San Diego High Routs Hoover

It was a game between the Central League’s second-place team, according to the standings (Hoover), and the Central League’s second-place team, according to San Diego High players (San Diego).

In the end, the self-proclaimed second-place guys made their case to be ahead of Hoover High in the standings by running over the Cardinals, 74-57.

The victory improved San Diego’s record to 3-17, 3-4.

“But as far as the kids are concerned,” San Diego Coach Dennis Kane said, “we’re 17-4.”

At least they would be if they weren’t forced to forfeit 13 games after Section Commissioner Kendall Webb ruled a player, John McKenna, ineligible because he lives with only one parent.

McKenna, a transfer from Madison, unknowingly broke a CIF bylaw which says a student who transfers from one school’s boundaries into another’s must do so with both parents to remain eligible.

McKenna’s father, Bob, got a court order so his son could get back on the court. John McKenna, who normally scores in double figures, scored six points, all in the final quarter, against Hoover.

Kane said the rulings have undermined McKenna’s game.

“Sure they have,” he said. “It has been added pressure that a high school kid shouldn’t have to bear.”

But now Kane must worry about another of his players missing action. Mike Watson banged shins with a Hoover player while both were going for a loose ball late in the third quarter and had to be carried out of the gym.

Besides scoring 15 points in three quarters to finish as San Diego’s second highest scorer to Marino Bowman (22), Watson keyed the Cavers’ success on the full-court press by plugging the middle.

“The way he plays the press, it allows all the other guys to do the trapping and the cheating,” Kane said.

San Diego used its press at the beginning of the game, stealing the ball on four consecutive possessions to forge a 12-2 lead halfway through the first quarter.

Watson had four points during the run.

“We can pressure and cause a lot of trouble,” Kane said. “We’ve gotten to a lot of teams with our press and that was essential in this game. We had that one spurt, and the rest of the game was pretty much back and forth.”

Not exactly. After Hoover pulled within six at 14-8, San Diego went on an 11-point run that lasted 45 seconds into the second quarter.

Again, pressure defense played a key role as San Diego forced four turnovers during the run. Marlon Wells started two fast breaks with steals, going the length of the court for a layup on one and dishing off to Efran Dehughes on the other.

Hoover (12-8, 4-3) was led by Mike Martin’s 16 points.