HIGH SCHOOL ROUNDUP : Falcons Survive vs. Vista

In its final regular-season game, top-ranked Torrey Pines avoided its first loss to a San Diego County team--by 21 seconds--Friday night in a Palomar League game against Vista.

That’s how much time was left when the Falcons finally were able to go on top for good in a 70-66 victory at Torrey Pines.

The league champion Falcons (23-3, 14-0) trailed by 13 at one point, but took the lead, 67-66, on a basket by Eddie Montalvo at 0:21.

Montalvo finished with only five points. Scot Pollard, a 6-11 center, led Torrey Pines with 23 points, and Peter Bates added 21.

Fifth-ranked Vista, which finished in a tie for second with Mt. Carmel and Poway, got 23 points from Shane Jager, 22 from Nils Michals and 14 from Jason Barnes.

The Panthers (15-10, 9-5) made 15 three-point baskets. Jager had seven, Michals six.

The last time these schools met in Vista, Torrey Pines also overcame a 13-point deficit and pulled that one out, 71-69.

Despite being from the same league, Torrey Pines will likely draw the top seed in next week’s Division II playoffs, and Vista will participate in the Division I playoffs.

In other Palomar games

Rancho Buena Vista 67, Fallbrook 64--James VanderVeur, who was unable to play in the first half because of a ankle injury, wound up the hero by making a three-point with no time remaining to lift RBV (11-16, 4-10) to its second victory in a row. With the score tied and fewer than 10 seconds left, Fallbrook’s Chris Miller had the ball at the top of the key and was trying to set a winning shot of his own. VanderVeur, however, stole the ball from Miller with four seconds left and managed to get a 21-foot shot off before time expired.

VanderVeur finished with seven points, four rebounds, four assists and three steals. Teammates Evan Osmundson had 22 points and 17 rebounds and Isaac Hilker 14 points. Miller scored 32 and Steve Pack 21 for 10th-ranked Fallbrook (18-8, 8-6).

Poway 95, San Dieguito 61--Sixth-ranked Poway, which scored 94 in a victory over Vista on Wednesday, went on a 25-5 run in the second quarter Friday after San Dieguito lost David Demian to an ankle injury. Demian returned after halftime, but played at something less then full speed.

Meanwhile, Poway center Kyle Milling dominated, scoring 31 points in the first three quarters. Teammate Justin Kruse, who hit four three-pointers in the first half, finished with 18; and Andrew Davis, who only scored in the second and fourth quarters, finished with 14. Poway improved to 20-8, 9-5, and San Dieguito fell to 8-15, 2-12.

Mt. Carmel 103, Orange Glen 68--The seventh-ranked Sundevils (16-9, 9-5) pulled away steadily as Scott Schoenwald and Robert Treahy each scored a season-high 23 points, and Brett Drainer scored all 13 of his points in a 33-point fourth quarter. Brian Morsch scored 27 for Orange Glen (2-21, 0-13).

Avocado League

Carlsbad 84, San Pasqual 55--Carlsbad senior guard Chad Nelson connected for five three-pointers and was six for six from the free throw line to finish with 21 points. Carlsbad improved to 20-6, 14-0, and San Pasqual fell to 10-15, 7-7.

Oceanside 66, Ramona 43--The Pirates (10-14, 6-8) jumped to a 11-0 lead and never looked back. Carl Mathis led Oceanside with 16 points. Rusty Hoss (21 points) and Cody Cunningham (17) were two of only three players who scored for the Bulldogs (6-16, 2-12).

Escondido 68, San Marcos 53--Damian Cephas (23 points) and Joe Pippens (17) led Escondido (10-13, 5-9). Horace Corey scored 22 for San Marcos (5-17, 2-12).

City Central League

Lincoln 96, San Diego 69--Talk about being on a roll, it was Lincoln’s ninth consecutive victory, its 56th consecutive league victory, and it concluded its seventh consecutive Central League championship season. Now come the playoffs, and Coach Ron Loneski prays his team keeps streaking.

