Barons keep reeling in hoops victories

Fans got their money’s worth at this year’s Frank Pekarek National City Host Lions boys basketball tournament at Sweetwater High School.

“We had all five divisions, most of the teams played within their divisions, about 80 percent,” said Sweetwater coach Jesse Aguirre, who served as tournament director of the 20-team event that ran Dec. 13-20 at the National City school.

“Every year is great competition. The championship game is great competition every year, and it was again this year.

“Some of these guys (from the tournament) will probably play in college.”

Bonita Vista, Mt. Miguel, Monte Vista and Mission Bay entered the final day of competition undefeated.

Monte Vista defeated Southwest El Centro, 86-48, on Saturday to finish 5-0 in the 17th tournament to be held at Sweetwater.

Mater Dei Catholic defeated Mt. Miguel, 68-57, to hand the Matadors their first tournament loss while Bonita Vista advanced to meet Mission Bay in the championship game.

The Barons, riding a seven-game winning streak, took an early 13-6 lead and capped the opening period against the No. 3-ranked Bucs with a 25-21 edge. Bonita Vista went up 29-25 before Mission Bay nailed a late three-point shot to lead 36-31 at halftime.

It was a respectable showing for the Metro Conference team, which sank five treys in the contest.

Many are projecting the Bucs to be an Open Division team. Mission Bay (9-2) turned a 49-43 edge early in the third quarter to a 61-47 lead by the start of the fourth quarter. The Bucs extended their lead to 20 points midway through the final period before settling for a 17-point, 79-62 non-league victory.

Mission Bay senior Jocori Bartlett earned tournament MVP honors while two other teammates, seniors Travis Hasley and Clay Grebing, were selected to the all-tournament team. 

Two Barons made the all-tourney list: sophomore Sawyer Rhoades and senior Josh Hansen.

“There’s been a lot of learning from film, working on correcting our mistakes with a growth mindset,” BVHS head coach Dean Curry said. “It’s been gradual improvement. I don’t think we’ve plateaued yet.”

Bonita Vista (8-3) will be battling for position in the Division I rankings this season opposite Victory Christian Academy, Montgomery and Olympian while Mater Dei Catholic will be doing the same in Division II along with Eastlake and Southwest. Otay Ranch, and San Ysidro are both lodged in Division III this season while local Division IV teams include Sweetwater, High Tech High Chula Vista, Chula Vista and Mar Vista. Hilltop, Castle Park and Bayfront Charter (2-5) will hope to find success in the Division V tier.

Mater Dei Catholic encountered Mission Bay on Dec. 18, dropping a 72-54 decision.

“We played alongside Mission Bay for a while but let it get away a little from us,” new hoops coach Jazz Fontenot said. “Otherwise, I like how we played against Mission Bay (18-point loss).”

The Crusaders (3-2) finished 2-2 in the tournament, opening with 54-50 loss to Patrick Henry after carving out a sizable first-half lead and holding off Mt. Miguel in a back-and-forth game on Saturday. Senior Johnathan Hawthorne earned a berth on the all-tournament team.

“We didn’t make adjustments in the second half against Patrick Henry,” Fontenot said. “We were playing only in our second game and they already had played a dozen games. They had more consistency. We lost the game in the last minute.”

Mt. Miguel led 37-35 at halftime and 52-51 at the end of three quarters before Mater Dei Catholic closed out the non-league contest with a 16-6 fourth-quarter scoring edge.

Mater Dei Catholic defeated University City, 64-42 on Friday.

The game against Mt. Miguel was the Crusaders’ fourth in four day. “Guys were cramping up,” the Crusaders coach said.

The Matadors (8-5) opened tourney play with a 92-38 runaway win over Foothills Christian and had relatively little trouble in besting Lincoln (66-47), tourney host Sweetwater (69-40) and Southwest El Centro (79-40) before engaging Mater Dei Catholic.

Junior Jerome Radcliff represented the Matadors on the all-tournament team. He had 21 points in the loss to Crusaders.

“We’re young and talented but we’re not disciplined,” Mt. Miguel assistant coach Dennis Kane said. “Our best basketball is ahead of us.”

Eastlake (2-9) finished 2-3 in the tournament with a rousing 67-21 win over Vista (0-10) on Saturday.

A total of nine Metro teams participated in this year’s event.

Sweetwater finished 4-1 in the week-long tournament with a 58-45 win over San Ysidro on Dec. 18 and a 76-56 win over Vista on Friday. Key performers for the Red Devils included freshman Romie Reid and senior Talan Jasiulis.

Otay Ranch (6-6) finished 3-2, capping the annual event with a 68-51 win over San Ysidro (0-10). Senior Syrus Webb led the Mustangs with 17 points in the win while junior Chris Esquibel added 13 points, sophomore Quincy Washington dropped in 12 points and junior Nyno Lopez had 11 points as four Otay Ranch players finished in double-digit scoring.

Southwest (9-4) finished 2-3 in tourney play following a 65-31 win over Granite Hills (4-7) as senior Noah Soltero poured in 27 points and senior Elijah Traylor tacked on 19 points ad sophomore Christian Borja added 10 points.

