers had a sub-par shooting night, but won, 65-59. Johnson had a game-high 16 points, but scored only five in the second half.

Johnson said he got some bad bounces in the game. But in such cases he can contribute with his passing and his drives to the basket.

“He can create shots for himself; he can also create shots for his teammates,” Travers said.

An all-county receiver who caught 65 passes for 1,107 yards while helping El Toro to the Division III football championship game last season, Johnson said playing receiver helps him handle the battle under the basket.

“It doesn’t affect me as much because I’m used to getting hit,” he said.

TOP PERFORMERS

La Habra forward James Clegg had 31 points--making eight of 15 field goals and four of six three-pointers--12 rebounds and three assists in a 66-51 Freeway League victory over Sonora Friday.

Esperanza’s Joe Foss scored 25 points in a 64-59 victory over Loara Friday and 16 points in a 67-58 victory over El Dorado Wednesday. Eric Paniagua of Santiago scored two goals in a 3-1 victory over Pacifica Friday as the Cavaliers remained in first place in the Garden Grove League.

Cherokee Parks of Marina had 22 points, 17 rebounds and six blocked shots as the Vikings defeated Ocean View, 62-61, Friday. Parks also scored 17 points in a 62-32 victory over Westminster Saturday.

Kevin Wilborn had 15 points and 15 rebounds as Canyon defeated Santa Ana Valley, 51-42, Friday.

Rob Johnson

El Toro High School

* Position: Guard/forward

* Height, Weight, Class: 6-5, 195, Junior

* Last Week: Johnson made seven three-point shots and scored 40 points in a victory over Irvine.

* Season: Johnson is averaging 20.8 points.