“I just hope we win the last game we play,” he said, alluding to a state championship.

Three players each scored 16 points for Lincoln (19-8, 8-0): Scott Hammond, Hosa Baker and Berry Randle, who also pulled down 18 rebounds. San Diego finished at 11-9, 4-3.

City Eastern League

Mira Mesa 57, Serra 56 (OT)--With 45 seconds left in overtime and Mira Mesa leading, 54-53, Matt Morris hit a field-goal and a free throw, and Serra matched it with its own three-point play with time running. The Marauders (16-9, 3-5) took possession with 14 seconds left and ran out the clock. Serra dropped to 13-7, 5-3. Mira Mesa’s Ryan Cunningham led all scorers with 16 points.

City Harbor League

Clairemont 82, Coronado 66--John Brady, a junior forward, had 17 rebounds to complement his 26 points for Clairemont. He, senior guards John Price (21 points), and Rashaan Brown (20), took control of the game for the Chieftains (10-12, 5-3) in the second half.

Clairemont Coach Greg Lee said it was the first time he could recall three of his players scoring 20 or more points in the same game. Islander senior guard Jason Switzer had four three-point baskets and finished with 29 points. Coronado (3-23, 0-8) shot 72% in the first half, and the score was tied at that point.

City Western League

Kearny 88, La Jolla 58--The Komets (25-2, 7-1), who clinched their fifth Western League championship in seven years Tuesday, topped off the regular season with the 30-point victory. Demetrius Brown finished with 21 points and Damian Victor 19 for Kearny. Ali Nayab had 11 points and 15 assists. E.J. Watson led La Jolla (10-13, 4-4) with 17 points.

USDHS 45, Mission Bay 40--It was tied at 40 with just over a minute to go, but Josh Merrill hit two jumpers and scored four of his eight fourth-quarter points to put it away. Teammate Ian Hamilton had 17 points, eight in the third quarter. In the fourth, Mission Bay shut down Hamilton, but Merrill, who had not scored to that point, took over. For Mission Bay (7-18, 1-7) Chris Smith scored 10 points and grabbed eight rebounds. USDHS improved to 6-15, 3-5.

Metro Conference

Chula Vista 67, Castle Park 64--Jerome Green set a career scoring record for the Spartans (17-10, 10-4) with his 24-point performance. Green has 1,532 points in three years, with his senior year remaining. He broke the record of 1,508 set from 1969-71 by Bob Tayge. Teammate Lamar Bailey scored 10 points and added nine assists, and Andy Duran grabbed 13 rebounds. Bob Stanton scored 24 points for Castle Park (12-11, 8-6).

Bonita Vista 72, Southwest 64--Frank Peralta scored 23 points to lift first-place Bonita Vista (17-6, 13-1). Southwest (12-12, 8-6) received 16 points from Leo Vargas.

Nonleague

Morse 82, University City 64--City Eastern League champ Morse (18-5) built a 45-30 halftime lead and coasted behind 21 points from Edwin Charles and 15 from Byron Steele. University City fell to 12-10.

Madison 59, Christian 44--Shane Lantz, Madison’s junior point guard, went on a 19-4 run in second quarter. He was nine for nine from the line and finished with a game-high 18 points. J.P. Culbertson, Christian’s sophomore guard, had three three-pointers to finish with 13 points. Madison finished at 15-11, Christian at 17-8.

GIRLS’ BASKETBALL

City Eastern League

Point Loma 60, Patrick Henry 33--Lisa Griego paced Point Loma (21-3, 7-1) with 19 points and 10 rebounds.

Mira Mesa 51, Serra 41--Nancy Bellinger scored 13 points, and Jenny Minter had 15 rebounds for Mira Mesa (13-11, 6-2).

Nonleague

Christian 70, Madison 14--Tiffany Stutz had a triple-double, getting 25 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists to lead Christian (17-5). Teammate Jenny Culbertson added 17 points.