SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REGIONAL BASKETBAL PLAYOFFS : DIVISION V BOYS : Tony Clark Scores 52 as Tartans Lose, 74-52

Lute Olson and the University of Arizona may be ready for Tony Clark, but St. Margaret’s High School isn’t.

With Olson in attendance Tuesday night at Granite Hills High School to watch one of his recruits in a first-round Division V Southern California Regional boys’ basketball playoff game, El Cajon Christian’s Clark scorched St. Margaret’s for 52 points.

On a plateau far above Division V, the 6-foot-8 Clark matched St. Margaret’s point for point. His teammates chipped in the rest for a 74-52 El Cajon Christian victory.

Clark has averaged 44 points and 14 rebounds a game since transferring from Valhalla.

“We knew Clark was going to get his points,” St. Margaret’s Coach Rick Bauer said. “We figured if we could hold him to 30 or 35 points we’d be all right.”

Clark had 29 points at halftime, including three first-quarter three-pointers.

Clark showcased his entire arsenal en route to 21-for-33 shooting from the field--feather-touch rainbows from the perimeter, soft hooks in the lane, and rim-rattling, twin-fisted slam dunks.

Amazingly, Clark’s 52-point effort was not his season high. That came against La Jolla Country Day in a San Diego Section playoff game when he scored 64 points.

After a while, all St. Margaret’s could do was watch. The Tartans, who won 18 consecutive games this season, finished 21-6.

Ryan Westendorf, St. Margaret’s 6-7 center, finished with a team-high 17 points.

But Westendorf, who entered the game averaging 26 points, was slowed by an ankle injury he suffered in the first quarter.

“I think if we had a healthy Westendorf guarding him, that guy wouldn’t have scored 52 points,” Bauer said.

Forward Dann Campaigne added 16 for the Tartans, and guard Trevor Durham added 11, including a pair of three-pointers.