HIGH SCHOOL BOYS’ BASKETBALL PLAYOFFS : Perfect Pass Secures Victory for San Diego

None of Clark James’ baskets--and there were many--were as big as the split-second pass he zipped cross-court to Jerome Allen with host San Diego hanging on to a tenuous, 85-83 lead over Chula Vista with 20 seconds left in a San Diego Section Division I quarterfinal boys’ basketball game Friday night.

Allen took the low-line pass, scored on a layup while being fouled by Derek Chapman and made the free throw to help clinch San Diego’s 88-85 victory.

“I just saw him,” said James, who finished with 40 points and 18 rebounds. “He went to the basket the way he was supposed to. He goes to the basket well.”

San Diego plays top-seeded and No. 1 ranked Sweetwater in a semifinal game Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. at Serra High School.

San Diego clung to the lead the entire game and the best Chula Vista could manage was to tie the game twice in the second half.

But the Spartans (21-8) were in the midst of a run that looked as if it might finally get them past San Diego.

The Cavers (19-4), seeded fourth, took their biggest lead, 81-73, with 2:54 remaining on a pair of free throws by Marino Bowman.

But Chula Vista rallied on a three-pointer by Shane Howell and three free throws to pull within 81-79 with 2:08 left. James ended the 1:12 scoring drought for San Diego with a driving layup and Howell got one point back for Chula Vista on a free throw. Allen then made two free throws with 35 seconds remaining, and San Diego appeared to have a comfortable, 85-80 lead.

But Daniel Johnson hit a three-pointer four seconds later to cut the Cavers’ lead to 85-83. Timeout, Chula Vista.

The Spartans came out with a full-court press as San Diego inbounded the ball. Then James went to Allen, who finished off Chula Vista.

Allen scored 28 points. Carnell Penn and Howell had 25 apiece for Chula Vista.

“We kept our poise,” said Dennis Kane, San Diego’s coach. “(During the timeout) I told them to get the ball to Clark and then go to the basket. As they were leaving (Allen) asked ‘Should I go to the basket?’

“I said, ‘Yeah.’ ”