HIGH SCHOOL ROUNDUP : San Marcos Knocks Off Sweetwater

San Marcos, which finished tied for last with Ramona in the Avocado League, made a statement Monday as to why the San Diego Section added a preliminary round to its boys’ basketball playoffs.

San Marcos, which would not have made the playoffs otherwise, defeated Sweetwater, which tied for third in the Metro Conference, 50-48, at Sweetwater to advance to today’s Division I first round. The Knights (6-17) play Poway, the No. 1-seeded team, at 7:30 tonight at Poway.

San Marcos, Ramona, Escondido and San Pasqual made it a clean sweep for the four Avocado teams playing preliminary-round games Monday.

San Marcos led Sweetwater, 48-44, but the Red Devils’ Guillermo Sanchez cut that lead to one with a three-point basket with 39 seconds left.

San Marcos’ Brian Malloy then made a basket to make it 50-47, but Sanchez was fouled and sent to the free-throw line with three seconds left. After making the first one and purposely missing the second, Sweetwater’s Anthony Lindsey grabbed the rebound, but San Marcos was able to force a jump ball, and the Knights had the possession arrow in their favor.

Horace Corey led San Marcos with 20 points, 14 coming in the first half. Sanchez scored 17 for Sweetwater, which finished 11-16.

In other Division I games

San Dieguito 81, Montgomery 50--The Mustangs (11-16) had little trouble with Montgomery (5-20) getting 28 points from David Demian and 19 from Jeremy Meeks.

Division II

San Pasqual 65, El Cajon Valley 59--David Durst made four three-point baskets, finished with 26 points, and added six steals and six rebounds to lead San Pasqual, the defending Division II champion. Shane Carlson added 15 points for the Eagles (11-15). Mike Stadler (19 points), Mark Boykins (12) and Mike Harris (10) paced El Cajon Valley (3-18).

Ramona 55, El Capitan 46--It was a two-point game until Ramona outscored El Capitan, 24-15, in the final quarter. Cody Cunningham (seven of eight free throws down the stretch) and Rusty Hoss led the Bulldogs (7-16) with 19 and 17 points, respectively. Jarrod Bess added nine points, including two three-pointers. Chris Wilson led El Capitan (11-15) with 15 points. Justin Shands (10 points), Dylan Smith (seven) and Billy Edwards (six) each had two three-pointers for the Vaqueros.

Escondido 79, Mission Bay 51--Escondido (11-13) had an easy time with Mission Bay, outscoring the Bucs, 23-9, 22-17, and 22-7, in the first three quarters. Damian Cephas scored 22 points and Joe Pippins 17 for Escondido, which also got nine rebounds from Brian Hughes, who played only 12 minutes. Mission Bay, which finished 7-19, received 13 points from Kris Hightower.

Grossmont 74, Crawford 50--Mike Kingsley scored 16 points and Vince Clark 15 to lead Grossmont (13-12) over Crawford (3-21).

Castle Park 60, Santana 55--Castle Park trailed by one with about a minute left, but after getting a free throw and a steal, Tony Green made a jump shot to make it 54-52. Moses Moreno then made two free throws and Bobby Stanton four to ice it for the Trojans (14-10). Stanton finished with 28 points, including two three-pointers, and Moreno had 14. Mark Bennett scored 15 points and Leon Bender 12 for Santana (7-15).

GIRLS’ BASKETBALL

Division I

San Marcos 55, Mt. Miguel 31--Tammy Hinrichs made 15 of 19 from the free-throw line and finished with 24 points to lead San Marcos (14-10). Leah Vague also scored 11 for the Knights, and Candice Fode had 14 rebounds to go with seven points. Angie Blount led Mt. Miguel with 14 points. The Matadors finished 1-22 after winning their first game of the season.

Division II

Grossmont 61, Valhalla 38--Grossmont is playing without its leading scorer, Heather Phillips, but that didn’t slow the Foothillers, who got 12 points from Desiree Foggiano and 11 from Ambyr Phoenix, to even their record at 13-13. Nicole Kranzush scored eight for Valhalla (4-19).

Torrey Pines 54, Oceanside 51--Close throughout, Torrey Pines (10-15) held on behind 13 points by Pilar McLellan and 11 by Tomic Nada. Nykia Burnside led all scorers with 24 points for Oceanside (4-21), and teammate Evans Kristy added 14 points.

El Capitan 45, El Camino 36--El Capitan, which won only one of 20 games a year ago, assured first-year Coach Jim Mottershaw of a winning season, improving to 13-11.