HIGH SCHOOL PLAYOFF ROUNDUP : Lincoln Buries Coronado in Early Barrage

The word Wayne and Garth would use to describe this team, on this night, would have to be . . .

Excellent.

The team--Lincoln--was. The game against Coronado was not.

In a Division IV San Diego Section boys’ basketball semifinal Thursday night at Hoover High, Lincoln kept the pressure on and went on a scoring binge en route to a 104-35 victory against Coronado.

It was Lincoln’s 10th consecutive victory, its seventh 100-point game of the season, and all but two of its 13 players suited up scored. As if that weren’t enough, the Hornets’ 69-point victory margin was the most since their 114-63 stampede Jan. 24 against Crawford. Their last 100-point effort was 20 days ago.

“We just try to blow them out,” Berry Randle said of the Hornets’ strategy when faced with a painfully one-sided game. “We’re constantly thinking about what we can be doing better.”

For himself, Randle couldn’t have been much better. His 25 points were a game-high, and he scored 19 of those in the first half. His seven blocked shots gave him 149 for the season, which surpassed the single-season section record set by El Camino’s Dee Boyer in 1989.

“That’s one thing you can mention about the game,” said Lincoln Coach Ron Loneski, who was otherwise cautious in his praise of his team’s effort.

“The kids came in with a tough defense, played as hard as they could, and try to get something out of it,” he said.

Loneski said that although his players rose to the occasion Thursday, his team needs more of a challenge.

“These games can hurt us down the line,” he said. “We need tough games. The only reason we’re winning now is because of the Above the Rim tournament.”

Lincoln tested its basketball prowess against some of the nation’s toughest, and the effects are lingering.

Loneski is acutely aware of the voices who criticize the Hornets, winners of the Section titles the last four years in a row, for playing in Division IV.

“What those people forget is that we’ve played seven Division I teams and we’ve only lost once,” he said.

Coronado (4-18), won only one game in the weak Harbor League, and wasn’t up for this kind of playoff test.

“They’re a good ballclub,” said Coronado Coach Thorr Dekker. “We knew we had to be on and that Lincoln would have to be off, and that maybe we could catch them off guard. We tried to slow them down in the beginning, but we knew we were in trouble as soon and they got their running game going.”

And Lincoln (20-8), aside from a brief moment where the Hornets actually trailed the Islanders, 5-4, was off and running.

“The first three minutes were close,” Dekker said.

Lincoln went on a barrage of runs, but its 29-2 barrage with 5:45 remaining in the second quarter gave the Hornets a 31-15 lead.

The Islanders managed only six points in each of the second and third quarters, as Lincoln switched from its patented man-to-man pressure defense to a three-two trap, causing Coronado to commit 33 turnovers.

“We haven’t been able to put together four quarters all season,” Dekker said. We just didn’t get the job done.”

Hosea Baker added 18 points for the Hornets, Archie Robinson scored 13 points, nine on three pointers, and Scott Hammond had 10. Coronado’s Layne Beaubeen had nine points.

Division IV semifinal:

Clairemont 79, Imperial 55--Second-seeded Clairemont (11-12) earned the right to play Lincoln at the Sports Arena on Thursday with the victory at El Capitan. Junior John Brady turned in a noteworthy performance with a triple double: 19 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists. Imperial dropped to 10-12.

“It’ll be a fun game,” Clairemont Coach Greg Lee said. “If we were playing them at Lincoln, that might be different, but it’s in the Sports Arena.”

Division III

USDHS 85, West Hills 57--West Hills (9-14) jumped to a 7-0 lead in the first 1 1/2 minutes, but fourth-seeded USDHS--starting two sophomores and two juniors--pecked away at the deficit and pulled to within 17-16 at the quarter. The Dons (7-16) blew open a seven point game in the third, outscoring the Wolfpack 24-7.

Ian Hamilton led USDHS with 25 points and also handed out six assists, and Brian Barajas scored 13, the only other Don in double figures. Teammate Brad Rossin had 10 rebounds and eight points. West Hills got 22 points from Mike Campbell.

USDHS plays Tuesday at Mira Mesa against No. 1 St. Augustine in the tournament semifinals.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Division III first round

La Jolla 35, Madison 17--La Jolla (7-15) moved into the semifinals with a victory over Madison (1-21). La Jolla plays Tuesday at San Dieguito against top-seeded Our Lady of Peace.

Division IV semifinals

Lincoln 75, Imperial 12--Top-seeded Lincoln won for the 20th time, beating fourth-seeded Imperial (2-15) at Hoover. Defending champion Lincoln in 20-8 and moves into the Division IV title game for the second consecutive year. The Hornets play for a championship for the third time in four years and their fourth in six seasons.

Coronado 58, Holtville 43--Kristie Lukenbill led second-seeded Coronado (18-6) with 16 points at El Capitan. Teammate Michelle Stevens added 14 points and also had six steals, while Kris Skaalen pulled down 10 rebounds. Holtville fell to 18-7.

The championship game is Thursday at the Sports Arena.