San Ysidro finished 0-5 in the tournament while Mar Vista (3-9) and Castle Park (3-7) both finished 0-1 as fill-ins.

Also named to the all-tournament team were University City junior Mathias Baluyot and Patrick Henry senior Alex Newlands.

Hoop alert
Victory Christian Academy had its four-game winning streak snapped in a 67-56 non-league setback to visiting La Costa Canyon on Dec. 20. Prior to that. The Knights blew out West Hills, 104-39, on Dec. 12 and Sage Creek, 81-39, on Dc. 17.

Senior Sammell Humphries led VCA with 34 points in the win over the Wolf Pack while senior Jayden Gary had 29 points and senior Isaiah Owens had 26 points. Gray sank five trey and 10 assists while Humphries added five steals.

Sophomore Troy Tominna led the Knights with 24 points against the Bobcats while Humphries dropped in 18 points, Gray had 15 points and Owens had 12 points. Humphries had eight assists and nine steals. Senior Chato Garcia hd eight rebounds.

Scoring leaders for Victory Christian include Humphries (18.1 ppg), Tominna (17.3), Gray (16-0) and Owens (13.1). Owens is averaging 5.8 rebounds per game while Humphries is averaging 6.0 assists per game and four steals per game.

Hilltop (7-4) is ranked fifth among Division V teams. Chula Vista is off to a 4-6 start.

Among the area’s smaller enrollment schools, San Diego Academy is 5-3, Bayfront Charter is 2-5 while Ocean View Christian Academy is 2-6.

Metro Conference Girls Basketball Log

Top Records (Through Dec. 18)

Mater Dei Catholic                   10-0

Hilltop                                          8-1

Otay Ranch                                8-2

Castle Park                                6-1

Montgomery                              5-3

Bonita Vista                               5-3

San Ysidro                                 3-5

Chula Vista                                4-7

Eastlake                                      3-7

Southwest                                  3-7

Olympian                                    3-7

Mar Vista                                    2-7

Sweetwater                               0-5

Others: Victory Christian Academy 2-2, Bayfront Charter 2-3, San Diego Academy 2-3, Ocean View Christian Academy 1-4

MATER DEI CATHOLIC

Top scorers: Promise Martin 12.1, La’Vehya Inglehart 11.8, S Gonzalez 11.2, Jarika Chan 9.9, Awen Carrillo 9.8

Top rebounds: Promise Martin 11.4, Awen Carrillo 6.4

Top assists: Awen Carrillo 2.7, Promise Martin 2.5, La’Vehya Inglehart 2.3, Jarika Chan 2.2

Top steals: Promise Martin 5.9, La’Vehya Inglehart 5.2, Awen Carrillo 3.4

HILLTOP

Top scorers: Kayli Salgado 18.1, Diana Herrera 14.0, Alizeah Zapata 9.3

Top rebounds: Serina Williams 6.4, Diana Herrera 5.5, Kayli Salgado 5.0, Rae’Lynn Culpepper 4.6

Top assists: Aliseah Zapata 5.1, Kayli Salgado 3.4

Top steals: Diana Herrera 5.5, Alizeah Zapata 5.3, Kayli Salgado 4.1

OTAY RANCH

Top scorers: Anaya Carter 14.3, Tasina Norita 12.4, Serenity Salmond 11.9

Top rebounds: Analiah Williams 7.4, Serenity Salmond 7.3, Anaya Carter, 6.6, Malina Hernandez 5.4

Top assists: Malina Hernandez 3.8, Serenity Salmond 2.4

Top steals: Serenity Salmond 4.4, Anaya Carter 3.4, Malina Hernandez 2.7, Tasina Norita 2.1

MONTGOMERY

Top scorers: Paula Zumstein 16.3, Dati Sanchez 10.9, Genevieve Whitehead 10.6

Top rebounds: Paula Zumstein 10.4, Dati Sanchez 7.6, Alexis Guerrero 5.4

Top assists: Paula Zumstein 3.3, Dati Sanchez 2.7, Genevieve Whitehead 2.1

Top steals: Dati Sanchez 3.2, Genevieve Whitehead 3.0, Paula Zumstein 2.7

BONITA VISTA

Top scorers: Affiani Saleaumua-Trisby 16.7, Sy’ana Trotter 10.6, Jaidyn Lee 6.7

Top rebounds: Affiani Saleaumua-Trisby 15.0, Sy’ana Trotter 9.5, Jadyn Arviso 6.5

Top assists: Jadyn Arviso 2.8, Sophia Ambriz 2.8, Jaidyn Lee 2.7

Top steals: Affiani Saleaumua-Trisby 5.8, Jaidyn Lee 4.5

HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL RANKINGS

GIRLS BASKETBALL

1. La Jolla Country Day           8-1

2.Mater Dei Catholic               10-0

3. Francis Parker                      5-3

4. La Costa Canyon                 7-1

5. Cathedral Catholic              5-2

6. Patrick Henry                       13-0

7. Rancho Bernardo                10-3

8. Bishop’s                                 8-2

9.San Marcos                            4-1

10. Grossmont                           5-2

11. Our Lady of Peace              9-1

12. Canyon Hills                        8-0

13. Mission Hills                        2-3

14. Rancho Buena Vista         6-1

15. Christian                               5-1

16. Hilltop                                    8-0

17. Escondido                             6-2

18. Montgomery                        5-2

19. Otay Ranch                          7-2

20. San Diego                           7-5

21. El Capitan                             7-3

22. Morse                                   7-3

23. Helix                                     3-3

24. Escondido Adventist        6-1

25. Westview                            3-5

BOYS BASKETBALL

1. Santa Fe Christian               10-0

2. Madison                                 9-0

3. Mission Bay                          5-2

4. Cathedral Catholic              6-2

5. Victory Christian Academy 5-2

6. Poway                                     6-2

7. St. Augustine                        5-2

8. Francis Parker                     4-5

9. Pacific Ridge                         9-1

10. Mira Mesa                            8-3

11. High Tech High North County 8-0

12. Morse                                    9-0

13. San Marcos                         7-4

14. Carlsbad                               4-5

15. Olympian                              4-2

16. Bonita Vista                         5-2

17. Westview                              5-1

18. Mission Hills                        5-2

19. La Costa Canyon               7-4

20. Coronado                            6-4

21. Helix                                       7-3

22. Ramona                               8-2

23. Imperial                                5-0

24. Valhalla                                7-1

25. Pt. Loma                              5-3

California State Football Bowl Games

Open Division: Santa Margarita (11-3) 47, De La Salle (12-1) 13

Division 1-AA: Folsom (14-1) 42, Cathedral Catholic (11-3) 28

Division 1-A: Fresno Central East (14-1) 42, Oxnard Pacifica (15-1) 28

Division 2-AA: Stockton St. Mary’s (13-2) 27, Bakersfield Christian (13-1) 24

Division 2-A: Sonora (15-0) 35, Rio Hondo Prep (15-1) 10

Division 3-AA: San Francisco St. Ignatius (9-6) 42, Ventura (13-3) 35

Division 3-A: Delano RF Kennedy (13-3) 42, Oakland McClymonds (11-3) 25

Division 4-AA: Barstow (12-3) 17, Sutter (13-2) 7

Division 4-A: El Cerrito (13-2) 35, Irvine Beckman (12-4) 12

Division 5-AA: Oakland Bishop O’Dowd 37, El Cajon Christian (8-8) 0

Division 6-AA: Valley Center (9-6) 36, San Jose Lincoln (11-4) 35

Division 6-A: Winters (14-1) 28, Morse (10-5) 7

Division 7-AA: Palo Cedro Redding Christian (15-0) 16, Irvine Woodbridge (7-9) 0

Division 7-A: San Francisco Balboa (12-2) 42, South El Monte (11-5) 8

Girls Soccer

1. Mt. Carmel (5-0-2), 2. Coronado (5-0-0), 3. Poway (4-1-1), 4. Cathedral Catholic (3-1-1), 5. Rancho Bernardo (4-1-0), 6. Ramona (4-1-1), 7. West Hills (5-0-0), 8. La Jolla (4-1-0), 9. Monte Vista (3-0-2), 10. Our Lady of Peace (3-2-1), 11. Mission Hills (3-2-0), 12. Brawley (9-2-1), 13. Point Loma (4-1-0), 14. Mission Bay (3-2-0), 15. San Pasqual (3-1-1), 16. Clairemont (4-1-0), 17. Otay Ranch (3-2-0), 18. Imperial (6-2-1), 19. Mount Miguel (4-1-0), 20. Scripps Ranch (2-2-2), 21. Foothills Christian (4-2-0), 22. Madison (5-2-0), 23. Helix (3-2-1), 24. Hilltop (3-2-0), 25. Sage Creek (3-1-2), 26. Montgomery (3-2-1), 27. San Dieguito Academy (1-2-2), 28. Bonita Vista (1-3-1), 29. Valhalla (2-1-2), 30. Calvin Christian (4-1-0), 31. Kearny (6-1-1), 32. Olympian (2-2-1), 33. University City (1-1-3), 34. Morse (4-3-0), 35. Escondido Charter (1-4-0), 36. Vista (4-2-1), 37. Orange Glen (3-2-1), 38. Lincoln (3-2-0), 39. Chua Vista (2-3-1), 40. Canyon Crest Academy (1-3-2)

Boys Soccer

1. Central Union (7-0-2), 2. Torrey Pines (4-1-0), 3. Orange Gen (5-0-0), 4. Sage Creek (6-0-0), 5. San Marcos (6-1-0), 6. Mt. Carmel (3-0-2), 7. La Jolla (5-0-1), 8. Hoover (5-4-1), 9. Canyon Crest Academy (3-1-2), 10. Mission Vista (3-1-1). Others:  11. Southwest(4-1-0), 13. Mater Dei Catholic (4-2-1), 17. Sweetwater (5-1-1), 32.OtayRanch(3-2-1),34. San Ysidro (2-2-1), 36.Olympian(3-3-1),37.CVLCC (3-1-3),43.OceanViewChristian( 5-2-0),45.Montgomery(2-2-1)